Handmade home décor is a great way to decorate for the holidays without spending lots of money. Using old mason jars, you can create stunning centerpieces with just a few simple items. Making these gold leaf mason jar vases is easy, and the perfect way to decorate for both fall and the Christmas season.
Make Your Own Gold Leaf Mason Jar Vases
Gold leaf mason jar vases look elegant but are actually cheap and easy to make. It's the perfect option for adding a bit of farmhouse glam to your home without having to buy expensive home décor pieces. The supplies needed are budget friendly and easy to find too!
What You Need to Begin
You really only need a few items to put this pretty holiday craft together.
- Gold leaf - this can be purchased at a craft store, or you can order it online. There is also copper leaf and silver leaf if you prefer those metallic colors instead. Make sure to buy the crafting gold leaf. There is edible gold leaf used for cake decorating.
- Mason Jars - you can also find old vases at thrift stores and use those too if you don't have any mason jars on hand.
- Spray Adhesive - this is easier to use, in my opinion, than other adhesives that need to be brushed on. Since gold leaf is so delicate, there can't be a lot of extra glue.
- A Small Artist Brush - These are at the dollar store, crafts stores and online. You will only need one for the craft.
- Spray Acrylic Sealer - I picked this up at a craft store, but it's also available online. I like the high gloss option as it makes the finished project look more metallic.
Spraying the Mason Jar
The first step to putting these lovely vases together is to make sure you start with clean and dry mason jars. In a well ventilated area, and under newspaper or a painter's tarp, place your mason jars top side down. With the spray adhesive, spray the mason jars with a coat of adhesive. Since gold leaf is so delicate, you won't need more than one coat.
Adding the Gold Leaf to the Mason Jar
Using your artist brush, carefully lift the gold leaf and lightly press it onto your mason jar. Gold leaf is incredibly delicate and will tear easily. I wanted my vases to look rustic and imperfect, so some tearing was acceptable. However, the process of placing the golf leaf onto the jars is still a delicate one.
With the artist brush, lightly brush the gold leaf onto the mason jar. Make sure there aren't any air bubbles under the gold leaf and that all gold leaf has attached to the mason jar.
Once the gold leaf has been brushed onto the mason jar, allow the glue on the mason jar to dry for about 30-45 minutes.
Sealing Your Gold Leaf Mason Jar
After the glue has dried, place your mason jar face down once again, in a well ventilated area, on newspaper or a painter's tarp. Using the acrylic sealer, spray your mason jar with a coat of sealant. When that sealant has dried, be sure to give it one more good coat of sealant. It's best to have at least 2 coats of sealant to ensure durability.
Allow the jars to dry completely before using them in decorations. I usually let them dry overnight and use them in the morning!
Decorating with Mason Jar Vases
What I love about these mason jars is that they can be used for the entire fall and Christmas season! These work great with leaves and twigs for fall, or add beautiful berries and pine greenery for Christmas.
Mason jars come in all sizes, so you can mix and match the sizes when creating these beautiful vases. They look great as a centerpiece on a table as well!
These make great gift ideas too. Handmade gold leaf vases are a great gift for those who love simple and elegant decorations.
Love this idea? You may also want to read how to make these Handmade Acorn Napkin Rings. Or, you may also want to check out this adorable Fox in Leaves Fall Cross Stitch Pattern.
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