There is a good chance you already own everything you need for Christmas decorating. Look in the back of a kitchen cupboard and you will probably find a few empty mason jars, and that is really the whole starting point. A jar, some paint, a bit of ribbon, and you have a snowman, a candle holder, or a gift that looks like it took far more effort than it did.
Mason jars work so well for Christmas crafts because they are cheap, sturdy, and easy to find. Most of these projects take under an hour, and none of them need special tools beyond a hot glue gun and a paintbrush. Pick one for tonight, or make a few across the week and hand them out as gifts. Every one of these 18 DIY Christmas mason jar crafts comes from a real maker, with a link to their own tutorial so you can follow their steps.
1. Peek-a-Boo Painted Snowman Jar
Tape ovals onto a clean jar, paint the whole thing white, then peel the tape away to leave little windows. Painted eyes, a carrot nose and button details turn it into a snowman face, and the windows show off whatever treats you fill it with. It is a sweet Secret Santa or teacher gift that costs almost nothing to make.
Tutorial by Jane & Sonja, Sustain My Craft Habit.
2. Stacked Snowmen Hot Cocoa Jars
Three small jars stacked on top of each other make a snowman, and each jar holds part of a hot cocoa kit: cocoa mix, marshmallows and mints. A little hat on top finishes the character. It works as a table decoration right up until someone takes it apart to make cocoa, which is half the fun.
Tutorial by Mod Podge Rocks.
3. Mason Jar Lid Snowman
If you have a drawer full of spare jar lids, this one puts them to work. The lids stack into a snowman face with painted eyes, a carrot nose and a smile, and a loop of ribbon turns it into a tree ornament. It is a good project for using up lids that would otherwise sit in a drawer all year.
Tutorial by Crafts by Amanda.
4. Santa Mason Jars
Paint does all the work here: a red hat band, a white beard and a jolly face turn a plain jar into Santa. Fill it with candy or small treats and it becomes a gift on its own. Make a few at once and they look great lined up on a mantel or a party table.
Tutorial by Food Wine Sunshine.
5. Nativity Christmas Story Trail Mix Jars
Every ingredient in this trail mix stands for part of the Christmas story, from pretzels for angel wings to gold-wrapped chocolates for the wise men’s gifts. The jar comes with a free printable tag that tells the story, so it works as a thoughtful gift for teachers, coaches and neighbours.
Tutorial by A Hundred Affections.
6. Cookie Mix in a Jar
Layer the dry ingredients for cookies in a jar and the gift looks as good as it tastes. Neat bands of flour, sugar and chocolate chips show through the glass, and a tag with the baking directions does the rest. It is one of the easiest last-minute gifts on this list, and it uses things already in the kitchen.
Tutorial by Sustain My Cooking Habit.
7. Felt Poinsettia Capped Mason Jars
A handmade felt poinsettia glued to the lid turns an ordinary treat jar into something that looks bought from a gift shop. The flower is cut from felt in three petal sizes, stacked and finished with a rhinestone. Fill the jar with candy canes or chocolates and it is ready to give.
Tutorial by Jane & Sonja, Sustain My Craft Habit.
8. Chalk-Painted Candy Cane Stripe Jars
White chalk paint, masking tape and red paint are all it takes. Tape off stripes, paint the red bands, then sand the edges lightly for a worn farmhouse finish. A twine bow and a few floral picks finish the look. These jars fit right in with rustic Christmas decor and cost very little to make.
Tutorial by Emily, Hunny I’m Home DIY.
9. Pretty Mason Jar Christmas Centerpiece
A row of decorated jars down the middle of the table makes a centerpiece that takes minutes to put together. Paint or wrap the jars, add greenery and a tea light, and the table is dressed. It is easy to change up year to year by swapping the ribbon or the filler inside.
Tutorial by Our Crafty Mom.
10. Glittering Candy Cane Mason Jar Luminary
Tape stripes around a jar, brush on glue and roll it in glitter, one colour at a time. Peel the tape away and the red, green and silver bands glow when a tea light goes inside. It is messy while you make it and lovely once it is lit, so lay down newspaper first.
Tutorial by Jane & Sonja, Sustain My Craft Habit.
11. Gift Card Snow Globe in a Jar
Gift cards can feel a bit plain, and this fixes that. A tiny winter scene glued inside the lid turns the jar into a snow globe, and the gift card sits inside the jar itself. It is a thoughtful way to give a gift card to a teacher or a friend, and it doubles as a decoration after the card is used.
Tutorial by Hip2Save.
12. Flocked Snowy Mason Jars
Flocking spray gives a plain jar the look of fresh snow, and a string of fairy lights inside makes it glow. Group a few together on a windowsill or a mantel and they look like a little winter scene. Use battery lights so there is no cord to hide.
Tutorial by Leap of Faith Crafting.
13. Cranberry and Pine Mason Jar Candle
Fresh cranberries, pine sprigs and water go into the jar, and a floating tea light sits on top. It takes about five minutes to put together and looks far fancier than the effort suggests. Make a few in different sizes and they work as a quick centerpiece for a holiday dinner.
