Gocce Argentate: Spring’s perfume

Hi everyone!

The warm sun has finally arrived to brighten up the last days, reminding me that spring will soon be here. I cannot wait to enjoy its colors and perfumes, the buzz of bees, the fragrance of hyacinths and colors of tulips. Being quite of an impatient person, I decided to start bringing the upcoming season in the home, by decorating a jam jar with decoupage, burlap and tiny flowers, creating a potpourri holder in which I placed fragrant lavender seeds.

This creation is quite simple and extremely enjoyable to make. If you want to bring spring in your home too, here are some little instructions for crafting your own.

Materials:

Jam jar
Glass Primer
A background image (optional) (I used Calambour’s mulberry paper PAU36)
A lavender graphic (I got mine from Calambour paper EASY292)
Decoupage glue (Mod Podge should be ok)
Clear sealer
Burlap
Tulle (optional)
Decorations (flowers, ribbons, lace…)
Lavender seeds

First of all, you need to apply a coat of glass primer on the entire surface. Once it dried, I tore small pieces of background mulberry paper and glued them sparsely using decoupage glue (picture 2). I let the piece dry, and then added the lavender graphic, before applying 4 coats of clear sealer in order to protect the creation (you can apply less, but I figured out that the inside will get dirty with the seeds, so I might want to clean it sometimes and I should make sure water would not damage the decoration).

I then filled the jar with lavender seeds, and, instead covering with the cap, which would prevent the perfume from spreading around the house, I cut a burlap circle (you should leave about 1 inch of margin on each side) and a tulle one of the same size.

I brushed decoupage glue on the perimeter of the burlap to prevent the fabric from faying and I layered it on the top of tulle. I then fixed it with ribbons and lace around the top of the jar. The little trick is to do this before the glue dries. In this way, you will be able to shape the fabric with your fingers, creating even waves all around the top and the burlap’s perimeter will harden in the right position, so that when you will have to remove it in order to change the seeds inside, it will keep its shape.

Lastly, you can decorate the front as you wish: I added ribbons, al small clay rose and a fake purple flower, matching the shade of the design on the decoupage paper.

And here is my final piece! It really brought a bit of color and perfume in my life and I hope it will do the same for you! I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial :-)