Tinting Jars

Ever since we started this “No screens Monday through Thursday” back in January, the eldest hooligan constantly wants to do crafts with me after school.  I can sometimes talk him into a board game with me instead, but he’d rather help me.

This is a craft I’ve been wanting to try, so yesterday I let him tint these Mason jars.






We followed a tutorial from Momtastic, which was very simple.  Basically, you mix food coloring with a tablespoon of water in a small bowl, one for each jar you’re tinting.  In each jar, place a couple of tablespoons of Glossy Mod Podge, then add the water/food coloring and mix well. 


We used Neon food coloring, ‘cause we live out loud around here.


Roll the jar around to coat the inside, over one of the small bowls. See, it’s so easy a child can do it!


Let the jars drain and dry upside down on paper for about 30 minutes. I used freezer paper, but you could use a paper bag or wax paper, as well.

After they dried (and our dinner was out of the oven), we put them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and baked them in a 200 degree oven. Upside down for 10 minutes, then right side up for about 30 minutes, until none of the opacity remained.  Then I just turned the oven off and left them in there until this morning, to make sure they were good and dry.

There was a little bit of the mixture on the outside of the jars (hmmm, wonder how that happened?), so I put the lids on tightly this morning and washed them by hand.  It came off very easily.


As you can see, though, it was still around the top on the outside, under the lid, so when I removed the lids, there’s a bit of opacity, but I’m sure it will dry transparently again.

This project was great for the hooligan…he saw how easy it was to make a beautiful jar, and I’m pretty sure he plans to “surprise” me with these on Mothers’ Day.

One word of caution, though…the tinting mixture is NOT waterproof, so only dry things can be stored in these.  They are non-toxic, however, so candy or nuts would be fine, or craft supplies. Hint, hint, hooligan.