Frugal Crafts & Gifts
(featured column by various authors)

Laundry Loot Jar
by Amanda Formaro

The washer and dryer quite often hold spare change, and sometimes dollar bills. Well, you need a place to keep that loot! Why not make this cute jar to keep that stash in?  More...

What you need

empty glass jar with lid, washed, dried, all labels removed
white vinegar or rubbing alcohol
paper towel or soft cloth
acrylic paint in antique white and light blue
household sponge
old toothbrush
gingham ribbon
large yellow flower button
small blue button
floral fabric scraps
medium point craft pen
tacky glue (white craft glue)
sharp knife
pinking shears
sand paper
matte acrylic spray sealer


What you do

First, place the lid on the jar securely. With a sharp knife (be careful!), poke a slot in the lid long enough to fit a quarter in. remove the lid from the jar. Turn lid over, sand the edges of the slot so they are not sharp.

Prep jar by wiping it down with a soft cloth or paper towel and some rubbing alcohol or white vinegar. Let dry. Using a household sponge, apply antique white paint, dabbing on, not wiping. This will create a slightly bumpy appearance. Allow to dry. Apply a second coat if necessary.

While second coat is drying, place the jar lid on the wrong side of a piece of floral fabric and trace around the lid lightly with a pencil. Using pinking shears, cut around the drawn circle, but do not cut on the line! Cut around it, about 1 inch wider than the actual traced circle.

Cover the top of the lid with white craft glue. Spread the glue around the edges and sides of the lid, even out the glue with a sponge applicator (I just use my finger). Place the lid, top side down, onto the center of the fabric circle you just cut out. The wrong side of the fabric should be facing upward. Press the fabric onto the lid and around the rim. Set aside to dry.

Dip the bristle tips of a toothbrush into some light blue paint that has been lightly thinned with a drop or two of water. Test your splattering ability on a piece of scrap paper before doing this on your jar. Hold toothbrush horizontally and drag your finger across the bristles, causing the paint to splatter spots wherever you aim it. When you are comfortable with this method, go ahead and splatter the entire surface of the jar with light blue paint. Let dry.

Glue a strip of gingham ribbon around the bottom of the jar (as shown in photo) and glue in place. Cut a piece of gingham ribbon in half, cutting down the center to split the strip, thread through the yellow flower button and tie in a bow. Glue to the seam of the bottom ribbon you just put on. Cut 2 small squares of fabric. Glue onto the jar as shown in the picture. Glue small blue button to one of the fabric squares. Tie another small ribbon from the split piece you just cut and glue onto the other fabric square. Using the craft pen (or a fine tip liner brush), write the phrase "Mom's Laundry Loot" on the front of the jar.

Place the lid onto the jar and screw in place. This is important! If you don't put the lid on first, you could end up with your bow on the side of the jar instead of in front! When lid is in place, put a thin line of glue around the rim and place a thin strip of ribbon around it, tying into a bow in the front of the jar. Using the knife, poke through the fabric into the quarter slot you made earlier. Carefully remove the lid and turn it over. Manipulate the fabric through the slot and glue extra in place (underside of the lid).

Spray your project with 2-3 coats of matte acrylic spray sealer, allowing 15 minutes dry time between coats.

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Copyright © 2003 by Amanda Formaro