Decorative Crafts from Mason Jars and Muffin Tins

I love being able to take something I find and recycle it into a great new project for my home. And if I can incorporate something sentimental in my creations, all the better! These decorative crafts from mason jars and muffin tins are a fun way to make some pretty home decor from those items.

Recently I’ve been sorting through and cleaning out my storage room and I came across some great pieces that belonged to my grandma. By combining some of these items I was able to make a pretty decorative item for my vintage country kitchen – this sweet mason jar flower and muffin tin display.

Decorative Crafts from Mason Jars and Muffin Tins

To get started, you’ll need: a mason jar (this is a vintage one from my grandma), a scrap of fabric (from Grandma’s stash), glue (a glue gun and some tacky glue), floral wire, scissors, buttons (mine are from Grandma’s button jar), some moss or excelsior or something similar.

To make the flowers, you start by cutting a strip of fabric. The size can vary according to your need but mine are about 4 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise and snip slits along the unfolded side. Begin to roll up the strip starting at one end adding dabs is tacky glue as you go. Fan and fluff out as desired. You can also clip through the loops for a different look (I did one of each).

Next bend a piece of floral wire in half and feed it through the buttons. Twist to secure the buttons in place and poke the wire through the middle of the flower to form the stem and center of each flower.

To make a base for the flowers, I twist the various stems together and then create a loop so that the flowers will stand up in the jar. Use the hot glue to glue the loop to the inside of the jar lid. I like to puddle more glue over the top of the loop to really give it a strong foundation.

Add some moss or something to cover the hot glue. You can secure it with tacky glue or just leave it loose. Screw the lid onto the jar, turn the jar upside down, and you’re ready to display it!

Now you’re ready for the muffin tin shadow box. Find your favourite odds and ends and start gluing. First, I used some Deco Art Chalky Finish paint – paint it over the surface of the muffin tin lightly and let it dry.

Use a small piece of sandpaper to scuff it up and remove some of the paint for an aged look. I used sticky back burlap to cover a wooden bird I had on hand as well as using it for the heart and part of the bunting along with some of Grandma’s fabric.

Using more of that fabric, I made another flower to echo the ones in the mason jar and added an excelsior bird’s with eggs. I’ve made other versions of these shadow boxes using family photos to memorabilia from events such as concert tickets, old keys, or game tokens.

I’m standing this on a shelf but some even have holes in them that make it easy to hang them on a wall. If not, a piece of ribbon glued to the back makes a great hanger

What do you have around your house that you could repurpose into a pretty decorative item to spruce up your home?