Reusing empty jars once originally used for jams, condiments or even candles is a great, inexpensive way to build up your organizational container stash. Once clean, these jars are perfect in the craft room to help sort supplies like markers, pencils and stickers. If you put your jars to work helping pull together art supplies, the jar lid is sometimes no longer needed. But don’t worry, there’s no need to toss that lid – it’s got a second life coming as a mini masterpiece frame.
Small jar lids make perfect frames for a smaller work of art. When paired with a strong magnet on the back, you can create a portable gallery of fine art that’s perfect for the kitchen, a magnetic cubby at school, or your own office.
You can create a mini masterpiece in so many different ways. I keep our scraps of paper in a small craft storage box to use for making cards and collages, but it’s a great place to turn to for a project like this. Scraps of wrapping paper can be punched into circles to give your frame a backdrop. Shape punches can add texture and design elements in a matter of minutes.
So, what kind of works of art can your child create? Here are a few of my favorite approaches. Use hot glue to affix a strong magnet to the back of the jar lid once the art had been added with a glue stick and has dried completely.
Paper Scraps
Transform a favorite wrapping paper design, an image from a magazine, or part of a greeting card into an art piece.
Family Photos
Working with your local copy center or your own printer, photos can be reduced in size and punched out to be framed in a small jar lid.
Tiny Doodles
Stamp designs, paired with some great coloring, look extra clever when given the mini frame treatment. You could also punch a random area of a child’s doodle for an abstract look. Challenge your child to think small with a tiny illustration, too.
