One of my fondest memories from when I was young is being at my grandma’s house while she and my mom were canning food in Mason jars. For many of us, these rustic jars bring back memories of happy times or days gone by.

Earlier today while I was cleaning out my cabinets I happened upon some old Mason jars and decided to bring them out and put flowers in them to cheer up my kitchen. As I was sitting looking at how pretty they looked I started brainstorming some ideas for how they could be decorated to spice them up even more and to make them work with a variety of different decor. Here are some of the ideas I came up with for how to make a vase out of a Mason jar.

For all of the following ideas, first make sure that your jar is thoroughly washed and dried to remove any remaining food.

Country Style Vase

To make a country style vase from a Mason jar, start by filling the jar about 1/3 to 1/2 full with small pebbles. Next, take dried flowers and arrange them in the jar, sticking the stems down into the pebbles to help hold them in place. Finally, tie a piece of natural colored raffia in a bow around the lip of the jar. Cute, rustic and no water required – what more could you ask for?

Shabby Chic Style Vase

Start by finding a pretty ribbon or a length of lace and tie it around the top of the jar. Or, if you prefer, tie it around the middle and secure it in place with a dab of hot glue. Fill the jar with pale colored tulips or white roses. Antique Mason jars that have that slight blue-green coloring that old glass gets would work really well for this style.

Most of us don’t think of Mason jars as elegant, but I say why not? To make this style, pick up some clear glass gems from your local craft store. Fill the jar partway with the gems then add roses, lilies or orchids to the vase. Fill it the rest of the way with water and set it out on a nightstand or mantle.

Covered Vase

If you wanted, you could completely hide the fact that you were using a Mason jar as a vase by covering it with fabric or tissue paper. Start by choosing a piece of fabric or tissue paper that matches your decor. Set the jar in the middle of the paper or fabric and draw it up around the jar. Secure it in place by tying a ribbon around the lip of the jar and the fabric or paper. You can trim off any excess fabric or paper.

Painted Vase

Pick up some glass paints from your local craft store. Use your imagination and creativity to paint your jar. You can paint around any markings on the jar or get creative and come up with your own pattern. Follow the directions on the paint as far as drying times go. Finally fill with flowers and enjoy.

Keep in mind that you can find some really beautiful Mason jars for very little money at antique malls. Often times these jars have more character than modern Mason jars.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas on ways that you could turn a Mason jar into a vase. Use your imagination and see what other ideas you can come up with on your own.

Summer is one of the most popular times of the year to get married. And why not? Not only are the warm summer months a romantic time of year, but the weather is typically nice making it easy for out of town guests to travel and for all your guests to enjoy themselves if you choose to have an outdoor ceremony or reception.

One of the keys to making your wedding perfect is choosing the right flowers. Here are some suggestions for flowers for a summer wedding that may help you to narrow down your choices.

Daisies

Perfect for casual or less formal weddings, daisies come in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Most people think of the common daisies that are white with a yellow center, however there are many different varieties that you can choose from in just about every color that you could imagine.

Typically daisies are inexpensive compared to other types of flowers which means that you may be able to order more of them, too. Choose one or two colors that tie in with your wedding colors, or mix a bunch of bright colors together for a fun and festive summertime feel.

These beautiful delicate flowers have a certain class and sophistication all their own. Orchids are tropical flower which makes them well suited to summer weddings and they can be purchased in many different colors and varieties including white, purple and pink.

Lilies

Not only are lilies graceful and elegant, but typically they smell absolutely divine as well. Like both orchids and daisies, lilies can be found in many different colors so you can choose the variety that works best with your wedding colors.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are another fabulous choice for casual or less formal weddings. Bright and cheerful, these beautiful, large flowers give a sense of happiness and hope and can make your special day fun and festive.

Roses

Roses work well for weddings any time of year and are always a popular choice. For a summer wedding try choosing roses in a lighter color like pink, yellow, or even hybrid roses that fade from pink to white. Delicate, classic and beautiful, you can never go wrong with roses.