I can’t wait to share this adorable project with you, friends! Today I am making vintage tissue jars out of mason jars and pretty vintage items. I absolutely love the way they came out and I think you will too!
One of the things you may notice about this tutorial is that it doesn’t have a video like most of my blog posts do. The reason for that is that this adorable vintage tissue jar project is one that I did a few years ago in my membership group, Tami’s Making. I can’t link the video here because it was posted in the membership group and it can only be watched there. Since it’s been a few years since I shared it in that group, I thought it would be ok to share it with you now. That way you can see an example of some of the fun projects I teach people how to make each month! In the group, I do at least 3 exclusive video tutorials every month. And, you also have access to all the tutorials that I’ve done since I started the group in 2019! So, for example, you could easily find the video of me making these vintage tissue jars. I’d love it if you would come craft with us!
Making Vintage Tissue Jars
One of the things that you should know about this beautiful project is that no two tissue jars will be the same. And I absolutely love that! In the instructions below, I explain exactly how to make one of these pretties. But, the way yours looks will depend on the things that you have on hand to work with. For instance, I wrapped my jar in a lace sleeve that had been cut from a vintage dress. The chances of you having or finding one of those are probably not great. But you will have/find other beautiful pieces of fabric or lace that you can use! Just like the antiques that we love, no two tissue jars will be the same.
Design Variations
Ok here’s where things can get really interesting! I know that many of you are vintage lovers like me and will want to give your tissue jars a vintage look. But you don’t have to! If you want to give these as gifts or sell them at a craft show, you can make them to suit lots of different decor styles. Just choose fabrics and ribbons that will compliment each other and go to town! Farmhouse decor is very popular and so are polka dots, you could absolutely make tissue jars to match.
Lid Variations
Figuring out how to get the whole in the lid for the tissue to come out was my only struggle with this project. For the first one I left the circular part of the canning lid and popped a whole in it using a short screw driver and a hammer. Then I started using my little gray cells and came up with some better options! I ended up going with sheet music to cover a piece of cardboard cut to fit my lid. I give you those instructions in the step by step below. But you could also use fabric like burlap or muslin.
To do that, trace the circular part of your lid onto cardboard and then cut it out. Cut a square of muslin or burlap that you will be able to fold over the edges of the cardboard to cover it. Use the tape to secure it in place and then cut a whole out for your tissue. You may want to cut the hole in the cardboard before you cover it and then trace the hole onto your fabric and cut that out. Then, line up your holes before taping the fabric in place. That will probably give you a cleaner cut than trying to cut through them both at the same time.
Supply List
- Quart sized canning jar with lid (wide mouth)
- Material or lace to cover the jar
- Muslin or burlap to cover your jar lid
- Lace/tatting (I used two different kinds on my jar. I used tatting for the neck and a smaller type for the lid)
- Hot glue gun
- Spray adhesive (optional)
- Paint for your lid (I used cream chalk paint)
- Scissors
- Small piece of cardboard
- Mod Podge
- Paint brush
- Small vintage embellishments (like keys, buttons, jewelry, craft pearls, etc…)
- Tubular container of tissue
Step by Step Instructions
- Paint both parts of your lid in the color of your choice. I used cream chalk paint for mine.
- Cut your material to fit the outside of the jar. Don’t cover the area where the lid screws on. Use spray adhesive and/or hot glue to attach the material around the body of the jar.
- Next, cut your lace to fit around the neck of the jar and use the hot glue to secure it in place.
- Now cut a piece of your smaller lace and use hot glue to wrap it around the lid.
- Trace the circular part of your lid onto a piece of cardboard. Then trace it onto an old book page or sheet music. Cut both of your circles out and then use the Mod Podge to adhere the book page to the cardboard piece. Once it is dry, cut out the whole for your tissue to come through.
- Next, pull your tissue out of its original container and put it into your jar. Put your lid on the jar and then add any embellishments that you are using. I made a small bow with a piece of lace I had and then used a piece of ribbon width lace to tie a pretty key to mine.
The Wrap Up…
I had a lot of fun making these tissue jars! And I loved sharing it with the ladies in Tami’s Making. I tried to include as many tips and tricks here as I could remember. If you are part of our membership group, though, you’ll have access to the video tutorials where I share my whole process and all the extra info you need. I hope you have fun making these vintage tissue jars and that you will join us in the membership group! You can pop in and out as often as you want so you can give it a try for a month and see what you think. Hope to see you there!
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