The Most Simple Party
Decorating Idea Ever

by Melissa @ The Inspired Room on September 25, 2008

Mason Jars

It doesn’t get much easier than this. And I like simple and easy! I use this idea year round when I want to add some quick and festive flair for any event, and this is one of the cutest variations ever! We used Mason jars last winter to line our front walk way for guests, we used them this summer at my daughter’s wedding reception, and as you can see, you can use them for fall decorating too! All year round I’ve used Epsom salts to simulate snow or sand. I love the candy corn. You could try coffee beans, shells, jelly beans, marbles, cranberries … and change candle colors to coordinate with your event! The options are endless!

Top photo: Country Living, bottom two photos: Melissa Michaels

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{ 5 trackbacks }

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{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jan September 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Great idea!!! I like them!!

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2 karyn September 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm

A few Easters ago I used mason jars for my table decoration. I purchased a six pack of purple petunias and just place the entire piece, dirt and all into the jar. It looked great.

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3 Jan September 25, 2008 at 10:03 pm

I love me some Mason jars. They have made me happy with canned goods, candles, gifts, herbs, paperwhites, etc etc… I love those jars. :)

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4 Elzie September 25, 2008 at 10:04 pm

It’s great to use jars like this. I’ve done it for several years and I love to just put a candle in them.
Hope you have a good day.
Love Elzie

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5 Mrs. B September 25, 2008 at 10:11 pm

I love the idea of using Mason jars, but I have to admit I’ve never used them for decorating (just canning). I love the way they look with the candy corn in that rusty wire holder. And their also great with the salt on the mossy stones. Winston is pretty cute too!

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6 Darlene September 25, 2008 at 10:59 pm

Great idea about using the epsom salts to look like snow or sand.

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7 Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam September 25, 2008 at 11:30 pm

Yep – they are awesome! Love the candy corn. We used them to line the drive way with candles for a party.

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8 Maven September 26, 2008 at 12:11 am

I love this idea. I’m going to use it on my porch as I have mason jars in abundance. I’m thinking they’d be fun for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

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9 nel September 26, 2008 at 2:38 am

I have a great collection of glass jars to use for this purpose… love the idea of the different decorative touches though!

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10 Liz@VioletPosy September 26, 2008 at 2:48 am

Simple and beautiful. I use them all the time in the summer for lighting up the garden. But at Christmas they are great for decorating sideboards and tables with candles and floral arrangements if you have little ones around.

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11 Emily September 26, 2008 at 3:20 am

Okay, very weird. I just filled 2 mason jars with coffee beans for decoration yesterday!!

Love the simplicity of it!

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12 Bella Casa September 26, 2008 at 3:59 am

I have been wanting to decorate with candy corn…and I have been wanting to use this old milk bottle holder I have…but never thought of combining the 2…now I need something that will fit in my milk bottle holder…Mason Jars would be too big…but the same concept with something smaller…hmmmmm….what do I have around here???

Thanks for the great inspiration, Melissa!!! :)

Bella

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13 Bella Casa September 26, 2008 at 4:00 am

Wait, do Mason jars come in different sizes? lol The gears are spinning in my head….

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14 Monica September 26, 2008 at 4:00 am

Canning jars are one of my very favorite things! They are such a simple pleasure! Great ideas, as always!

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15 Diane@A Picture is worth.... September 26, 2008 at 4:05 am

Hi Melissa,
Thanks for the ideas. Love the wire holder!
Diane

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16 Karen@Arise and Shine September 26, 2008 at 4:56 am

What a wonderful way to create light on a walkway or anywhere. Using candy corn is great for this time of year. Thanks for showing us something new & easy to do! Blessings, Karen

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17 Kim September 26, 2008 at 6:14 am

Wait a second…. now everyone will know my secret of easy decorating….. =) I love mason jars. I have tons in a box and I have used them for almost any celebration – housewarming party centerpieces, fall decor, winter decor, entertaining…. They really are so simple to make work for any occasion.

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18 Linda September 26, 2008 at 6:46 am

We were about to throw some old mason jars away after cleaning out the cupboards, thanks for the new ideas on how to use them in a fun new way.

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19 Meghan September 26, 2008 at 6:52 am

OMG!
Love this idea!

