Mason Jar Lid Pumpkins with Cinnamon Stick stem makes the cutest fall centerpiece. It is easy to make and you only need lids and spray paint!
MASON JAR LID PUMPKINS TUTORIAL
This craft is probably one of my favorites. I have made many of these over the years and each year, as I decorate for fall, I love bringing them out and freshening them up with new cinnamon sticks.
A FUN FALL CRAFT
Mason jar lids are inexpensive so this is an affordable craft. Or, if you can find some old lids that you already having laying around - even better. You can sometimes pick them up in bulk at thrift stores.
ITEMS NEEDED:
- mason jar lid bands
- orange spray paint
- orange yarn
- cinnamon sticks
HOW TO MAKE MASON JAR LID PUMPKINS:
Lay out some newspaper or craft paper in a well-ventilated area. I did this outside, which really offers the best ventilation, and on a day that is not windy or rainy (obviously). Lay out all your mason jar bands onto the paper, making sure several inches separate them. Note: if you are sensitive or have respiratory issues, I also recommend wearing a protective mask while spray painting.
Spray paint the bands well with orange spray paint. I spray painted one side first, allowed to dry for a few hours, then I flipped them over and sprayed the other side. Make sure you are spraying the sides well too. Allow lids to dry completely overnight.
Once lids are completely dry, it's time to tie them all together. First, make sure all your mason jar bands are facing the same direction. In the picture below, you'll see the groove part of the bands are all facing one way. *This really is important to get this pumpkin to fan out nicely.*
Wrap a piece of orange yarn through the bands. Then pull as tight as you can. You want a really nice, taught string. It may help if you have someone helping you on this part. My son put his finger on the string to keep it in place so I could tie a tight knot. *This is another important detail to ensure this pumpkin shapes up properly when fanning out the lids. *Cut off any excess string.
Once you have it tied, it should just be a matter of gently separating the lids so they are spaced evenly.
Pop a few cinnamon sticks in the middle to be the pumpkin stem and you are done! It may take 5 or 6 cinnamon sticks per pumpkin you make. It just depends on how wide the sticks are.
Mason Jar Lid Pumpkins
Ingredients
- 20 mason jar bands
- 1 can orange spray paint
- orange yarn
- 4-5 (4-inch) cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Lay out some newspaper or craft paper in a well-ventilated area.
- I did this outside, which really offers the best ventilation, and on a day that is not windy or rainy (obviously).
- Lay out all your mason jar bands onto the paper, making sure several inches separate them.
- Note: if you are sensitive or have respiratory issues, I also recommend wearing a protective mask before spray painting.
- Spray paint the bands well with orange spray paint.
- I spray painted one side first, allowed to dry for a few hours, then I flipped them over and sprayed the other side. Make sure you are spraying the sides well too.
- Allow lids to dry completely overnight.
- Once lids are completely dry, it's time to tie them all together. First, make sure all your mason jar bands are facing the same direction.
- Wrap a piece of orange yarn through the bands then pull tight and tie a double knot.
- Cut off any excess string.
- Once you have it tied, it should just be a matter of gently separating the lids so they are spaced evenly.
- Pop a few cinnamon sticks in the middle to be the pumpkin stem and you are done!
Angelina
Beautiful
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Angelina!
Helen Land
Love this
Faye Morrison
I love it!! I’m sure going to try making this one.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Faye - a lot of folks have mentioned that using a ribbon is easier than using string. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Joanne Walczak
Love this idea as thanksgiving is a favorite Day!
Kat Gwosdz
This is a great instructional tool... Thank you!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you Kat! I always appreciate the feedback!
Debbie Lay
I am having problems with the paint flecking off the lid. I have tried 2 different primers and 3 different sealers over the paint still no success
Wendy Jenkins
Thank you for your post!!! I'm making these for gifts for my family! I got all the rings painted & put my 1st one together & it's perfect! Only question... my paint flaked off a bit in spots. I will retouch-no big deal, but do you ever have this problem?
Jennie
Thanks for the exactly count of rings to use. I tried this four (very frustrating) times before I found your step by step directions!! Twenty is the magic number.
Brandie
Glad you were finally able to make it without frustration. Perfect fall decoration.
Marie Dagenhart
I am having trouble making my lid appear as one circle.
I have retied the lids three times. I still get a gap where I tied. Getting frustrated, please help
Crystal
This is just the cutest thing I have seen! I've gotta try it out and since I have tons of mason jar's this is just a perfect way to use them up.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hope you love it! Definitely a great project for all those lids ya got hanging around!
Marie Dagenhart
I used craft paint. I'm wondering should I put a clear top coat over the paint. To keep the paint from coming off and to make it last longer.
Can't wait to see the finished product
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Marie, I would say yes since you used craft paint. It will help it to stay on longer! 🙂
Catherine
Do you think a zip tie would work better than yarn? I LOVE this idea, but would like a more "sturdy" option.
Anonymous
Do you know the dimensions of the finished project with the wide mouth lids?
Anonymous
Do you have to use 20 kids or can less be used to maybe make smaller pumpkins?
Caroline Simpson Jones
you are awesome kiddo, so talented and simply creative.
fullmoonadventures
I used ribbon instead of paint on my mason jar pumpkins. I cut my ribbon the length to fit around each lid, applied a very thin line of school glue to one edge of the entire top length of ribbon and rolled it around using the lid ridge as my guide. I used 3 colors of ribbon, Orange, white and a sequence gold (which really gave it a Cinderella look!). I strung them up in this order; Orange, gold, Orange, gold, white...and to thicken my cinnamon sticks I tied 4 sticks in a bundle with jute, then used orange ribbon on top of the jute for thickness. This gave them a snug fit when pushed sticks were pushed into the center. I also added white and gold ribbon (desired length) to the center stem for a pretty fall off the pumpkin. I found that 15 small rings to be perfect or 20 large rings.
Anonymous
I have a question. I'm planning this for a craft night and I have 24 women who would like to make this. So my questions is how much cinnamon sticks should I get. I know each pumpkin needs 5-6 sticks. It's cheaper to buy in bulk so would you think I need 1,2, or 3 pounds of 4" cinnamon sticks?
Dana Benjamin
Now that pumpkin season is upon us again and mason jars are all the rage, and easy to find in many stores, this craft idea is on my list!
Ruth Johnson
I am trying this but used newspaper to lay them on and they stick to the paper. Also, I plan on using old bands that are a little rusty do I need to sand them and then use a primer before actually painting them?