Decorative Canning Jars: Easy Craft Ideas

Memories in a Jar: How Decorative Canning Jars Can Transform Your Kitchen

Transform your kitchen with DIY decorative canning jars inspired by nostalgic memories. Follow our step-by-step guide to create charming, vintage-style jars that add a personal touch to your home. Perfect for storage, decor, and capturing the warmth of simpler times.

Growing up, I spent nearly every day visiting my grandparents. These visits are some of my most cherished memories, filled with the simple joys of life and the warmth of family. 

Every time I think I can't work in my kitchen another day as it is, I remind myself of my Grandma's kitchen and how she made it work with so little. 

"You are spoiled, Cara!" I tell myself, smiling at the thought.

Grandma's kitchen was small, with hardly any counter space to speak of—essentially a two-by-two space where she created elaborate dinners for every holiday. I still don’t know how she managed it, but she did, with grace and love.

One of my fondest memories is of Grandma and Grandpa canning every summer. They owned a quaint place on the river, several hours from home, where they would spend entire summers. 

Their large garden, which they tended to every day, produced the most delicious vegetables I've ever tasted. Grandma would bring home her harvest, and we would spend hours canning in her tiny kitchen. 

I vividly remember standing on a chair by the sink, snapping green beans until my fingers ached. Those were the days, long before safety warnings told us not to stand on chairs—how did I ever make it to adulthood? Teehee.

Those summer days were filled with the sound of soap operas playing on the small TV on the kitchen table. Grandma and Mom would chat away, leaving Grandpa and me to our own devices. My sister sometimes joined in the fun, though a toddler can only do so much. 

Grandpa would sneak us cookies—usually Fig Newtons—and make braunschweiger sandwiches with ketchup. Funny to think I wouldn’t touch braunschweiger now, and sadly, Fig Newtons are off the menu since going gluten-free.

As I was perusing the internet for images for a project, I stumbled across some canning labels. Instantly, my mind flooded with memories of those summer days with Grandma and Grandpa. 

It got me thinking how much I’d love to have a small garden here and can food that my husband and I grow together. His family owned a dairy farm, so he has extensive knowledge of gardening and farm life. He is after all the one keeping what little plant life we have around here alive—I either under-love or over-love them. I’m not sure he’s as keen on gardening as I am, but I’ll keep working on him.

In the meantime, I decided to bring a bit of nostalgia into our kitchen by creating decorative canning jars. These jars aren’t just for show—they’re a nod to the past, a tribute to those summers spent with my grandparents.

How to Create Decorative Canning Jars

Materials:

• Recycled glass jar with lid
• White chalk paint
• Mod Podge
• Chip brush
• Canning label 

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Jar: Start by cleaning your recycled glass jar thoroughly to ensure the paint adheres well. If you're using a jar with a lot of intricate details or texture, lightly sand it to give the paint something to grip onto.

2. Paint the Jar: Using the chip brush, apply a coat of white chalk paint to the jar. Chalk paint gives a lovely, matte finish that adds to the vintage feel. Allow the paint to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

3. Add Mod Podge and Labels: Once the paint is dry, apply a layer of Mod Podge to the jar. While it's still wet, carefully place the tissue paper transfer canning label on the jar. Smooth out any bubbles with saran wrap and make sure the label adheres well. Allow it to dry completely.

4. Seal the Jar: After the label is dry, apply another layer of Mod Podge over the entire jar, including the label. This will protect the paint and label, giving the jar a glossy, finished look, or what I like to call a cast iron pipe look.

5. Final Touches: Once the final coat of Mod Podge is dry, your decorative canning jar is ready to display. These jars can be used for (non-food) storage, as vases, or simply as charming decor pieces in your kitchen.

How easy was that? And did I mention how cute and nostalgic they are? I have all the feels of the past knocking at my door today as I share this project with you.

I thoroughly enjoyed all my summers at Grandma and Grandpa's house, with the television turned up too loud, Santa Barbara, Days of Our Lives, and General Hospital playing in the background. 

Sometimes, the sound of a saw hummed in the distance as Grandpa worked on his latest wood project. Other times, you could hear giggles coming from the basement, mixed with the sound of a train whistle as it blew through town. Woo, woo!

Grandpa’s basement was a wonderland for a child like me. He had connected several tables to create an expansive train set, complete with bridges, towns, and various places to visit—a movie theater, a post office, and even a Burger King. 

I always imagined that one day, that entire train set would come home with me. But as much as I wished for it, our home simply couldn't accommodate its vast size, and so it had to be left behind.

Several years ago, Grandma packed up some of the buildings from the train set and sent them home with me. I had hoped to find room for the entire set, but after we cleaned out my husband’s childhood home and made various purchases along the way, there just wasn't space. 

Instead, I display several of the buildings in my china cabinet. I suppose I’m not your typical gal—while most people fill their china cabinets with collectible dishes and precious pieces, mine holds a movie theater and other pieces from Grandpa’s train set. 

And you know what? 

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Creating decorative canning jars is more than just a fun craft project; it’s a way to bring the past into your present. Each jar you make can hold memories, just as mine do. 

Whether you use them to store dry goods, as vases for fresh flowers, or simply as decor, these jars are a small way to keep the warmth of those summer days with Grandma and Grandpa alive.

If you're like me and love the idea of combining nostalgia with practicality, I encourage you to try this project. You don’t need a green thumb or a vast garden to create something beautiful—just a recycled jar, some paint, and a bit of time. 

And who knows? Maybe one day, these jars will hold memories for someone else, just as my grandparents' kitchen holds memories for me.  

Don't Forget to Pin for Later!

Ciao,

Cara