Skip to Content

Cool Colored Mason Jars with Mod Podge

Learn how to make colored mason jars with Mod Podge! These tinted mason jars are such an easy craft idea – you don’t need experience to do it.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you can make these tinted mason jars. You’re simply adding food coloring to Mod Podge and pouring in the jars.

Colored Mason Jars with Mod Podge

It’s something I’ve always wanted to try and finally did: colored mason jars! Have you heard about this cool technique? You can easily dye glass using Mod Podge and food coloring. If you love mason jar crafts, this is one you’re going to have to try.

How to Tint Mod Podge

It’s really easy to tint Mod Podge and turn it into any color you like. You can do it with food coloring or paint (we did it with paint here).

The only difference is how translucent (semi-transparent) the Podge remains after you dye it. As you know, Mod Podge dries clear.

Adding food coloring or acrylic paint is going to make it somewhat translucent as opposed to completely clear. Food coloring keeps the Mod Podge pretty close to clear.

Acrylic paint is a little different in that it has more pigment and isn’t as watery, so it makes the Podge even less clear (more translucent). Just something to think about as you decide on your project.

Here’s how you tint Mod Podge:

  1. Add some Mod Podge to a small container (a piece of Tupperware works great).
  2. Put a couple of drops of food coloring or paint into the Podge. Stir.
  3. Apply with a soft bristled brush, spouncers, or foam brush to a clean surface. You can also swirl it around on the inside of jars as well. Let dry.

That’s it! You can play with the combination of color and Mod Podge a bit before you decide on your final tint. Just remember: you can always add more, but you can’t take it away. So start with just a few drops!

Colored Mason Jars

I wanted to try making some tinted mason jars for storage with these pint sized (mini) mason jars I found at Jo-Ann.

I coupled the colored Mod Podge with my peel n’ stick stencils (the keys) and some baker’s twine. Then I added a chalkboard sticker after that. You’ll find a lot of ways to customize this project.

You can have cute storage in minutes. Here’s how I easily decorated the Mod Podge mason jars above.

Mason Jar Storage

Gather These Supplies

Start by washing your mason jars with mild soap to clean them, and then let dry. Trust me on this one. I didn’t wash a jar and added the colored Mod Podge, and it didn’t cling as well (my bad).

Tinted Mason Jars

Start by adding about two tablespoons of the Sheer Color of your choice into a jar and rolling it around to coat. This can take several minutes.

If you find that you need to add more, add about one tablespoon at a time and continue rolling the jar around until the entire inside is coated.

Tip: shaking the jar over a trash bin can help remove excess Mod Podge and also help coat the inside. Just be sure you don’t shake too hard and explode the Mod Podge everywhere (um, haha).

How to tint mason jars

Repeat with the remaining jars. When you are done coating them all, place them face down on a paper towel for several hours to let the excess Mod Podge drain out.

When the jars have completely drained, turn them right side up to let the jars dry completely – this will take overnight. I kept moving the jars around on the paper towel as well, just to make sure they didn’t stick.

Adhesive stencil on a mason jar

Choose your design to place on the fronts of the mason jars. I put a different key on the front of each jar. Carefully peel the stencil from the backer sheet and smooth down flat on the jar surface, making sure to center your design.

Add Mod Podge to the adhesive stencil with a spouncer

Use the spouncer to add Mod Podge to the stencil. Use a medium layer of Mod Podge and work quickly, since Mod Podge dries quickly. Completely cover the key.

Glitter sprinkled on Mod Podge

Peel up the stencil and pour the glitter on top right away.

Tip: pour the glitter onto the jar over a piece of paper so that you can pour the excess back into the original container.

Pour glitter over the jar

Repeat with all the jars, then let dry. Remove excess glitter using the paintbrush (lightly brush it away).

Replace the lids on your jars and cut baker’s twine to wrap around each lid. Tie in a bow.

Add a sticker to the top of a mason jar lid

Place a chalkboard circle on top of each jar in the center so that you can write the contents on the lid. Can you believe these stickers? I love them.

Colored Mason Jars with Mod Podge

If you exclude dry time, these colored mason jars took just a few minutes to decorate. I love them and I want a whole rainbow!

Yield: 4 jars

Colored Mason Jars

Colored Mason Jars with Mod Podge

Learn how to tint mason jars with Mod Podge! It's very simple, and you can customize with any colors you like. Perfect for parties or gifts.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Dry Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 40 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • Mason jars - any size
  • Mod Podge Gloss
  • Food coloring
  • Glitter – colors of your choice (optional)
  • Baker’s twine – colors of your choice (optional)
  • Chalkboard stickers – small round (optional)

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush
  • Adhesive stencils (optional)
  • Spouncers (optional)

Instructions

  1. Start by washing the mason jars with mild soap to clean - let dry.
  2. Add some Mod Podge to a small container (a piece of Tupperware works great).
  3. Put a couple of drops of food coloring or paint into the Mod Podge. Stir.
  4. Apply the Mod Podge in one of two ways: 1) use a soft bristled brush, spouncers, or foam brush to apply to the outsides of the jars; 2) swirl the Mod Podge around the inside of the jars and drain.
  5. Regardless of the process you choose to apply the Mod Podge, let dry for 24 hours before using the jars.

Notes

If you find that you're having difficulty drying the Mod Podge, you can put the jars in the oven at the lowest temperature for several hours. Just be sure to never leave the jars unattended and check them every 20 - 30 minutes.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


Looking for more Mod Podge mason jar crafts? We’ve got a ton here on the blog! I’d also love for you to check out our easy crafts for adults and our guide on how to paint mason jars. I think you’ll like both of these posts so take a peek!

Colored Mason Jars Web Story

Annie Callahan

Saturday 16th of March 2024

I just read some of the comments, oh boy, I should have put the color on the outside. Yikes!

Annie Callahan

Saturday 16th of March 2024

Hi Amy, I actually used non toxic mica dyes but I cannot remove the scent of the mod podge for my spice jars. I made them a couple of weeks ago and they still smell. Any ideas other than putting my spiced in small zip lock bags inside the jars? Thank you!

Debbie

Monday 2nd of October 2023

So it looks like they dry clear? Is that correct?

Amy

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023

Mostly. They aren't completely transparent. But yes mostly :)

Ellen

Friday 31st of March 2023

Hi this is the first time I’m painting mason jars with chalk paint. I’ve painted them all and dried over a day ago. I used sand paper but the paint is coming off and it is not easy to sand. What am I doing wrong? I really don’t know if my sand paper is good. Do I need to repaint them please help

Amy

Sunday 2nd of April 2023

Hi Ellen! I wrote a post about it here: https://modpodgerocksblog.com/how-to-paint-mason-jars/

MPC

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

The color fades/disappears if the jars are in direct sunlight… I colored a bunch and put solar lids with lights inside and put them outside in the garden. All lost the color…

Amy

Friday 16th of September 2022

Hi MPC! Yes, acrylic products will fade in the direct sunlight without UV protection. It's like a framed poster that hangs on the wall in direct sunlight and if it doesn't have UV glass, it will fade too. The Outdoor formula features a UV protection.

Skip to Instructions