January 2008 Archives

Baby food jar crafts

Filed under Recycled Crafts by

There are so many different things you can use these jars for. They make perfect votive holders, jewelry jars, snow globes,

spice jars, hair accessories holder, nuts and screw holders just to name a few.When I made jewelry jars, I hot glued big chunky beads to the bottom for legs. Other great ideas for legs would be… wine corks, marbles or small knobs from cabinets, to name a few. I took an old brooch and glued it the lid, then glued beads of similar color around the edge of the lid, to give it a finished look. If you have any mismatched jewelry, that would be perfect for this project. I made several in two different sizes.

Here are instructions for the votive holder. I personally have never burned the candles in the container, I use them for decorative purposes. I first glued tiny beads to the edge of the lid, once the glue was dry, I flipped the lid over and hot glued it to the bottom of the jar. This step is not necessary, It’s up to you. You could also glue beads to the bottom for feet. I would suggest using a hot glue gun, in the event that you want to burn the candle, the glue can withstand a higher temp than any average craft glue. I glued tiny beads around the edge of the jar (this helps to mask the fact that it’s a jar). I also glued beads in a flower design on the side of the jar for an extra decorative touch.

Here’s how I made the snow globe. This project can be done using any size jar. You will need water proof glue ( you can find water resistant glue in the plumbing department) . I used my hot glue gun but you need to make sure that you apply enough to make a good seal or water could seep out. Start by applying a thick layer of glue on the inside of the jar lid, if you are using a clear glue, sprinkle white glitter on top of it before the glue dries (this is going to be the snow on the ground). You will also want to place your figures where you want them at this time. I purchased small Christmas figures from my local $1 store. After the glue is completely dry, fill the jar with water and add white glitter (enough to make the snow effect when shaken). Twist the lid on tight and seal the outer part of the lid with glue. Wrap ribbon around the lid, covering any of the glue. Turn the jar over, and you have a cute little snow globe. These globes can be made with any other theme. A Valentine globe can be achieved by using red glitter and Valentine figures. You can make these for any occasion, use your imagination.

To use these jars for spices, just add your favorite spice to each one. You can even decorate them to match your decor. For a great spice rack, you will need a narrow piece of wood, a drill and small screw. Start by screwing holes in the lids of the jars large enough to fit the screws. Drill the same size holes in the wood, leaving about 4 inches between holes. Screw the lids of the jars to the piece of wood then attach the wood to the under part of a cabinet. Once the wood is secure, you can now screw the jars to the lids. Now you have a cute spice display and the jars aren’t taking up any room. This project can be used to organize many things, jewelry, hair accessories, nuts and bolts, etc.

Supplies needed for the snow globe:

  • Baby food jar or any jar
  • Water
  • Water resistant glue or hot glue gun
  • Glue sticks (if using glue gun)
  • Ribbon
  • Glitter (what ever color appropriate for your project)
  • Small figurines

Supplies needed for standing Jewelry holder or hair accessory organizer:

Supplies Needed for spice rack/ other organizer

  • Baby food jars
  • Drill w/bit ( same size as screws)
  • Small screws
  • Strip of wood (size depends on project)

Creative Wreath

Filed under Wreaths and Swags by

This is an easy fun project. You can make one of these wreath’s with just about anything.

This project requires a hot glue gun or craft wire, to attach the items to the wreath. I suggest a hot glue gun, not only to save time but wire can be obtrusive. These wreaths can be decorated with just about anything. They make a great personal gift as well.

I made one of these using a grape vine wreath but any wreath can be used. If you don’t have a wreath to use and you are like me and want to start on your project right away, you can cut a circular shape out of cardboard. I suggest you paint the cardboard to match your project, so any pieces that may show through will be less conspicuous.Another way to achieve the wreath shape, is by bending a coat hanger. Coat hangers will work but may be a bit more difficult to work with because you won’t have much surface.

Before adding any items to your wreath, I suggest you adhere a piece of wire on the back for hanging. It will be a lot easier to add the wire before hand. For grapevine or any other pre made wreath or coat hanger, you can simply twist the wire on to the back. For cardboard cut out wreaths, you can hot glue the wire to the back or punch holes into the cardboard and thread the wire through. You may want to place your items on the wreath before you glue it, to make sure they are where you want them.

Start by gluing the items to your wreath. If using a pre made wreath, you can glue on as much or as little as you want. Any cloth or flat items can be layered. You can make patterns by grouping like items or colors together. Using a grapevine wreath, I glued several wine corks to it, in various places. I have also made one of these wreaths by applying dried flowers to it. To apply dried flowers to a wreath, start by cutting your flowers to length. I began gluing the flowers randomly to the wreath, adding enough to fill in all the empty spots.

Here are some ideas of items to add to or make with your wreath… wine corks (a great gift for a wine lover), Small children’s toys (small bags of insects,butterflies or other animals can be found at any Walmart for a very small price), baby bottles or pacifiers (makes a great shower gift), golf balls and tees(great gift for the golfer), empty spice jars, uncooked colored pasta (either would be a great addition to any kitchen), cranberries, dried flowers, silk flowers, sea shells, to name a few. As long as the items you chose aren’t too heavy or too big, the possibilities for this project are endless.

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I suggest, if you are using dried flowers for the project, cover your work area with newspaper.

Supplies Needed: