A few weeks ago I did a bit of entertaining.

As I was preparing my home I looked around and thought, “That 4th of July decor has got to go!”   I had been noticing it.  It was sort of sticking out like a sore thumb.  But, if no one was coming over, I could put it off.  And I did.  It’s not like I didn’t have a plan up my sleeve.  For nearly two months I’ve been wanting to get out my old blue canning jars and play around with them.  Finally I did.

My guests came. My guests left.  And the clouds came and I didn’t take any pictures.  I need a sunny day in order to make pretty photographs for you with my pocket Coolpix.  The other day I saw a few rays from the giant orb in the sky.  So I snapped a few pics for you.   Here’s my simple blue moment….

 

Burlap Trimmed Blue Mason Jars in a Longaberger Oval Serving Tray Basket

 

This really was a fast and furious bit of decorating.  I grabbed my favorite Longaberger Oval Serving Tray Basket, set it on a large vintage lace rectangle, added a vintage napkin to the basket, and placed an assortment of very old blue glass Mason jars in the basket tray.

 

Blue Mason Jars decorated for entertaining

 

When I first placed the jars in the basket tray they looked a bit too plain for me.   I thought I should dress them up.  So I grabbed a bit of burlap I had left over from a wreath project.  In order to create a cutting line, I pulled a thread of burlap to set my width and used it as my guide to cut a few long strips of burlap.  I then cut the burlap to fit around the jars and pinned the strips around the jars.  No hot glue to burn my fingers.  How easy is that?!!

The colorful flower is one I made last summer of burlap, cotton fabric, and twine.  I thought it was cute pinned to the jar.

The ruffled burlap trim was the most difficult to do.  Again, it was pulling one of the middle threads to ruffle the burlap fabric.  I pulled from each end, and with the fabric thread that was still intact from being pulled I tied it around the jar with a simple bow.  That’s it!

My stash included some twine.  One jar had a lovely burlap sash pinned around it with the addition of the twine wrapped over the burlap a time or two and then tied in a simple knot.  Super easy!  And I love the textural complement between the two.

 

Old Blue Canning Jars as Decor | AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

I’ve had these jars for a very long time.  My aunt had inherited her parents’ farm and was divesting of all kinds of good things.  She offered me a couple of boxes of canning jars and two great big old metal milk cans.  I said yes.  And they have been traipsing all over the country with me.  Many of the jars have very sloping shoulders and lots of little bubbles in the glass, which I think is an indication of their early age.   The one pictured above must be the oldest in the collection.  I think you can tell by the embossing in the glass.   It is too lovely to cover it up, so I placed a flower in the bottom for a little color.

 

Longaberger Serving Tray filled with Blue Mason Jars decorated with Burlap | An Extraordinary Day

 

The jars vary in size from a pint, to a quart, to what I’m guessing is 2 quarts.  This big one got a burlap cummerbund as well.  And, it was embellished with a lovely felt rose pin I made last spring.  Again, it was pinned with a few straight pins to its burlap cummerbund.

Don’t you love how the jars catch the light so beautifully.  I had a lot of fun taking their pictures.

Two small pint jars were left ‘unclothed’ in the vignette for contrast.  You’ll notice that the jar on the bottom right is a Ball Mason.  I don’t know the history of the Ball or Mason companies, but it looks like at some point they were one company.  Hmmm.   Are you a vintage canning jar expert?  I’d love to hear the story and learn if the jars have any value.

 

Blue Glass Mason Jars in a Longaberger Tray Basket - A Vignette | AnExtraordinaryDay

 

So here you have it….My dining room table vignette.  It’s a nice complement to the sideboard with its burlap runner and blue sea glass surrounding the flower-filled sugar pot on top of the mercury glass cake pedestal.  And the best part.   It was an easy and quick.  Just the kind of DIY project I like best!

The blue jars give our great room a refreshing coastal feel here in the mountains.  As a girl who grew up on Lake Michigan, my blue jars will have to fill in for the sandy shores and blue waves of the big lake this summer.  (I know, that was a stretch…hehe!)

 

Have you done any decorating this summer with blue canning jars?

What’s your favorite way to use blue Mason or Ball jars?

I love your comments….be sure to leave one!!!

 

Wishing you An Extraordinary Day!

Diane

Linking to: Debbie Doos + Nifty Thrifty Things + Under The Table & Dreaming + Between Naps on the Porch + Addicted 2 Decorating + House of Hepworths + Grace at Home + Gussy Sews + The Dedicated House + Cupcakes & Crinoline

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Comments

  1. Diane, I absolutely love the touch of burlap and the rosette … gorgeous and so creative. I love mason jars, too, especially when there’s a fun summer drink in them.

    But unlike you, I’m super-excited to have fall on our doorstep…it’s my favorite time of year!

    • Diane says

      Thanks Michelle! It was super fun to put together. 😀
      Don’t worry….I’ll get on the fall bandwagon very soon. 😀
      Thanks for stopping by again!!!

  2. Jill says

    I’m with you….holding on to summer as long as I can 🙂

    • Diane says

      Hi Jill!!!
      We’re supposed to get into the 90’s again later this week. I guess we won’t have to worry for a little bit. Though I wilt in the heat, I really do LOVE summer. 😀 Hope your end of the summer pretend it’s really not weekend is Extraordinary!!

  3. Jeannie-JB says

    Very lovely – love what you did with the burlap and the fabric flower.

    • Diane says

      Thank you Jeannie!! I just had those flowers sitting in my little bin waiting for a place to really bloom. Don’t you love it when something just comes together?
      Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment!!! 😀
      May you have An Extraordinary Day!!!

  4. Malinda B says

    Sorry. I’m ready for Fall!! Irs ben SO HOT here in AL. Hottest summer in a long time & so humid. I love the crisp feeling; pumpkins; mums; beautiful foilage; & not sweating! LOL! 😉

    • Diane says

      Yes, Malinda, I’ve had enough of the hot days and all the discomforts, too. I guess I’m just dreading winter. And as long as we have summer, winter seems a long way off. 😀 Fall is the next step to winter and usually goes by even faster than summer. Guess I need to savor and appreciate whatever season I’m in 😀 You definitely made it sound lovely.

  5. Your jars look lovely all dressed up and grouped together! You’re blessed to have such a great collection of them–aren’t they wonderful? I like the way you added burlap.

    • Diane says

      Thanks Richella!!! Yes I am so blessed. There is just something happy about them.
      Hope your day is Extraordinary!!

  6. I am loving your Blue jars and all the different shapes and sizes. The Burlap adds such a pretty touch!
    Thank you again for sharing these at our ALL about Burlap party!
    xoxo

    • Diane says

      You are so sweet! I’m crazy about blue jars, Angelina, and I’ve had so much fun playing around with them. Thanks for your lovely remarks!
      Blessings!
      ~Diane

  7. I like them all but the the ruffled one is so cute. You are very creative.

    • Diane says

      And it was so easy to do, Debbie!! That was such a rewarding little project.
      Thanks for your sweet remarks, too!!
      [hugs]

Trackbacks

  1. […] you remember when I shared about my vintage blue glass jars?  My stash is rather sizable, so I’m thinking that I need to include them in my Christmas […]

  2. […] my vintage Mason jars and book pages.   That got me thinking that most of you didn’t see this post of decorating Mason jars with burlap that I wrote late last summer.  If you’re looking for a splash of coastal color in your […]

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