Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Vintage Mason Jar Lid Ornaments

Hello and thanks for stopping by!  Here is another easy homemade ornament idea for you.  I used zinc mason jar lids with the porcelain inserts.  These are easy to find at most thrift stores and antique shops for $1 or so. If you don't see them ask! Jars break all the time and there may be some of these floating around behind the counter waiting to be turned into treasure.
I love the beautiful colors these aged jar lids turn.  This lid has not been painted.  It is just aged to perfection!
I just love this little "elf."  The image is from The Graphics Fairy. I'm linking him up to Brag Monday. I used my photo editing software to add the hat and word.  These ornaments are easy to make. You will start by using a nail and hammer to create two holes opposite from each other (top/bottom) for your hanger and anything you might want to to dangle. Just a tap with the hammer and your nail will form a small hole. I place a piece of scrap wood underneath while I am doing this. Then, trace the bottom of the jar lid onto your photo, vintage image, etc.  Before I cut, I usually mount my image onto chipboard (got a coaster?) then cut. You need a thick base to glue the image to the jar lid.  Also, these lids are not perfectly round. So, cut your image, sand the edges (use a nail file) and see if it fits. Trim as necessary.  Place a layer of lace or cheesecloth underneath the image to help cover any imperfections in your not so perfect circle. You could also use some vintage pipe cleaner like I did here.
Once you have your image mounted on chipboard, cut, sanded and fitted into place, glue it down with a strong glue.  If I'm adding cheesecloth it goes under the image.  If I'm adding pipe cleaner, it goes on top. Then I decorate my hanger and find something shiny, like these small chandelier crystals, to hang from the bottom. If I did not glitter the image, I will seal it with a light gel medium. She's done!  Would you like to see the inspiration for these?  I mentioned it in my previous post...my husband's fourth grade pickle jar lid portrait...brace yourself for some retro cuteness...
And he says he has no interest in crafting and being thrifty! **smile**  For the record he ditched the bow ties and did not turn out half bad as you can see here. lol My mother in law gave this too me a few years ago.  She knew it would be in good hands.  I love it and so do my kids.  More ornament ideas are on the way! So, if you are new to my blog, I hope you will consider becoming a follower. And, by all means don't be shy..leave a comment. I read every one!  I'm being featured today over at  Brenda's Cozy Little House. I'm thrilled to meet some of her followers. THANK YOU and welcome!  I'm also linking this post to the following parties this week:

56 comments:

  1. Hi Vicki,
    I love these zinc lids, they are adorable and I love the images you used. I will definitely try this!
    Blessings,
    Sonya

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  2. Hi, Vicki! These are adorable. The Graphics Fairy is a GREAT site! I haven't been over there in a while! I may have to go visit. Oh, and your Pottery Barn copies are beautiful!

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  3. What a great idea! I buy these when ever I can. Enjoy your day.
    Hugs,
    KarenSue

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  4. I ran over here as soon as I got your email..lol. Loving it girl..WOW....

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  5. Hi Vicki, What a treat to wake up this morning and find that you have visited. Love your zinc ornaments and your faux pottery barn round ones too. My son gave me some PB monogrammed ornaments last year that I just love. On my calendar today is to make some love bird ornaments from a template I saved from the 70's which came from a book from the 50's. lol...does that make sense? It's real cute and I am anxious to get started. Thank you for following and I hope you will visit often. ~ Miles of Smiles ~ Lynn

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  6. You have the best ideas! I love, love, love these ornaments. Gonna have to look for lids!!

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  7. Hi Vicki!
    I love this idea! Perhaps I will try to make a few of my own! Thanks for the inspiration...and also for not thinking I'm crazy! wink wink!
    :)

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  8. These are fabulous...what a clever idea! Love your Pottery Barn knock off ornaments too! Very pretty!
    Kristen

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  9. Your ornaments here and in the previous post are fabulous. Isn't it great when you know you can make something on the cheap that looks just as good or better than what they are selling out there. PB is so overpriced. Best wishes to you and yours, Tammy

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  10. Those are so adorable!! What a great idea!!

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  11. Those are so cute! And your husband was so cute back then. Had to laugh when you said pickle jar lid. I was picturing him telling his Mom he needed to take a lid into school and she's emptying the pickle jar from the fridge.

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  12. Hello! I found your blog through Brenda's "Welcome Wagon." I LOVE the jar top ornaments...I actually have a ton of new lids that I might play around with. I will let you know if I do and link to your blog. Thanks for the idea! Can't wait to read more.

    Kelly

    http://crazywego.blogspot.com

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  13. I just stopped by from Brenda's Welcome Wagon post. Look at all of the good stuff here and I've barely started. Love these ornaments and the PB ones too. I will definitely be back!!

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  14. Oh my, you have so many wonderful ideas! I am smitten!
    Brenda

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  15. Not sure if my last post made it or not, but I love your blog. I'm a Floridian, too! Nice to meet you...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  16. Argh! My other post didn't make it. Just wanted to say that I love Oveido and have been twice to the Canterbury Conference Center there years ago. We are up on the First Coast (St. Augustine), so if you are ever up that way, give us a shout. We are right downtown and love to meet fellow bloggers. Speaking of which, a few of us are trying to plan a meeting of Florida bloggers in February at a tea room in Plant City. I did a post about it back in July because we went there for my goddaughter's birthday. We'd love to have you join us if you'd like to. Will probably meet on a Saturday. No date yet.

    You have so many cute things on your blog. Can't wait to go check out the rest!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  17. Wonderful idea for ornaments!

    I am stopping in from Brenda's Cozy Little House.

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  18. Those are really cute. I love the vintage look of those. One of these days I will learn how to copy stuff from graphics fairy and use photo shop. Don't have a clue.