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20 Heather September 26, 2008 at 6:57 am

This is one of favorite and cheap ways to change the outside of our home every season. Love the candy corn idea!

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21 Natalie September 26, 2008 at 7:27 am

I’m a total candles in jars freak. I saw it a long time ago in a magazine – I believe they were hanging down from a tree using wire – and have just always loved the simplicity of it. And it’s a great way to recycle jars.

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22 Sarah September 26, 2008 at 7:29 am

I love it! So simple…so elegant! Thanks for another great idea!

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23 Pam September 26, 2008 at 7:37 am

I really love the idea in the first picture.

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24 Lorrie September 26, 2008 at 8:25 am

Mason jars are favourites of mine. I love all the ideas people are sharing. I’ve taken the smaller ones, wrapped wire around them and hung them in trees with votive candles in sand. So pretty twinkling on a dusky summer evening.

Lorrie

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25 Kirstin September 26, 2008 at 8:26 am

Those look great! I love that idea!

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26 kosenrufu mama September 26, 2008 at 8:46 am

thak you , i like them!!!

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27 Dionna September 26, 2008 at 9:10 am

Love the candles in salt on top of that moss. Gorgeous.

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28 Ms.Tee September 26, 2008 at 9:10 am

That first photo is so pretty – I love it. Thanks for sharing!

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29 Mrs. Q September 26, 2008 at 9:13 am

Epsom salts is a great idea! I love your two bottom photos :) Thanks for sharing!

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30 Severina September 26, 2008 at 9:51 am

I love all the photos! Thanks for the ideas!

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31 Terri Steffes September 26, 2008 at 10:08 am

Simple, elegant, beautiful!

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32 Kimba September 26, 2008 at 11:03 am

I love this idea. A dear friend recently hosted a graduation party for her daughter. She had kind of a vintage, garden party theme and she scattered mason jars with candles all throughout her gardens. It was so beautiful.

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33 Liz September 26, 2008 at 11:15 am

Mmmmm… love these too. Except here lately my husband has started using them as big cups. Blast!

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34 Farrah September 26, 2008 at 11:53 am

That would be a WONDERFUL idea for front steps this Halloween!! Thanks for the idea. :-)

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35 cathleen September 26, 2008 at 12:29 pm

These are really pretty, Melissa….thanks for the inspiration…..can’t beat candles for coziness.

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36 Jai@wifeof1momof4 September 26, 2008 at 1:00 pm

This IS something I COULD do with my nondecorating, uncolorcoordinated self!

Thank you .. I will get to work this weekend and share your ideas w/ my sister.

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37 Julia September 26, 2008 at 1:08 pm

I couldn’t agree more! Mason jars work for so many looks for dinner parties, or outdoor gatherings! I have quite a growing collection and even include jars that I have found with designs on them, they look beautiful at night!

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38 Monica @ Ivy's Porch September 26, 2008 at 1:23 pm

I love the epsom salts! My favorite masons are the aqua colored ones. Here’s how I did the one’s in my blog: Rim with seashell trim, make a loop hanger with rusty wire, fill with sand and shells, add a votive and voila! Mason jar hanging lantern Santa Cruz style.

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39 teresa September 26, 2008 at 1:25 pm

Hey, great idea for my City Bungalow- seeing as I’m trying to keep it simple there- Perfect-
Thanks again for another great idea-
Happy Day!

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40 sarah @ a beach cottage September 26, 2008 at 2:17 pm

oh yep the candle and Mason jar thing, such a lovely idea, an easy and simple way to add romance and class

Sarah

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41 Joy September 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm

That’s such a beautiful idea… never would have thought of the candy corn, but I DO use mason jars as drinking glasses. I love the way they look lined up in my cupboards and they’re a perfect size for a can of cold soda! :)

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42 kris September 26, 2008 at 3:15 pm

very simple, and very beautiful. Thank you!

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43 Mrs darling September 26, 2008 at 5:44 pm

I have hundreds of mason jars and have only thought of using them to display beans and rice and such. What a great idea. I’ll be using this one!!

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44 Amber September 26, 2008 at 5:53 pm

Oh that first one is just so pretty! Great idea, I am going to do that for sure! TFS,
Amber

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45 Amy from Texas September 26, 2008 at 7:08 pm

I use large Mason jars to hold white and brown sugar. Makes a cute display in the kitchen and it’s useful too!

