How to Make Jar Lid Ornaments

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6:00 AM

How to Make Jar Lid Ornaments!

Let me show you how fun, easy and practically free it is to make layered jar lid ornaments.

These are the perfect craft for big groups; church activity, school/class craft, Girl or Boy Scouts, Girls Craft Night, paint nights and more.

Gather a few supplies you probably already have--which makes these festive jar lid ornaments--FREE!

This time of year, we are bombarded with pressure to spend lots of money.

I reject that.

I love making things that are free or very nearly. (Check out this post here for more nearly free ideas)

I could have made these with my xTool Laser Cutter or my Cricut Maker 3, but instead, I wanted to use basic supplies to show how fun a simple project can be.

I assume that everyone has a basic stash of office supplies, if not, this is still a very inexpensive project.

This does make a great craft for a big group of people, since the cost is so low.

Supplies Needed for Jar Lid Ornaments:

Clean Jar Lids (taken off any glass jar on its way to recycling)
Cardboard
Scissors
Hot Glue/Gun (can be assembled with white glue or glue sticks)
White Acrylic Paint or White Paint Marker
Paintbrush
Black Fine Pen
Pencil
Twine, yarn, string, ribbon, paperclip or ornament hook

Was I right? Do you have all these supplies?

If you don't have white acrylic paint, it's super cheap at Walmart in Plaid's Apple Barrel section.

Supplies Needed for Jar Lid Ornaments: Clean Jar Lids (taken off any glass jar on its way to recycling) Cardboard Scissors Hot Glue/Gun (can be assembled with white glue or glue sticks) White Acrylic Paint or White Paint Marker Paintbrush Black Fine Pen Pencil Twine, yarn, string, ribbon, paperclip or ornament hook Was I right? Do you have all these supplies? If you don't have white acrylic paint, it's super cheap at Walmart in Plaid's Apple Barrel section.

Step 1: Paint the Jar Lids

Optional first step is to paint the jar lids.

This isn't really necessary because the inside of the lid gets completely covered and the backside doesn't show.

So decide if painting is worth the time.

Step 1: Paint the Jar Lids Optional first step is to paint the jar lids. This isn't really necessary because the inside of the lid gets completely covered and the backside doesn't show. So decide if painting is worth the time.

Step 2: Cut Cardboard

Begin by placing a jar lid on the cardboard and trace it with a pencil.

Then cut out the circle with scissors, slightly on the inside of the pencil line, since it has to be a little smaller to fit inside the jar lid.

Step 3: Peel Cardboard

Peel off the top layer of the cut out circle, revealing the corrugated cardboard layer.

This gives the scene a cool textured backdrop.

Then hot glue, glue or glue stick the cardboard into the jar lid.

Step 3: Peel Cardboard Peel off the top layer of the cut out circle, revealing the corrugated cardboard layer. This gives the scene a cool textured backdrop. Then hot glue, glue or glue stick the cardboard into the jar lid.

Step 4: Cut Cardboard

Repeat the tracing of the lid on cardboard and cut it out with the scissors.

Use the pencil to sketch out the back layer scene (typically mountains) filling most of the circle, but not quite to the top.

Then cut the mountains out and hot glue them on top of the corrugated cardboard background layer.

Step 4: Cut Cardboard Repeat the tracing of the lid on cardboard and cut it out with the scissors. Use the pencil to sketch out the back layer scene (typically mountains) filling most of the circle, but not quite to the top. Then cut the mountains out and hot glue them on top of the corrugated cardboard background layer.

Step 5: Paint Snow

Then use the paintbrush and paint or white paint marker to add some snow on the mountain peaks, down in the valleys or all over!

Step 6: Next Winter Layer

Repeat the 'trace lid with pencil on cardboard' step and then sketch out the next desired layer of your Winter wonderland.

Could be a row of trees, another snowy hill, or go straight to the cabin in the woods. (You are only limited by your ability to cut out the cardboard--but if you have a laser cutter--rock out!)

The number of layers in the jar lid depend on how thick the jar lid is.

Just stack up pieces of cardboard and see how many layers it takes to fill the lid.

Cut out the sketch, glue it in the lid and add any white snow as desired.

Use a black fine tip pen to outline, draw details like a cartoon on the different layers.

Step 6: Next Winter Layer Repeat the 'trace lid with pencil on cardboard' step and then sketch out the next desired layer of your Winter wonderland. Could be a row of trees, another snowy hill, or go straight to the cabin in the woods. (You are only limited by your ability to cut out the cardboard--but if you have a laser cutter--rock out!) The number of layers in the jar lid depend on how thick the jar lid is. Just stack up pieces of cardboard and see how many layers it takes to fill the lid. Cut out the sketch, glue it in the lid and add any white snow as desired. Use a black fine tip pen to outline, draw details like a cartoon on the different layers.

Step 7: Add Twine

Finish off the darling little Winterscape diorama jar lid ornaments with a piece of twine hot glued on the backside of the lid.

You could use thick string, fishing line, yarn, ribbon, an open paper clip, an ornament hook, a hairband...whatever you have already on hand.

You could tie a bow with ribbon to add one more element if desired.

Step 7: Add Twine Finish off the darling little Winterscape diorama jar lid ornaments with a piece of twine hot glued on the backside of the lid. You could use thick string, fishing line, yarn, ribbon, an open paper clip, an ornament hook, a hairband...whatever you have already on hand. You could tie a bow with ribbon to add one more element if desired.

It took me one hour to do all six of these jar lid ornaments--so about 10 minutes each.

If I was teaching a craft class, I would expect that everyone could make one in 45 minutes to an hour.

If I was teaching these for a class, I would have sample ideas of backgrounds, cabins and trees, so there is a reference.

I love how they turned out!

It took me one hour to do all six of these jar lid ornaments--so about 10 minutes each. If I was teaching a craft class, I would expect that everyone could make one in 45 minutes to an hour. If I was teaching these for a class, I would have sample ideas of backgrounds, cabins and trees, so there is a reference. I love how they turned out!

If you aren't into the Christmas tree ornament idea, these could be adapted into fridge or locker magnets with a magnet glued on the back.

They could be just a little shelf sitter diorama knick-knack.

They could be used as a gift tag too!

If you aren't into the Christmas tree ornament idea, these could be adapted into fridge or locker magnets with a magnet glued on the back. They could be just a little shelf sitter diorama knick-knack. They could be used as a gift tag too!

That's it!

What do you think of these jar lid ornaments--don't you just love them?

Do you have everything it takes to make these adorable little Winter scene Jar Lid Ornaments?

So gather up used jar lids to recycle, hold on to those cardboard boxes, and grab a paint pen or some craft paint and make a bunch of jar lid ornaments for the holidays.