https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/canning-jar-pincushion • Posted by FW Media
Mason jars—long prized for their durability, clean design, and tight-fitting lids—can easily be altered for uses other than food storage. Use to hold sewing notions and add a padded fabric pincushion to keep pins close at hand, or adorn flat lids with paper to showcase dry goods. Purchase a pack—they are cheaper by the dozen—and you’ll have plenty to put to use in every room.
Mason jars—long prized for their durability, clean design, and tight-fitting lids—can easily be altered for uses other than food storage. Use to hold sewing notions and add a padded fabric pincushion to keep pins close at hand, or adorn flat lids with paper to showcase dry goods. Purchase a pack—they are cheaper by the dozen—and you’ll have plenty to put to use in every room.
Remove the 2-piece lid from the canning jar and paint the screw-on band using latex paint or craft paint meant for metal. Let dry completely.
Cut a circle of fabric an extra 1in. (2.5cm) bigger in diameter than the flat section of the lid, and set aside. Gently pull apart a few cotton balls, place on the reverse of the lid, and form into a small mound.
Cover the mound with a paper tissue and test its thickness as a pincushion by inserting a pin; continue adding more cotton balls, if needed. Once the pad is thick enough to hold a pin, secure the tissue underneath the lid with tape.
Use the circle of fabric to cover the tissue, making small snips all along the rounded edge so it will fold over to the reverse neatly. Secure the edges underneath with tape. Fill the jar with sewing notions. Assemble the lid and screw onto the jar.
If you don’t need a pincushion top, omit Steps 2–4 and follow Steps 5–6 to decoupage the lid instead. Use the flat lid to trace a circle onto the pretty paper. Cut out the marked circle, apply the glue stick to the reverse of the paper, and affix to the top of the lid, pressing firmly into place.
Apply a coat of decoupage medium to the paper and smooth out any bumps. Let dry and then fill the jar with colorful collections. Create a tasteful vignette by decorating canning jars of various sizes and displaying them together as a group. TINKER TIP Avoiding getting the decorated lids wet. FANCY THIS Wrap jars with a band of ribbon and tie in a knot or bow. Tuck a sprig of millinery flowers close to the knot. Tinker spools of thread for your pincushion jar by cutting squares of pretty labels, punching a hole in the center, sticking to the ends of a spool, and trimming to fit.