How to Decoupage a Glass Jar

Last Updated on April 28, 2023 by Ellen Christian

Are you wondering how to decoupage a glass jar? Learn how to decoupage glass by putting Mod Podge on glass jars for an easy craft.

I have a thing for interesting looking glass jars.  Some I find at thrift stores and tag sales and some I find at the grocery store when I’m shopping.  

How to Decoupage a Glass Jar

I don’t generally do anything with the glass jars.  I have them stored in a cupboard which sort of defeats the purpose of collecting them. 

 If you’re going to collect glass jars, you might as well display them or use them somehow.  While I use Mason jars for storage, the glass jars I find aren’t usually very good for storage purposes.  The mouth on the jars is generally too small to make that possible.

Can you decoupage onto glass?

You certainly can. Since I enjoy decoupaging boxes, I decided that I would learn how to decoupage on glass so I could display them. Please note that this will show you how to decoupage a glass jar that will be for display purposes.

If you plan on using them for something where there is a chance it will get wet or need to be washed out – like for a vase – you will need to seal the jar with a special sealant to protect your design. You can use the same process to decoupage Mason Jars just avoid the raised area where there is writing or measurement marks.

Once you’ve learned how to decoupage a glass jar, you’ll find you want to do them all because it’s loads of fun.

Does Modge Podge dry clear on glass?

It depends on what type of Mod Podge you get. If you use the clear gloss as I have pictured below, it will dry clear on your glass jar. Just be sure to apply it in thin, even layers for the best results.

You can really decoupage just about any piece of glass you have as long as you look for the flat surfaces and make sure the glass is clean and dry when you start.

Decoupage with napkins on glass

You can make some truly stunning designs using napkins and decoupage. Simply tear the napkins into small pieces and then decoupage them in a random pattern onto your glass jar, candleholder, or other items.

Check out these Christmas project ideas using decoupage for the full step by step directions.

Materials to decoupage a glass jar

• Interesting glass jar with flat surfaces

• Cutouts from magazines, greeting cards, etc. that will fit your jar. These die-cut cards have lots of gorgeous images.

• Paintbrush

• Modge Podge Gloss

How to decoupage on glass

• Thoroughly wash your glass jar inside and out.  Remove any labels and any residue from the label that is left on your jar. Learn how to remove stickers easily from flea market finds.

• Let your glass jar dry completely.

• Carefully position the cut out on your jar and brush a small amount of Modge Podge Gloss behind where you want it to be. This will help hold the cut out onto the jar.

• Once your cut out is in the correct space, brush over the cutout and the rest of the bottle. You can use more than one cut out if you want to create a scene or to cover the whole bottle.

• Let your glass jar dry completely.

• You can wipe the bottle down with a barely damp cloth to clean it but do not submerge in water or use a wet cloth to clean it.

Do you enjoy collecting interesting glass jars? Have you ever tried to decoupage a glass jar? If you’d like to try to decoupage glass jars with tissue paper, you can use the same technique I used to decoupage Easter eggs.

Or check out these Christmas decoupage ideas now that you know how to decoupage a glass jar. Or, if you want something different, you might want to check out my decoupaged metal watering can.

One of the common questions I hear about decoupage is how do you avoid the bubbles when you’re applying your design. Now that you know how to decoupage a glass jar check out this handy video for a solution.

I hope you have fun trying decoupage on a variety of different surfaces now that you know how to decoupage a glass jar. Why not try to decoupage Christmas ornaments?