Monday, August 19, 2013

A Mason Jar Caddy


 As one of the last bloggers in the cool, cool kitty corner of the craft blogs to play around with Mason jars, I felt it was time.

I grew up with canning jars used for every imaginable idea.  My mother stored pasta, flour, and other dry goods in them.  My grandparents actually used them to can food - imagine that!  My granny put sewing notions in them.

More outlandish ideas included a place for spitting tobacco, fishing hooks, crickets, left-over paint, and shark teeth. 

 Probably the idea most of you would not imagine?  Put under the car seat for an emergency bathroom.  (Folks, back in the fifties and early sixties, there weren't  public restrooms for miles and miles!)

Those olden times uses aside, I decided to go more mainstream with this Mason jar caddy.

I know you are truly relieved!  (Get it -relieved.)





I washed the jars and painted with two coats of gesso on the outside for the primer.
















Besides the three canning jars, I had bought this wire basket conveniently divided into three sections.

Funny how your junk seems to come together like that.













I coated the rim, handles and some of the wire of the basket.

At first I was going with the white of the gesso, but decided on a softer look.












Read my last post for the recipe of my goopy mixture.  (Recipe here!)

This Mason jar caddy was the second of three projects I used it.













Two coats of the goopy mixture and two coats of satin craft varnish to get the jars ready for some ornamentation.

The rims were wrapped in off-white mini-jute twine with millinery flowers added.

Yes, the mini-jute is so mini, it almost can't be seen.

In person it is absolutely beautiful!

:>)





 After all had dried, small gelatin molds were placed in the tops with candles.

Great for indoor dining or patio snacking.

HINT:  Add some water in the molds or your glass votive holders before putting in the candles.  It keeps the wax from hardening on the surfaces.









Since Chucks and I mostly dine on the sofa with lapboards, this is how I will use the Mason jar caddy - to hold craft supplies!

There is one more project I completed with that bowl of goopy mixture.  That stuff sure went a long way.

And guess what - it does not include storing craft supplies.

See y'all!

 




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26 comments:

  1. Yet another project I love! I haven't delved into the painted mason jar world yet. Perhaps one day! I am thinking my projects will be kept to a minimum for a few eeeks until I get settled in kindergarten! :) Keep the projects coming....I love your ideas!

    Blessings, Vicky

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  2. I believe you can use that goopy mixture on anything. Sure turned out cute! Um, my husband still carries a jar in the car although I've never seen him use it. I think it's a just in case kind of thing.

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  3. Love any project that has something to do with Mason jars and yours just fit the bill! Love the rustic feel of yours Donna! thanks for sharing!

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  4. I've got lots of mason jars, hmmm, now I've got something to do with them. I love what you did. It looks great!

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  5. Love these! I have a bunch of mason jars that I use for storage in my craft room. Maybe I'll get to paint them someday too. Someday being the operative word. These are fabulous, and love the caddy too!

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  6. Donna you always know just what to do with stuff! These are lovely containers for whatever...although I do love the candles! I've been wondering what you were going to do with all of those little molds!

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  7. LOVE IT Donna - and would love to find a caddy like that myself!!!
    I never peed in a jar but I can tell you we peed in some pretty scary bushes on road trips as kids lol.......
    XOXO
    ( my girlfriends father used to make the GIRLS pee in coke bottles - can't imagine the state of the back seat when they arrived at their destination - ewwww...............)

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  8. Donna ... love the little chicken wire tote and looks really good with your "goop" on it. Need to mix me some of that. The jars would look pretty with fresh flowers too. Keep on keeping us inspired.
    Blessings,
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

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  9. How pretty! I love the addition of the gelatin molds! Thanks so much for sharing at The Scoop!...hugs...Debbie

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  10. Donna, it's the cutest! You are right about things coming together, and I too love a cute place to store craft supplies. My kitchen counter is currently the resting place of paint cans, varnish, wax, poly, paintbrushes in tins, etc., a general mess. I like this idea for all the small things. You come up with the best stuff. Now I'll have to go read about the goop. I'm intrigued.
    Liz

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  11. What a fun and cute creation! I love the wire basket,and the mason jars fit perfectly! I used to can too, but it's just too much work! I do love to can jams though,yum:)

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  12. I like the last use best! Love this project. So vintage cottage:)

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  13. So terribly cute, I love love love the basket!
    Jenna

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  14. Hi Donna, thanks for stopping by my bog. I though I was the only one. I have never worked on the mason jars, main stream that is, lol. My sister can a lot, I have a few of her jars her at home. Love love your caddy, they turned out beautiful.
    Sending blessings,
    Marlene

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  15. Very cute idea! Lol about the jar under the seat!

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  16. Such a great idea - just love the wire basket holding it all!

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  17. So adorable. I love your jars and the basket.
    Have a wonderful week,
    Bev
    @ Eclectic Red Barn

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  18. I've been looking for something to do with my mason jars. ty for sharing this.

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  19. I'm going to think twice about reusing someone else's canning jars after this...eek! Sterilize...sterilize...sterilize! Your jars turned out darling. Thank you for sharing at What We Accomplished Wednesdays!

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  20. There will NEVER be too many Mason Jar ideas as far as I'm concerned! My problem is that all my jars at present, are filled with tuna, tomatoes, green beans, apple pie filling, and about a dozen other food stuffs. This project will have to wait until we eat some stuff so I can get some empty jars.
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  21. Very cool caddy, so versatile. Dressed up or dressed down for storage, this idea ROCKS!!!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  22. I love this caddy! It looks great any way you use it. :) Here from Mel's party.

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  23. What a clever use for these old mason jars and I love the addition of the gelatin molds and candles. I had to laugh at your trip down memory lane and all the uses a lot of us most likely never considered:-)

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  24. Mason jars + storage = Love! Great project! ~ Amy from StowandTellU

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  25. Chin up Donna you're not the last I haven't done one yet! When I do I hope it's as gorgeous as this! I laughed out loud as a portable restroom that's grossly hilarious.

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  26. Love, love, love that caddy Donna and the jars are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing them at shabbilicious Friday. I will be featuring yrou jars at tomorrow's party.
    Hugs ~ Kerryanne

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