Butterfly Ball Jar

Butterfly Jar

I found this cute jar with the ball lid at my favorite thrift store, which is a great place to find unique glass pieces to etch and paint.  
 

I used Etchall® dip ‘n etch which is a re-usable liquid, the consistency of water.  When you submerge your jar into the liquid, it will etch the entire outside of the jar.   

SUPPLIES NEEDED to etch the jar: Etchall® dip ‘n etch, a glass jar, plastic container (I used a soda bottle), water, marker, marbles or glass rounds to hold down the jar in the liquid.

A 2 liter plastic soda bottle with the top cut off works great as a dipping container. Save the top to use as a funnel for returning your dip ‘n etch to the jar!  This stuff is reusable!

I filled the glass jar with glass rounds to weigh it down, put the mason jar into the empty plastic soda bottle, and filled the container with water to the level that I wanted the jar etched. Then I removed the jar from the container and marked the water level with a marker.  Pour out the water and thoroughly dry both the plastic container and the glass jar. You do not want to get water in your dip ‘n etch! 

Pour dip ‘n etch into the container to the level that you marked.   Place the mason jar in the container and leave in for 15 minutes.    

Remove the jar from the container and rinse under running water. Clean and rinse with soap and water.

Now for the magic.  Pour dip ‘n etch from the soda bottle back into the original jar to be re-used.  You can use the cut off top of the soda bottle as a funnel. 

Painting the Design:  Again because I am a painter, and because I haven’t mastered my cutting machine yet, I decided to paint this design.  You will need these supplies:

*Dual Point IdentiPens in Black. 

* Enamel or Multi-Purpose paint in Yellow, Orange, Red, Green, White

* A ¼” Flat and a #2 round paint brush  

* Scotch or Painters Tape

I looked through my stash of photos that I want to paint someday and decided on this colorful butterfly. Print out the pattern the size you want the butterfly to be on a regular sheet of copy paper. Then print out a second one. Cut out one of the prints and decide where you want your butterfly to be on your jar. Tape the pattern inside the glass jar using scotch or painters tape on the top and sides to secure it.   To keep the pattern from moving while you ink and paint the design, fill the jar with the glass rounds (the same ones you used during the dip ‘n etch step.)  This will hold your pattern right up tight to the jar and you will see it clearly through the etching.

Begin by outlining the butterfly wings with the Identipen. Only the body and the outside of the wings. The Inside of the wings will be colored in as one of the last steps. 

Pick up some yellow paint on your brush and fill in the areas on the wing that are yellow. *** See Note below) Do not wipe out your brush, but use the Dirty Brush to pick up some orange and fill in the areas that are yellow/orange.  Again, using the Dirty Brush pick up Red and fill in the areas on the wing that are red. 

Now you can clean your brush, pick up some green and yellow on the brush and start filling in the area you want behind the butterfly. More yellow will make it lighter, More green will make it darker. 

When done, let the paint dry fully for about an hour. 

Now, pick up your Identipen and outline the wings again. This time, line the inside of the wings. If you have painted over any areas like legs or antenna, outline them again. Leave small circles where you see white areas on the wings in your photo. The white paint will be the last step.   

Now, pick up some white paint on your brush and just dot the areas where you see the white highlights on the wings. Sign your painting with the Identipen.   Pour out the glass stones.  

*** Make sure you lay the glass down when inking and painting, as the glass distorts the pattern.  (I put the jar on my lap and look down on it to ink and paint)   

Here is the pattern I used if you want to paint a butterfly too.  Make sure you print out 2 butterflies

. One for a pattern, the other to look at while you paint.  Have fun with this.  I did.

And remember, if you want to purchase some Etchall supplies, please click on this link.  I get a small fee from the company for your purchase through my blog.  Thanks, and have a Colorful Day!