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46 Rachel September 26, 2008 at 7:19 pm

These are great ideas! I’ll be linking to this post.

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47 Deb September 26, 2008 at 7:42 pm

For those on a budget or who don’t can, spaghetti sauce jars are nearly as good.

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48 Sher's Creative Expressions September 26, 2008 at 7:45 pm

So simple, yet soooo perfect!!

Blessings,

Sher

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49 jenn September 26, 2008 at 9:48 pm

Mason jars really are a great to use with candles. I use them all the time! One thing I like to to is wrap wire around the rim and over the top to create a handle and then hang them from garden hooks. They add a lovely glow to outdoor gatherings. Or on a night when I am just enjoying the quiet night time breezes :O)

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50 Jinx September 27, 2008 at 9:01 am

Finally…candy corn put to good use!

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51 meg duerksen September 27, 2008 at 4:42 pm

what could be easier?
love this idea.

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52 Dana @ Letters to Elijah September 27, 2008 at 8:39 pm

I love this! I had a friend do this once to light a pathway outside to a party.. so pretty.. and so frugal :)

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53 Madelyn @ Southern Weddings September 29, 2008 at 9:05 am

I love using mason jars. They can serve so many different purposes and still look so chic and fabulous! Fantastic Post!

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54 Ryan G September 30, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Cool and cheap ideas. More please.

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55 Octamom October 2, 2008 at 6:37 pm

These are beautiful! Thanks for the great ideas!
Blessings!

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56 Gina October 3, 2008 at 8:14 am

I love this idea! we are planning a Halloween wedding and that would be fun to line the walking path with….if I can keep my daughter from eating it ;)
if Bella should happen to return, frappichino jars would probably fit in her holder…just a thought!

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57 Manualidades October 3, 2008 at 8:56 pm

Todo el año podrás utilizar estas luminarias. Algo tan sencillo y económico, no debe de existir! Es tan sencillo y fácil de lograr. Podrás disimular la nieve con sal, o si lo prefieres más colorido podrás usar granos de maíz y de ahí en más deja volar tu imaginación, con granos de café, conchas, caracoles, caramelos, canicas…..y todo lo que se te ocurra para decorar estos frascos. Las opciones son infinitas, y podrás decorar e iluminar todos tus eventos!

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58 Lauren @ Team Giles October 7, 2008 at 8:32 pm

Love it!

Lauren @ Team Giless last blog post..La’s Pick of the Week:

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59 alena October 11, 2008 at 4:21 pm

thats really pretty!!!=0

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60 Susan (A Happy Heart at Home) October 21, 2008 at 4:58 am

Great idea!

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61 Vikki Evans October 23, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Malissa
The Mason jars look so creative the way that you have used them.
Great idea. I’m sure alot of people have thrown their’s away. The
candy corn looks great in them as do the candles.

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62 debra October 25, 2008 at 6:33 pm

I am getting married at the end of March. My future name will be Mason. I am planning to have drinks served in Mason jars as people exit the ceremont but would love another way to incorporate them into my decor. Any ideas?

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63 lylah ledner November 12, 2008 at 4:01 pm

just bought a box of these for storing my seeds – and who’d have thought i’ll get such other fun usage out of them. sweet!

lylah ledners inspiring blog post..how to do a princess party – in style

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64 ginger November 28, 2008 at 10:26 am

What a wondeful way to light up a walk way just brilliant.
hugs ginger

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65 thekeybunch November 30, 2008 at 11:22 pm

Wonderful idea, so simple yet stunning!

thekeybunchs inspiring blog post..Out-of-the-box Ideas

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66 Emilyann January 27, 2009 at 5:47 pm

Love all the ideas! Using small peebles or aquarium gravel w’candles and tieing twine around mouth of jar is also very neat & inexpensive. We’re trying to get ready for a country wedding, anymore ideas please share. Thanks ya’ll.

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67 Pjjunker July 13, 2009 at 4:48 pm

I use mason jars to organize my craft supplies. They’re cheap and it’s easy to see what I have!

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68 Jess B October 23, 2009 at 10:20 am

love it!

i recently used mason jars in a blog post as well!

http://partyboxdesign.blogspot.com/2009/10/cocktail-tags.html

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