Skip to Content

Make a Santa Mason Jar Christmas Gift!

This painted Santa mason jar is such a cute Christmas gift idea! It also works as part of your holiday decor – and it’s very easy to make.

Skills Required: Beginner. The only “difficult” part of this project is painting on glass (which is a bit different than wood). It’s going to require patience, but I provide all the instructions below.

Santa Mason Gift Jar

I carry an extreme amount of guilt about last Christmas. Why? Because I have good neighbors. And last year, unexpectedly, several of them showed up with boxes of baked goods or candy gifts. And guess what . . . your girl had nothing. Nada.

I didn’t expect it, but I probably should have. I live around some nice, generous people and I feel very lucky!

But don’t worry, I’m not going to make the same mistake this year. I’m going to have something ready (not sure what yet), and I’m going to give whatever it is in a Santa mason jar.

If you’ve never painted a Santa mason jar for Christmas . . . you’re missing out. It’s a fun craft and great for gifting, or just displaying with your holiday decor. Plus it’s easy enough for beginners or even children to do!

Painted Santa mason jar

Santa Mason Jar Craft

This Christmas mason jar is completed in four easy steps. First you will paint the jar, then you’re going to add the belt, then the buckle, and finally you’re going to glue on the buttons.

Before we get started on the tutorial, I want to share just a few tips with you that might help as you make a jar of your own:

  1. Use multisurface or glass paint on the jar. You can also use red spray paint. I don’t recommend regular red craft paint because it will be easy to scratch off the glass.
  2. Glass paint looks worse before it looks better. Use a soft bristled brush and don’t paint the next layer until the layer before it is dry. Your first layer will be pretty thin. This is where you need the patience. Don’t glob the paint on; simply brush it on and it will start to flatten out.
  3. Besides brushing, you can also spounce the paint on with this tool. It does give a bit of a texture to the paint though. You’ll find it goes on easier and more consistent, but the results won’t be completely flat (very slight texture). Also, you won’t have brush strokes.

Are you ready to make a Santa mason jar of your very own? Get the tutorial below!

Gather These Supplies

  • Mason jar with a gold lid
  • Red multisurface or glass paint
  • Black glitter ribbon
  • Gold felt or foam
  • Small black buttons – 3
  • Craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush

Before you begin, you’re going to want to clean the mason jar. You are removing oils from fingers – oils that repel paint. Either clean the jar with mild soap and water and let dry, or use rubbing alcohol and cotton pads to clean the glass.

Paint the Glass

Use a soft bristled brush to paint the glass paint on. Plan to paint several layers, allowing to dry between layers. Keep painting until the entire mason jar is covered (you don’t have to do the lip).

Painting a glass jar with red multisurface paint

Add the Belt

Cut a length of black glitter ribbon to wrap around the jar as a belt.

Cutting a piece of black glitter ribbon with scissors

If necessary, trim your ribbon down – mine was too wide for my Santa mason jar. I wanted it to be a little thinner.

Cutting black glitter ribbon with a craft knife and ruler

Add glue to the back of the black glitter ribbon.

Adding craft glue to the back of black ribbon

Glue around the jar, about 2/3 down or so. Let dry.

Glue a black ribbon around the middle of the Santa jar as a belt

Add the Buckle

Cut a 1-inch square of gold glitter foam using a craft knife or scissors.

Cutting a square out of gold foam for a buckle

Then cut a smaller piece of the black glitter ribbon so that you can glue it in the center.

Cutting a piece of black ribbon and the buckle parts in a hand

Glue the gold glitter foam square down on the front of the jar and let dry.

Gold glitter foam glued to the front of the jar

Glue the glitter black ribbon into the center of the gold foam. Let dry.

Gluing the black ribbon in the center of the gold foam

Glue Down the Buttons

Add glue to the back of the buttons and place on the front of the jar. Space them out, with two above the belt and one below.

Gluing Santa's black buttons on the front of the mason jar

Let it dry completely before screwing the ring and lid back on. Isn’t my Santa mason jar cute?!

Hand holding the finished Santa mason jar

Load your Christmas jar up with something tasty or sweet . . . because like I said, it makes the perfect gift!

Santa mason jar craft

I can’t wait to find out if you make one of these for yourself or friends. Please let me a note in the comments!

Yield: 1 jar

Santa Mason Jar

Santa mason jar craft

This Santa mason jar is such a cute addition to your Christmas decorating! It also makes a great gift for teachers, neighbors, and more.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Mason jar with a gold lid
  • Red multisurface or glass paint
  • Black glitter ribbon
  • Gold felt or foam
  • Small black buttons - 3
  • Craft glue

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush

Instructions

  1. Clean your jar with mild soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
  2. Paint the mason jar with red glass paint, starting with a thin layer and building up. Let dry completely between layers until the entire jar is covered.
  3. Cut black glitter ribbon to fit around the center of the jar. Trim if needed and glue down. Let dry.
  4. Cut a small square of gold glitter foam or felt to act as the belt buckle. Glue down and let dry.
  5. Cut a small square of black glitter ribbon to fit inside the gold foam. Glue down and let dry.
  6. Glue small black buttons to the front of the jar; two above and one below. Let dry before replacing the lid on the jar.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


If you enjoyed this Christmas mason jar craft, I’d love for you to check out these other ideas:

Skip to Instructions