I bet you have collected a bunch of old face cream jars over the years and are now wondering what on earth you can do with them.
Am I right? In this article, I’ll be sharing with you fun ideas of projects you can make with these jars. These crafts are all easy to make and won’t cost you much.
Turn old face cream jars into cute candle holders
This is a great way to use an empty container and make it useful again. It’s a lot cheaper if you recycle, but if you need new jars, they are readily available at craft stores.
It’s easy to do and is a great way to add an eco-friendly touch to your home.
Step 1. Take the top off the jar, remove the label and wash it well.
Step 2. Remove the bottom of the jar (the part with the sticker on it) and wash that as well.
Step 3. Now, using pliers or a pair of scissors, cut off just below the threads of the jar (see picture). This gives you space for the candles without worrying about them getting too hot on the surface of the jar.
Step 4. Now you’re ready to decorate your jar! Use some hot glue and adhere felt circles inside of your jar where you will place your candles. This works best with scented candles so you can enjoy their fragrance while they burn. You can also use this technique and place rocks inside instead of candles for a cute rustic look.
Step 5. If there are any sharp parts left after cutting off below the threads, take some sandpaper and smooth out any rough spots.
Turn old face cream jars into pencil holders
Do you save those old face cream jars? I do! They are great to use as storage, but they tend to get lost in my drawers. I usually have 3 or 4 of these jars in all different sizes and colors.
A few weeks ago, I decided to make one into a pencil holder. It’s so easy to do, and it only takes about 10 minutes.
Step 1. Wash the jar and let it dry.
Step 2. Paint the jar using acrylic paint.
Step 3. Glue some colorful tissue paper around the bottom part of the jar, leaving an opening on one side for inserting pencils.
Step 4. Tie a ribbon around an elastic band, and fix it to the jar by gluing it or by tying a knot on the inside of the jar. Use an elastic band that fits around the jar.
Step 5. Glue buttons or beads onto the top part of the jar to decorate it and make it look pretty.
Step 6. Decorate the outside of your pencil holder with more ribbons, buttons, or anything else you have lying around at home!
Step 7. Fill up your pencil holder with crayons, pens, colored pencils, etc., and start using it!
A vase to hold spring flowers
Spring is just around the corner, and my old face cream jars are sitting there with nothing to do!
I tried to throw them out but they stopped me, so I decided it was time to give them a purpose.
Step 1. Tear off the lid and clean the inside – mine was full of face cream residue so I used hot water and some washing-up liquid.
Step 2. Cut your flower spikes to size using scissors or a craft knife. They can be any length, depending on how high you want to fill the jar.
Step 3. Add a layer of gravel at the bottom of the jar and evenly spread it around with a spoon. This will create some drainage for your flowers so they don’t get too soggy.
Step 4. Place your flowers into the jar and spread them out evenly. You can use foliage for extra decoration if you like (I used some from my garden), but it isn’t essential.
Step 5. Add more gravel as necessary to cover up any gaps in your flowers, packing it down by tapping the jar on your table.
Step 6. Put your new vase into a sunny spot and enjoy watching spring unfold before your eyes!
Make a photo frame
Turning old face cream jars into photo frames is a great way to give them a new life. It’s also a perfect way to recycle those jars you’ve been saving for years.
Step 1. Cut out two pieces of white cardstock for the background. The first piece should be slightly bigger than the face cream jar and the second piece should be slightly smaller.
Step 2. Glue the smaller piece on top of the bigger piece leaving some space in between, as shown in the photo above.
Step 3. Once it dries, paint over it with a coat of matte medium and then paint over this with white gesso. This will make the background white, or even better if you have time, you could leave it to dry completely and sand it down to make it look more textured and aged.
Step 4. Paint over the entire surface of your face cream jar with matte medium and let it dry completely. This will seal your jar so you’re able to paint on top of it without worrying about anything seeping through to the other side or having any texture showing through from underneath.
Step 5. Use painter’s tape to mask off any areas on your jar that you don’t want painted and spray paint your jar with gold metallic spray paint.
Reuse as gift containers
You can recycle your old face cream containers and turn them into custom makeup or skincare gift sets. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Gather your ingredients; you will need the following: empty face cream jars, a roll of gift wrap, ribbon, scissors, and adhesive tape.
Step 2: Choose the wrapping paper that you want to use.
Step 3: Place the jar on the paper with the lid on. Cut out a piece of the paper that fits around the jar leaving a small space at the bottom for your label.
Step 4: Adhere the paper to the jar using some double-sided tape.
Step 5: Wrap the jar with ribbon and trim off any excess.
Step 6: Write a label that describes what’s inside each jar and secure it to the ribbon with more adhesive tape.
Step 7: Gather up all of your completed jars and arrange them however you like!
The best part about this idea is that you can reuse any type of jar to package your products in, whether they’re for face creams, bath salts, or something else! Use your imagination and get creative!
Decorations for tabletop or window sill
I have a lot of cream jars in my house. I collect them, and I love the story behind each one, so I don’t want to just throw them away.
But they are too pretty to stick in a corner and be forgotten. So here is how you can turn old face cream jars into decorations for tabletop or window sill.
Step 1. Wash the jar thoroughly and let it dry for a day before you start working on it.
Step 2. Use your blackboard paint and paint the entire jar (except the lid)
Step 3. Once the paint has dried, use your stencils to trace out your design of choice on the jar. You will have to use your imagination here!
Step 4. Once you are done, wipe clean with a damp cloth, let it dry and then spray it with a layer of varnish/lacquer to make sure that the design doesn’t smudge off when you place stuff in it or use it in water.
Use as plant pots
You probably have a few face creams that you’ve finished, but there’s still some product left in the jar.
Instead of throwing them away, you can use them to make pretty plant pots.
Step 1: Empty the cream from the jar
Step 2: Wash and dry the jar
Step 3: Trim a piece of foam insulation to fit in the bottom of the jar
Step 4: Fill the foam with soil and add plants Step 5: Water your new planter Step 6: Enjoy your new planter pot!
Soap dispensers
Wondering how to re-use those empty plastic face cream jars? Well, they make great soap dispensers!
Step 1: Scrub the old face cream jar.
Step 2: Wash the container with dish soap and water. Rinse it well.
Step 3: Dry the jar thoroughly. It’s important to remove all moisture from the jar, because it could encourage mold growth.
Step 4: Apply a layer of craft glue along the rim of the jar. Be generous with the glue, but don’t let it drip down into the jar.
Step 5: Wipe off any excess glue from around the rim of the jar with a clean cloth (or paper towel).
Step 6: Place a rubber gasket over the rim of your jar, pressing firmly to adhere it in place.
Step 7: Fill your jar with your favorite liquid soap or hand sanitizer and screw on the lid. Step 8: Attach a suction cup to the bottom of your new soap dispenser and hang it upside down from a showerhead or hook in your bathroom.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed my simple DIY projects using face cream jars.
These ideas are easy to do and the only thing you need is a little imagination and creativity.
Let your imagination run wild and I am sure you will be able to find many more ideas on how to reuse old face creams.
