Do you have empty baby food jars you just cannot bear to throw out? Surely, there’s a way to reuse them, right? Correct. Here is one of many ways you can upcycle baby food jars or small glass jars of any kind into something useful. There are a lot of DIY projects and crafts out there using jars, so we hope you pin this one to your list.
Important note: The pictures show styrofoam bowls, and this didn’t turn out well. Do NOT use styrofoam as the nail polish ate a hole in the bowls. Use disposable paper bowls instead.
You can use any type of nail polish and your choice of color combinations. Choose the colors to match your decor and get creative.
The jars can hold whatever you’d like. Make a set for a teacher gift to hold pens and pencils, or fill with decorative rocks or sand and add a battery-powered tealight.
Use jars from Rigoni di Asiago products, too!
For more repurposing ideas, visit these posts:
- Plastic spoon craft – Lotus planter
- Cork kitchen utensil holder
- Upcycled craft holster using a pushup container
Upcycle glass jars into pretty holders
Turn glass jars into colorful holders.
Materials
- Baby Food Jars or other Small Jars, washed and dried - To remove the labels, I peel off as much as I can. I use acetone (found in the nail polish remover aisle at the store) and cotton balls to remove the sticky labels.
- Paper Disposable Bowls, do not use styrofoam
- Water
- Nail Polish in Various Colors
- Wax Paper
Instructions
- Cover a flat surface with wax paper.
- Fill the bowl with water, almost to the top. Drizzle or pour nail polish colors onto the top of the water. I used 3 different blue colors. When you are satisfied with your design, cover the jar.
- To cover the jar, place your fingers inside the jar and gently plunge the center into the bowl, twirling and tipping the jar so the paint covers the majority of the jar.
- Set aside, upside down on the wax paper to set and dry.
- Repeat with the desired number of colors and jars.
Notes
==> I used all different polish brands: OPI, some dollar store brand, NYC, so it doesn't matter which you use. All burned holes in the styrofoam bowl and all covered the jars really well.
==> Make sure the bowls are big enough to cover the majority of your jar. Don't overfill them so you can dunk your jar without overflowing the bowl.
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What do you do with empty baby food jars?
Janet W. says
That’s such a good way to reuse and recycle! Very creative!
Sarah L says
But don’t use styrofoam bowls!!! I can’t remember what I was doing, but I can attest that nail polish eats right through them. (maybe that’s why I don’t polish my nails)….
rana durham says
i love this. upcycling makes most beautiful stuff and i need this supplies soon.