Tutorial by Ottawa Mommy Club.
14. Christmas Cookie Mason Jar Candles
These candles are poured right into the jar and scented to smell like fresh-baked Christmas cookies. A cinnamon stick and a plaid ribbon finish the gift. They take a little more time than the other candles on this list, but they make a lovely homemade present for someone who loves candles.
Tutorial by Glitter on a Dime.
15. Peppermint Snowman Candle
A white candle in a jar gets buttons, a tiny top hat and a peppermint-striped bow, and suddenly it is a snowman. It is a sweet little project for a cold afternoon, and it smells like peppermint while it burns. Keep the decorations clear of the flame, or use a battery tea light on top instead.
Tutorial by Pink Fortitude.
16. I Spy Christmas in a Jar
Fill a jar with tiny Christmas treasures: jingle bells, mini ornaments, pom poms, candy canes and a small toy or two. Kids shake the jar and hunt for each item on a list. It keeps little hands busy on a long car ride or while dinner is in the oven, and it costs next to nothing.
Tutorial by Elle Marie Home.
17. Illuminated Snow Scene in a Jar
A little house, a few bottle-brush trees and a bed of faux snow go inside the jar, and a string of fairy lights brings the whole scene to life. It looks like a tiny snow globe that never needs shaking. Set it on a mantel or a bedside table for a soft glow in the evening.
Tutorial by Bitz & Giggles.
18. Snow Globe Soap Dispenser
This one is two crafts in one: a snow globe and a soap dispenser. Tiny Christmas village figures are glued to the bottom of the jar, clear soap and a pinch of glitter go in, and a pump lid finishes it. Every pump sets the snow drifting. It is a fun gift for a bathroom or a kitchen sink, and most of the supplies come from the dollar store.
Tutorial by Mad in Crafts.
What to have on hand before you start
Most of these projects share the same short supply list, so one trip to the craft store covers the lot.
- Mason jars in a few sizes: pint jars for gifts and luminaries, quart jars for scenes and centerpieces, small jelly jars for little gifts
- Chalk paint or multi-surface acrylic paint in white, red and green
- Mod Podge or any craft glue that dries clear
- Epsom salt or faux snow for the snowy finishes
- Twine, ribbon and jute string for bows and tags
- Battery tea lights and fairy light strings, so nothing needs a real flame
- A hot glue gun, paintbrushes, scissors and masking tape
A few habits make the difference between a jar that looks handmade in the good way and one that looks rushed. Wash and dry every jar first, and wipe the outside with rubbing alcohol before you paint so the paint grips the glass. Let each coat dry fully before the next one, or the paint peels when you pull the tape off. And if a project holds a candle, reach for the battery tea light. It gives the same glow with none of the worry, which matters when jars sit near pine sprigs and ribbon.
Frequently asked questions
What size mason jar works best for Christmas crafts?
Pint jars are the most useful size for most of these projects. They are big enough to hold treats or a tea light but small enough to sit on a shelf or a table without taking over. Quart jars suit snow scenes and centerpieces, and the little 4-ounce jelly jars are perfect for small gifts and stocking stuffers.
What paint sticks to glass jars?
Chalk paint is the easiest option because it grips smooth glass well and gives a soft matte finish. Multi-surface acrylic paint also works. Either way, wipe the jar with rubbing alcohol first, paint thin coats, and let each coat dry fully before adding the next.
Are mason jar candles safe?
Battery tea lights and fairy lights are the safest choice, and they look just as good through glass. If you use a real flame, never leave it burning unattended, keep it away from ribbon, pine and other flammable decorations, and keep the jar where children and pets cannot knock it over.
Can I use regular glass jars instead of mason jars?
Yes. Any clean glass jar with fairly straight sides works: pasta sauce jars, pickle jars and jam jars are all fine. Just wash them well, soak off the labels, and check that the lid fits tightly if the project needs one.
How do I get labels and sticky residue off jars?
Soak the jar in hot soapy water until the label loosens, then peel it off and rub the sticky patch with a little cooking oil or a paste of baking soda and oil. Wash again with soap and water and dry fully before you start crafting.
How long do layered gift mixes last?
Dry mixes like cookie mix and cocoa mix keep well when the jar is sealed and stored somewhere cool and dry. Tie the baking directions to the jar so the person who receives it knows what to add, and gift them within the season so they get used while the holidays are still on.
A jar, an evening, and a finished gift
That is really all any of these projects ask for. Start with the one that caught your eye, use the jars you already have, and see how it turns out before you buy anything new. The snowman jars and the cocoa jars make good first projects because they are forgiving, and the gift jars solve the problem of what to give the people who are hard to shop for.
If the snow globe jar was your favourite, you will like our 18 DIY Christmas Snow Globes to Make This Year, a whole roundup of snow scenes and winter globes. The cookie mix and trail mix jars belong in the same family as our 20 Edible Christmas Gifts Worth Making This Year, and if the centerpiece caught your eye, our 18 DIY Christmas Centerpieces to Make This Year has full-table ideas for holiday hosting. Happy crafting.
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