banks

Painting on Glass: Banks

A while ago I saw these painted banks made with canning jars. Since I needed all my canning jars and had none to spare, I found that the canning rings and lids fitted the store brand mayonnaise jars just fine. Although this project is tailored for adults, children can have fun with it as well. The only difference is that I would recommend that smaller children (ages 2-7) paint the jars however they wish instead of gluing on a design. This makes it simpler for them, as well as you, since all you have to do after the paint dries is spray the jar with the sealer, and cut the slit in the lid.

Materials:

Flathead screwdriver
Hammer
Pliers
Mayonnaise jar, washed and dried
Canning ring and lid
Paint primer
Acrylic paints
Picture (from a magazine, decoupage book, etc.)
White glue
Spray sealer
Varnish
2 Foam brushes (Recommended for the convenience of just throwing it away when done, but if you wish, you can use a bristle brush and just clean it with paint thinner or mineral spirits when through.)

Procedure:

Using a foam brush, coat the outside of the jar right up to the threads of the jar (You might want to go a little above the lowest thread just to make sure that the jar is completely covered when the lid is attached. Painting the threads entirely might hinder the lid from being screwed on). You might want to keep your brush in a Ziploc bag just in case the second coat is needed, so you don’t have to use another brush. When dry, add a second coat, if needed. Wait 24 – 48 hours for the primer to cure.
Paint the outside of the jar with the acrylic paint. Let dry.
Cut out your picture. Using a soft-bristled paintbrush spread the glue, covering the back of the picture completely. Place on the jar, smooth out the wrinkles, and let dry.
Spray the picture lightly with the sealer (this prevents any print ink from bleeding when the varnish is applied). When the sealer is dry, apply 2–3 thin coats of varnish with a foam brush, waiting for each coat to dry before applying a new coat (again, placing the brush in a Ziploc to preserve it for the next coat). This give a nice thick coat of protection to the picture.
Now for the money slot: Place the canning lid on a scrap piece of wood, right side up. Taking the flathead screwdriver and hammer (my apologies to tool enthusiasts and screwdriver manufacturers), pound a series of holes to make a slot big enough for the money to pass easily through. Continuing with the screwdriver, bend the raw metal edges back far enough so that you can use the pliers to flatten the rough edges completely against the lid.
When completed, screw the lid on the jar and add a ribbon, if desired.

Some varieties that you might wish to try:

Spatter painting: After you coat the jar with acrylic paint, dab an old paintbrush in a different color and ‘flick’ it with a plastic fork (drawing the fork towards you) to spatter the paint over the jar. Note: Be sure to have the area well covered, as this could get messy!
Crackling: Instead of waiting for the primer to dry completely, wait until it is slightly tacky to the touch before covering with the acrylic paint. Since the two different kinds of paints have different drying times, it causes a crackling effect. Wait at least 24 hours before adding the picture.

I would not recommend using the lid that comes with the jar for aesthetic reasons. However, if you don’t have any canning lids or rings on hand, and you wish to use the mayonnaise lid, certain adjustments must be made. If the lid is metal, cut the slot for the money as seen in the steps above. Prime and paint the outside of the lid at the same time as you do the jar. If the lid is plastic, you can try carefully drilling a series of holes in the lid for the slot, and then filing the rough edges with a metal file.

This project, although designed for a bank, can also be applied to painting on any glass jar. I used the same method to paint an old clear glass candy jar that I was tired of to give it a new look.

If you do not see the table at the left, please click here.