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Tuesday, February 2, 2021

DIY Vintage-Style Ceramic Jar Knobs, and...CANDLEMAS

It is Candlemas! Groundhog Day and Candlemas fall on the same day. Today we had a blessing of candles at church. Before Mass, there was a sudden rustling of bags and parishioners flooded to the front to place them before the altar, but respectfully to the side a bit. Then the priest, warning that few churches do this anymore, blessed them. He ran through a quick list of many "-mas" events, with Christmas being the best known, of course. He mentioned Candlemas, Michaelmas, Martinmas, and Lammas. I had not heard of Lammas and am going to research it. 

I found a mislabeled box today that I had not opened since our move of over a year ago. I opened it up, and there were several items inside that I had been missing. Not the vintage Pyrex I'm missing -- boo! -- but some other cute things.

What I'd like to know is why it didn't bother me, and why I didn't notice, a rather large cardboard box sitting against the wall of the den for over a year. The cats like to sleep on it. So there was the raggedy box, with a ginger cat (both are gingers), always a-snooze atop it. 

But inside was this little Mason jar lid with a ceramic knob added.


DIY mason fruit ball jar lid with knob


When the knobs at Hobby Lobby are half off, I often pick up a few. They reside in the "junk drawer" until needed. I seem to use up a lot of them. In fact, I have none left.

Do you see that feather in the photos? I'm pretty sure that's an owl feather.

 

do it yourself mason fruit jelly ball jar with ceramic knob lid

To add a knob to a metal jar lid, you can drill a hole in the top of the lid just slightly larger than the diameter of the screw portion of the knob. Obviously, the lid will no longer be airtight, but it's not meant to be. It's more for storage of non-edibles or a little "terrarium-style" decor item. If you do not have a drill, or a hand-drill, then you can use a biggish nail and turn the lid upside down (so you don't dent it), and carefully tap a hole.

The problem with most decorative knobs is the length of the screw that sticks out. You're going to have to cut it shorter, with a hacksaw. I sometimes just wrap a rag on a loose blade and use it, but that's naughty.

BEFORE you cut the screw shorter (way shorter), you need to thread a nut on it. They come with a nut on them, usually, and sometimes two, and sometimes they also come with a washer. Anyway, this is important: THREAD the nut on it, snug it up, and cut BELOW the nut. Then, when you work the nut off, it will rethread the threads that were damaged when you cut them off with the hacksaw. That way you can then get the nut off and on easily, which is important because you will need to be able to thread that nut back on there and snug it up once you stick the screw end of the knob through the hole in the lid.

My explanation is way too wordy, but as you actually do this project, it will all be obvious.

So you will end up placing the knob's end (the shortened screw part) through the hole you made in the lid. Then add the washer if you want, and definitely add the nut. Tighten up that nut but don't be too rough. Now you can put the lid on a jar. 

The workaround for those of us who don't have a drill or just don't want to deal with punching through metal is to get one of those metal lids that already has a hole for a straw. You will DEFINITELY need to add a sizeable washer with a small hole under the lid if you plan on using one of these lids, so that the knob is held securely and doesn't wobble.

Do you remember that song by Barbara Mandrell? "I Was Country, When Country Wasn't Cool." Well, I was a canning jar fanatic before they were popular. They can be "out" now for all I care, but I will always love them and decorate with them!

    Kind regards,

    Holly, The Merry Olde Dame

17 comments :

  1. I do the same as you do on the jars I use for decoration and I have to cut the screw which is too long and some I paint them with chalk paint and use them in my decoration.
    I wish you a good day

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    1. I like that chalk paint idea! I usually pass over the wooden knobs but I think I will grab some next time and do the chalk paint on them.

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  2. I was just reading something that said canning jars are out. Makes no difference to me I have been out my whole life lol.
    Great idea. I was also just looking at knobs for my kitchen cabinets. I have the white ceramic ones and some of them are cracked to do whole new knobs is not cheap.
    Cathy

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    1. Knobs are sky-high! I can only get them when they are half off! I had to laugh when you said "I have been out my whole life" ha ha me too!

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  3. In, out who cares they look amazing, very special.

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  4. Darling Holly,

    Candlemas is such a wonderful time of year.

    The lighting of candles in recognition of the light of Christ in the world is such a joyful antidote to the darkness and gloom that usually falls upon everyone at this time of year.

    It lifts the spirits to think that Spring is round the corner and that there will be light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel in which we all find ourselves at present. So, onwards and upwards with all your new project ideas!

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment! I love your new blog and am so happy to have found others who are participating in the Great Blogging Resurgence of 2021!

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  5. Lammas is the celebration of the grain harvest. Loaves made from freshly harvested grains are blessed at that time. There are two other harvest festivals. It is the first of three harvests. Mabon which is the fruit harvest is second and Samhain is the third celebrating the harvest of nuts and berries.

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    1. Oh dear those other two are NOT Catholic holidays...lol...

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  6. I didn't grow up knowing about the various holy days
    ( with the exception of Christmas, of course) but I'm enjoying getting to know them and celebrating them even if just in a small way.

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  7. I love all the detailed reasons you gave for being careful with this project. Reminds me of how much I learned by experience over these years.

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  8. Never heard of candlenas. Interesting. Janice

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  9. Well, now I know why I have never added a knob to anything....I was out of drill LOL. Yes, you said you can use a nail/hammer, but that can prove dangerous in my world too. And hacksaw? EEEK....They won't even let me near ice skate here LOL. But, yes, I love jars....and always have. (And, hey....I have lurking boxes like that....I found one in my closet the other day of all places....) ~Robin~

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    1. Are you allowed to have pointed scissors? Or are you stuck with the rounded tips, for your protection and the protection of those around you...*smile*

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  10. Love your jars! I grew up using them so thought it was kinda funny when they became “a thing.” Have a beautiful evening 💕

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  11. This is such a wonderful explanation on how to cut screws & bolts. And I LOVE the concept of adding knobs to mason jars!!

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  12. Those glass jars are cool, and you can put so many goodies inside them. I really like the one with the red lid. Yes, they look vintage.

    ~Sheri

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