Ingredients
- 1 clean glass jar, 4 to 6 inches tall and about 3 inches wide (a small food jar works well)
- 1 battery-operated LED tea light, 1.5 to 2 inches wide (cool-running and flame-free)
- 2 fluid ounces pastel lavender water-based craft paint
- 2 fluid ounces pastel pink water-based craft paint
- 2 fluid ounces pastel blue water-based craft paint
- 1 fluid ounce white water-based craft paint for stars
- 1 fluid ounce clear water-based craft sealer or decoupage medium (matte or satin)
- 1 small paintbrush, about 1/2 inch wide, for the color layers
- 1 small round paintbrush, size 2 or 4, for stars and small marks
- 1 wooden skewer, 6 inches long, for dotting stars
- 1 roll painter's tape, 3/4 inch wide (optional but helpful)
- 1 lint-free cloth, about 12 by 12 inches, for cleaning and drying
- 1 sheet fine sandpaper, 220 grit (optional, only for smoothing a rough painted edge)
- 1 disposable plate, about 7 inches wide, as a paint palette
- 1 table covering, about 24 by 36 inches (a paper grocery bag opened flat works)
- 1 pair nitrile or reusable craft gloves (optional, for paint-sensitive hands)
Instructions
- Cover your table with a drop cloth or flattened paper grocery bag to protect from paint splatters.
- Wash the jar with warm water and dish soap, then rinse it well and dry completely.
- Place painter's tape around the top rim and any threaded area where the lid will sit.
- Pour a small puddle of lavender, pink, and blue paint onto the palette, using less than 1/2 teaspoon of each color.
- Brush on the first lavender layer using long, light strokes, leaving some clear places where the glass can catch the light.
- Add a soft band of pink beside the lavender while it is still slightly workable, overlapping the edges by about 1/2 inch and softening the meeting point with a mostly dry brush.
- Paint the blue section near the opposite side or lower portion of the jar, turning it slowly as you work.
- Let the first layer dry for 2 hours.
- Add a second thin coat in the same general color areas and let it dry for another 2 hours.
- Inspect the jar in daylight, and if you see a rough ridge, smooth it lightly with 220 grit sandpaper and wipe away dust with the cloth.
- Use the small round brush and white paint to add stars in varying dots and clusters.
- For smaller stars, dip the pointed end of the wooden skewer into the white paint and touch it lightly to the glass.
- Allow the stars to dry for 1 hour, then brush on a thin coat of clear water-based sealer, working in one direction.
- Let the sealer dry for 12 hours before removing the tape and placing the LED tea light inside.
- Slowly peel the tape back and wipe the jar with a dry cloth.
- Set the battery tea light inside the finished jar and place it on a protected, level surface.
Notes
Use only a battery-operated LED tea light for safety. Work with water-based paint and sealer in a ventilated area.
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
