Using Photographs in Home Decorations with Mason Jars

Photographs have been used in home decor for a number of years. In fact the principle of photography from its inception was to share them with others; to be viewed by others when placed in a location where everyone could see them.

As photography grew into a full blown art, this principle still remains one of the most used applications of photography.

This theme uses photographs and mason jars or other similar containers to turn them into home decor accents as well as other unconventional uses to display photographic art. But for the sake of argument we are just going to explore using mason jars and photos.

Simply put, you take a photograph and place it in the interior of a mason jar or other container and place the jars in a visible location.

There are two basic ways of doing this.The first is to tape the photograph to the interior surface of a container so that the side which shows the image is against the glass surface and clearly viewed by anyone. With this method you can fill the empty space of the container with some colored sand.

The other method involves a little more effort. You take a photo and insert it into a plastic holding base much like what collectors of baseball cards to protect them from the elements and oily hands.

Once you place the card inside its protector, you then need to seal all of the edges of the protector with clear silicone so that it becomes watertight. Then fill the jar with some water and add food coloring, perhaps also add some clear crystal or colored stones and you are set to go, that's it. Simple, quick and you just made some home decor pieces which are truly yours and unique.

If you have some black & white photos, then instead of using water and food coloring, use vegetable or corn oil and make sure to seal the top securely.

This project is also very suitable to be done by young children as well any anyone interested in arts & crafts projects. They are also suitable to be given as gifts but pay attention to the images that you use.

If you are going to do the project for gift giving purposes then instead of photographs of yourself or others simply change them with other images such as abstract photos or other decorative images.

Another variation includes attaching the image to the jar's interior and spray painting the rest of the jar's interior with either gold, bronze or other highly attractive paint. This creates a sort of "window" for your images and the color of the bottle as seen from the outside adds to their charm.

Another variation needs to have bottle or jars that have a wide top. You cut a hole or square shape into the lid, and cover it from the inside with some clear plastic.

Set your finished containers on a shelf that features lights. Similar to what some book shelves have. It works better if the lights are set on the underside of the top shelf. The light will enter the jar from the opening that you previously made and adds highlights to the image.

To add a more interesting effect to your finished jars, make sure that the lids is secured and dip the tops by inverting the jar, into a bowl of melted colored wax.

If you do not want to go to the trouble of melting wax then brush the lid with some clear gloss paint like polyurethane or any other glossy paint. Make sure to take the lid out, paint it, let it dry and replace it on the jar.

Just research wax melting methods as it can burn you if not careful. The wax makes the jar more pleasing to look at and it also helps prevent rust from forming on the lid which is usually made from simple tin and over time can become rusty and discolored.