Easy Elegance: DIY Decoupage Jars for Beginners

Today, we're thrilled to share an inspiring tutorial by Donna from Mason Creations etc., a valued affiliate and a master of the decoupage art form. This guide is perfect for beginners eager to learn how to transform ordinary glass jars into stunning decorative pieces. Watch the detailed video below to follow along with Donna's expert steps.

Donna demonstrates the simple yet elegant process of decoupaging a rice paper image onto a glass jar, ensuring even those new to the craft can achieve beautiful results. Here is how she does it:

1. Prepare Your Jar: Clean the glass jar with alcohol to remove any dirt or grease, ensuring the surface is ready for decoupage. This very important step should not be overlooked. Clean with a paper towel and alcohol or simply use a cleaning wipe to ensure a good surface ready for paint.

2. Apply Base Coat: There are various methods to prepare the glass for your decoupage medium. Common methods include painting with Gesso or Chalk paints. However, Donna recommends using Polyvine Multi-Surface Lacquer to apply a base coat on the jar. This product is designed to prime multiple types of surfaces for painting. This ensures that your paint won’t chip or peel from the glass. She recommends at least 2 coats, allowing for a drying time of 2 hours between coats.

3. Paint the Jar: Once the base coat is dry, it's time to paint the jar. Donna advises using a light color to make the design of your paper or napkin stand out. A darker color may dim the image, resulting in a muddy look. Donna chose to paint with Dixie Belle White Chalk Paint. This light background enhances the appearance of the rice paper design.

4. Prepare Rice Paper or Napkins: Select your decoupage rice paper or paper napkin design. Donna recommends tearing the paper to fit the jar, using a water brush to achieve a feathered edge. This helps the paper blend more smoothly onto the surface. Since the paper is being applied to a round surface, she also recommends cutting small slits to allow the paper to conform to the jar.

5. Apply Rice Paper or Napkin: While there are many traditional decoupage mediums, such as Mod Podge, Donna chose to use Polyvine Multi-Surface Lacquer for this project. The technique involves aligning the paper, lifting a section, applying the lacquer, and carefully placing the rice paper on the jar. Any bubbles or wrinkles should then be smoothed out.

6. Adding Decoration: Although Donna does not cover this step in the video, after the paper layer dries, you can add additional paint or antiquing waxes to personalize your project. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

7. Seal and Finish: After the rice paper is in place and dry, apply Polyvine Heavy-Duty Wood Varnish. This seals the rice paper and provides the jar with a durable, glossy finish. The Heavy-Duty Wood Varnish is heat, water, UV, and chemical-resistant. It ensures a beautiful crystal-clear finish that will not yellow over time.

We sincerely thank Donna for sharing her expertise and guiding us through this delightful decoupage technique. Her detailed instructions empower us to explore our creativity with confidence. Remember, each product used by Donna, including Polyvine Lacquer, Dixie Belle Paint, and the water brush, are available for purchase on Decoupagenapkins.com, making it easy for you to gather all necessary materials for this project. Happy crafting!