Clean jar with undamaged lid
1 pint-sized jar
Home
Mason jar vases and organizers.
Turn a clean jar into a small desk organizer with a painted lid, or use the undecorated glass as a vase.
- Makes
- 1 jar organizer or vase
- Hands-on
- 20 minutes
- Total time
- 4–6 hours for painted lid; label-dependent
- Effort
- Easy
GET WHAT YOU NEED
Your shopping list
For 1 jar organizer or vase.
Acrylic craft paint
Enough for two thin lid coats
Small flowers or dry desk supplies
Enough to fill the jar lightly
Amounts are what the project uses, not package sizes. Compare quantities and product details before buying.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Tools & supplies
Paintbrush and protective scrap paper
Paints the lid away from the glass opening.
Cup and craft stick
Holds and mixes paint.
STEP BY STEP
Put it together
Inspect
Wash the jar, remove labels and dry it. Reject chipped glass or sharp, rusted lids.
Paint lid
Remove lid. Brush on a thin coat of acrylic paint, keeping paint off threads and the inside.
Dry
Let dry 1–2 hours or as the label directs, then apply a second coat. Allow it to dry fully before handling.
Fill
Use for dry craft supplies with the lid, or leave the lid off and add water and short flowers as a vase.
Good to know
- Once decorated, dedicate the jar to nonfood use.
- Do not use this as a candle holder, hot-food container or electrical fixture.
- A heavy jar is best kept away from desk edges; supervise children around glass.
SAVE THE MAKING
Prefer it ready-made?
Compare these finished options with making your own.
Finished jar desk organizer
A ready-made holder for small supplies.
Finished bud vase
An inexpensive finished alternative for flowers.
Links go to the selected products. Availability and delivery vary by location; check the current listing and package size before ordering.
Sources & further reading
Independent instructions informed by the sources below. No affiliation or endorsement is implied. These instructions have not been kitchen- or workshop-tested by DIBuyIt.
- Crayola: upcycled storage jar — Painted lid method; topper omitted for a simpler finish