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Christmas Apothecary Jars on a Budget!

Create DIY Christmas apothecary jars to hold holiday candy using dollar store supplies! This holiday craft is easy and budget friendly.

Skills Required: Beginner. You should be familiar with a paintbrush since you’ll be doing quite a bit of painting. You’ll also be gluing. It’s relatively simple, you’ll just need patience during the drying time.

DIY Apothecary Jars for Christmas

These glass Christmas apothecary jars are pretty cool. I have a secret actually . . . they aren’t “true” apothecary jars – they are dollar store and recycled items married together for a beautiful, functional accent to your seasonal decor.

These jars make great Christmas table decorations as well as something to place in the entryway for guests to grab a few holiday sweets as they are coming or going. You can keep them out all winter. And – they’re easy to make!

DIY Apothecary Jars

Sure, you can buy apothecary jars at the craft store or Target, but I’ll be honest – they aren’t cheap. If you purchase at the craft store, be sure to use your app and a coupon.

BUT If you like saving money, I have a better way to make these Christmas candy jars. DIY them with recycled jars and candlesticks. It’s my favorite secret for making a jar display like this one.

It’s also kind of fun to use various styles of candlesticks and mason jars for somewhat of a random look. I love it for the holidays!

All you’re going to need to do for this unique Christmas craft is paint and glue some stuff. It doesn’t sound that hard, now does it? It’s not. These look a lot more complicated than they are! Learn how to make them below.

(if you love the dollar store, you’ll love this DIY Christmas topiary with Santa hats!)

Christmas Candy Jars

Gather These Supplies

  • FolkArt Enamels Paint – Aqua, Calypso Sky, Forest Moss, Wicker White
  • FolkArt Acrylic Paint – Calypso Sky
  • FolkArt Extreme Glitter – Turquoise
  • ¼”, ¾” stencil tape
  • ¾”, 1 ¼”, 1 ¾” foam spouncers
  • Craft glue
  • E-6000
  • ¼”, ½” flat brush
  • #1 Liner brush
  • Assorted wood knobs/balls/wagon wheels
  • Glass candlesticks – Dollar Tree
  • Glass jars w/lids (recycled) – labels removed and jars thoroughly washed

Instructions

I have a great post on painting glass over at Mod Podge Rocks so be sure to go see it!

Painting a glass candlestick with glass paint

Apply Aqua enamels paint with spouncer to your glass candlesticks. Only apply up to the decorative rim at the top of the candlestick. Set aside to dry.

Painting wood knobs and jar lids with acrylic paint

Glue your assorted wood pieces together to create three distinct finials.

Paint your finials and your three lids to the glass jars with Calypso Sky acrylic paint. Let the lids dry thoroughly between coats.

Apply several coats of Turquoise Extreme Glitter Paint to lids and finials. They look pretty glittery and rich when dry . . . set aside while you paint your jars.

Taping off and painting glass jars with enamel paint

Wrap two rows of ¾” tape at the bottom of each jar. Remove bottom row and wrap above top row. Remove tape below your top most row and this is the area you will apply paint to. So basically, you are using the tape to help you measure 1.5″ up the jar evenly.

Apply several coats of Calypso Sky enamels paint with spouncer. Remove tape before paint dries to prevent pull up.

Painting a snowman on a jar with a spouncer

Each of your DIY apothecary jars is going to have a different design. On the first jar, create snowmen around with assorted spouncer sizes in Wicker White.

Taping off a glass jar to paint white Christmas tree shapes

Tape off triangle shapes on another jar using ¼” tape. Apply Wicker White and remove tape.

Adding large dots to a jar with Forest Moss and a spouncer

Create large dots around third jar with largest spouncer in Forest Moss.

Paint details with liner brush and create all dots using opposite end of paintbrush dipped in paint.

At this point, your jars and candlesticks can be baked referring to the bottle instructions (don’t bake with the lids!!) or can be air dry cured for a longer time.

Gluing candlesticks and wood finials to the apothecary jars

Apply E-6000 to the candlesticks and attach to bottom of jars. Glue finials to jar lids with craft glue to finish.

DIY Christmas candy jars

You can put anything in your apothecary jars!

how to make apothecary jars

Here’s a closer look at the glittery lids.

DIY Apothecary Jars for Christmas

Fill your Christmas apothecary jars with peppermints or holiday candy . . . even ornaments! I love this pretty – and glittery – display.

Yield: 3 jars

Christmas Apothecary Jars

DIY Apothecary Jars for Christmas

Learn how to make these Christmas apothecary jars (they hold candy!) for your holiday mantel or decor.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty Intermediate
Estimated Cost $9

Materials

  • FolkArt Enamels Paint – Aqua, Calypso Sky, Forest Moss, Wicker White
  • FolkArt Acrylic Paint – Calypso Sky
  • FolkArt Extreme Glitter – Turquoise
  • ¼”, ¾” stencil tape
  • Craft glue
  • E-6000
  • Assorted wood knobs/balls/wagon wheels
  • Glass candlesticks - 3
  • Glass jars w/lids (recycled) - 3

Tools

  • ¾”, 1 ¼”, 1 ¾” foam spouncers
  • ¼”, ½” flat brush
  • #1 Liner brush

Instructions

  1. Clean all your glassware with mild soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Let dry.
  2. Apply Aqua enamels paint with spouncer to the candlesticks. Set aside to dry.
  3. Glue your assorted wood pieces together to create three finials.
  4. Paint the finials and glass jar lids with Calypso Sky acrylic paint. Let the lids dry between coats.
  5. Apply several coats of Turquoise Extreme Glitter Paint to lids and finials. Let dry.
  6. Tape off an area approximately 1 1/2" at the bottom of each jar using the stencil tape.
  7. Apply several coats of Calypso Sky enamels paint with spouncer. Remove tape before paint dries.
  8. Create snowmen around one jar with assorted spouncer sizes in Wicker White.
  9. Tape off triangle shapes on another jar using ¼” tape. Apply Wicker White and remove tape.
  10. Create large dots around third jar with largest spouncer in Forest Moss.
  11. Paint details with liner brush and create all dots using opposite end of paintbrush dipped in paint.
  12. Either bake or air dry the glass jars and candlesticks following instructions on bottle.
  13. Apply E-6000 to the candlesticks and attach to bottom of jars. Glue finials to jar lids with craft glue to finish. Let dry before using.

Did you make this project?

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Let me know what you think of this winter craft in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other holiday posts:

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