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HOW TO make jars with decorative lids

I like saving all my glass jars. I have a bunch of tall spaghetti jars and short, plump pickle jars. They are so handy to have around. There was one thing that bothered me about the jars though. Logos and graphics on the metal lids are a distracting mess! I came up with a really easy way to raise the jars to a whole nother level.

I found some inspiration in three vintage Guerlain perfume bottles I bought from my favorite thrift store, Housing Works Thrift Shop. The bottles are covered with an ornate bee pattern, but I really loved that they were topped off with cute glass stoppers. I think that’s just the visual punctuation we need! Let’s make it better!

Supplies

  • 1 glass jar with metal lid
    Spaghetti sauce and pickle jars work great.
  • 1 plastic bottle cap
    The cap must be taller than the combined height of the cabinet knob shaft and the screw when it s screwed in. Caps from soda bottles and some water bottles can work really.
  • 1 cabinet knob
    Vintage glass knobs can be found in fleas markets, antique stores, and thrift shops. If you keep an eye out for discarded cabinetry or furniture, you can remove the knobs, and be sure to have matching screws.
  • 1 screw
    If the cabinet knob doesn t come with a screw, bring your knob to your local hardware store, so you can try some on for size. Flat screws are recommended, but short pointed wood screws can also work.
  • 1 power drill
  • 1 set of drill bits
    You ll need a range of drill bits starting from 3/64 in for the pilot hole to around 5/16 in or the width of your cabinet knob shaft
  • 1 screwdriver

How-To

  1. Sand the metal lid to remove the graphics. Do your sanding over some newspaper to catch the dust and make cleanup easy. I like to leave some paint on lid to give it a rustic, distressed look. For a sleeker look, sand it completely, and polish it off with steel wool.
  2. Drill a pilot hole through the center of the metal lid using your smallest drill bit. The smaller your drill bit the easier it’ll be to drill. You’ll risk tearing the lid if you start off start off with a large drill bit.
  3. Switch out the bit with gradually larger sizes and continue drilling until the hole is big enough to accommodate the shaft of the cabinet knob.
  4. Drill a hole through the center of the plastic bottle cap that’s large enough to accommodate the screw. If you’re using a pointed wood screw you won’t need to drill a hole, but it will make it easier to insert the screw later on.
  5. Now let’s put everything together. Insert the cabinet knob through the top of the metal lid.
  6. Insert the screw through the plastic bottle cap, using the screwdriver to screw it in all the way.
  7. Screw the plastic bottle cap and the knob together, using the screwdriver to ensure a tight fit.
  8. Put the metal lid back on the jar.

Voila! You’ve successfully infused spaghetti and pickle jars with French-inspired vintage chic. Put it anywhere that could use a bit of shine and sparkle.

Useful tips

  • You can store little odds and ends in them.
  • Fill them with marbles or shells for a cool decorative accessory like Nate did on The Nate Berkus Show. Personally, I think they look great empty too!
  • I like keeping jars of snacks like nuts, chocolate, and potato chips neatly lined up on my kitchen counter, for easy access. When I have unexpected guests I can quickly pour snacks into little serving bowls. Sometimes I just put the jars on a serving tray and leave them on the coffee table for guests to help themselves.

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