New to Crafting - Help

Sticking leaves to Mason jars with mod podge. Leave dont stick very well no matter how much mod podge I use, some of the edges still stick up.

Also it's clear but there are clumps of white tacky glue still on the jars when its dry.

What am I doing wrong?

It's for a wedding and I've resorted to celatape which up close looks tacky.

I thought about putting brown ribbon around the celetape part but that would take away from the gold leafy glow I want, when a candle is in it.