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  19. What a great idea for using those vintage zinc lids! Love them all! And I am lovin' that tie of your hubbies, too:)

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  20. Hi Sonya! Thank you so much for linking up another fabulous inspirational idea! I am cracking up over your hubby's ornament and just thinking about all of the ones at our house of mommy and daddy that my kiddos get a kick out of seeing! Do you sell any of these somewhere? You need to! :-)
    Vanessa

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  21. Love this idea, love the adorable pic of your hubby in the pickle jar lid, and love your blog!

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  22. cute idea vicki! I just met a vendor at Charlotte's metro expo that had these for $.50 each...so I'll have to pick up a few this weekend!
    Have a great Friday!
    Tammy :-)
    JUNK WILD

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  23. You are incredibly talented! I would never be able to make these. What a brilliant idea-I love them!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  24. Your creations are just gorgeous.. thanks for sharing!!!
    Daphne

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  25. Happy Friday everyone! I just wanted to stop by and say hello to friends old and new! Appreciate you taking time out of your day to visit here and leave such sweet comments. Take care! More ornaments this weekend!

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  26. I have one of these beautiful Vicki-made creations proudly hanging on my tree! I love it!!

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  27. Darn cute idea. Found you thru Brenda's Welcome Wagon Friday, & I'm so glad I did. Looking forward to checking out your other craft ideas.
    Carol

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  28. These lids make wonderful ornaments! I love the vintage pictures!

    Thanks so much for visiting my On the House blog and becoming a follower! Your blog is lovely, I'm now following!

    Maggie

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  29. Your mother-in-law surely made a wise decision of giving you your husband's picture. It's really in good, capable hands. Thanks for the idea. Just hopping by from Vanessa's Inspiration Friday.

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  30. What a cute idea Vicki. Love it! Thanks for the visit and leaving a sweet comment about my rooster. I really like him in my kithen. I leave all kinds of sweet little notes for my hubby in the morning on it.

    Enjoy your day.
    Gail

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  31. Hi..I'm bj, over from Brenda's welcome wagon. So glad to meet you.
    I love your lids..so so cute.
    Come by to see me when you can..and I am linking to follow you. :))

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  32. Hey, guess what...I already AM a follower..cool.

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  33. Hi there Vicki~ Another fantabulous idea from you!!!! You always have the neatest projects and ideas!! Love your ornaments- they are so charming! Thank you for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  34. I too have one of these little treasures from Vicki and can't wait to display it on my tree!!! It has a bird in it, one of my favorite things!!:)

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  35. I love this idea! And, I'm like you, I love the patina of these old jar lids! Thanks for stopping by to visit. Have a great weekend!
    Theresa
    aka:TOT

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  36. Hi Vicki,
    I'm just getting caught up on some blog reading and I love both ornaments that you posted. I have passed up buying some of those zinc lids before because I couldn't wrap my mind around how to use them and now I wish I had them! The ornaments are wonderful and would look great on any tree.
    Keep 'em coming!
    Jane

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  37. Oh my gosh, Vicki, What precious ornaments and wonderful story!!!
    On Monday, I'm having my Creative SPirit Challenge--I hope you'll link them up...In fact, I design for Shabby Cottage Studio and am showing a tutorial on Christmas magnets...

    I love what you wrote on my blog about doing the journals in God's time--that blew me away!

    I hope you're having a great weekend--and I love these treasures that come from the heart!
    XO

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  38. We lived on Goldenrod just down from University since before Mickey Mouse. Love Oveido! We now live on Amelia Island.

    I am so excited to see your altered recipe cards. I have so many from my mom's books and I can't bear to throw them away. Now I can use them and make them into something she would have loved. Thank you so much for the inspiration.

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  39. Great idea and beautiful blog! I'm a follower now. Thanks for sharing!
    hugs,
    Leslie

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  40. Girl, you have the best ideas!
    Super cute!

    Happy Sunday,
    Anne

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  41. These are wonderful and I love the prism added to the fun!
    Thanks for linking up with VIF!!
    xo,
    Debra

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  42. This would be such a great idea to do with children too - obviously not to the same beautiful standard!!

    I'm going to have to start saving up my jar lids!!

    Sarahx

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  43. Really cute ornaments, Vicki! I always knew those mason jar lids had potential :)

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  44. These are soooo cute! Those zinc lids are s effective. I didn't realize they were readily available at antique stores. I will have to check these out!

    Suz
    http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com

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  45. Those are the cutest ever! I am going to have to keep my eyes open for some of those vintage mason lids!

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  46. These jar lids are adorable! Love all of them and the way to decorated them.

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  47. I am going to be on the lookout for old jar lids! After looking at your post, I love the look of them! Thanks for sharing!

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  48. These are adorable!!! What a great idea for those lids! I've got to make some of these. Thanks for the inspiration and for linking this up to Brag Monday.

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  49. Oh I just love these zinc jar ornaments....they are precious...and yep, I remember making ornaments in grade school from pickle jar lids and jelly jar lids too. This is such a cute post, especially with your hubby's childhood picture ornament included, as your inspiration...priceless and a treasure for sure :)

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  50. Oh Mah WORD! Where have you been until now Ü
    Discovered you via The Graphics Fairy and now I'm eternally grateful!! Just so you know, we've got a hot date after 3 o'clock on Friday...because I'm off work then and have set aside that time to surf your blog...aaaaah, can't wait *Ü*
    Thanks so much!

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  51. These are so cute and creative! Thanks so much for linking these up to Homemade Christmas, Vicki!

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  52. Hi! I just came across your post with these adorable zinc ornaments. I thought I’d make a few for my tree this year. I have everything but the antique pipe cleaners. Where would I find those?

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