Irish Decor in a Vintage Mason Jar

Back when I was 25-years-old, I treated myself to a trip to Ireland. I quickly fell in love with the entire country, but specifically a region called The Burren. For a girl from the Chicago suburbs, its pastoral simplicity was almost exotic. I made a mental note to somehow capture it in miniature to use as Irish decor for St. Patrick’s Day.

Fast forward a few years  and here I am, neither 25 nor in Ireland. BUT- I have the pictures cemented in my memory and a desire to capture holidays and seasons in vintage mason jars.

I did it for summer– so why not recreate that look of the Irish countryside inside a vintage mason jar for St. Patrick’s Day? I mean, already I had a green jar that would be perfect!

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Originally published on March 17, 2015, the post was recently updated with new photographs.

Memories of Ireland and Irish Home Decor for St. Patrick’s Day

To create the look the Irish home decor in my green jar, I decided to approach it in layers.

First, I added the “peat layer” that Ireland has with some reindeer moss. Besides, who doesn’t love reindeer moss?

After selecting the pieces of reindeer moss that I wanted to use, I layered them in the bottom of the vintage mason jar.

Next, I needed to replicate the rolling hills of The Burren in Ireland. So, I acquired a few faux moss “stones” which were the right size and shape to fit inside the green jar.

But then the moment came when I decided I wanted to add a stone wall to my rolling hills.

Maybe overkill, but it’s such an important aspect of The Burren in Ireland! So I needed to come up with something.

I headed to a local mulch/landscaping shop and after explaining my silly need for a wee bit of gravel, they graciously gave me a couple of handfuls! Local shops are slowly learning that I am harmlessly crazy in my crafty endeavors.

Then, it was just a matter of hot gluing the gravel pieces on the moss covered stones, to mimic the stone walls.

My idea was working, it was starting to look like the Irish countryside!

Maybe not your typical St. Patrick’s craft project, but I kind of like that about it.

Finally, it was time to add the Pièces de Résistance…

Needle felted sheep from Little Elf’s Toy Shop!!! Which I attached to the moss rocks with straight pins. Before doing so, I’d painted the tiny flat heads of the pins with cream-colored craft paint. That way, they blended in with the sheep’s’ wool.

I carefully layered everything in the vintage mason jar using kitchen tongs and chopsticks. And just like that, the Irish countryside appeared inside the green jar.

Irish Decor in a Mason Jar for St. Patrick’s Day

No Leprechauns, no gold coins or rainbows…just an ode to beautiful Ireland. Certainly an unusual craft project for St. Patrick’s Day, but this is more my speed anyway.

I mean, COME ON. How adorable is that? I can’t handle the cuteness…it really does take me back to that wonderful trip to Ireland all over again. I love how it complements my pieces of vintage Belleek china, too!

Those teeny tiny felted sheep from Little Elf’s Toy Shop really were perfect for this project, eh? I’m so glad I found them; otherwise, this project never would have been so adorable.

And if you love all things miniature, perhaps you’d like to upcycle items from your junk drawer for you garden fairies?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day…and Craft on!

S

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