Does dad need a new trinket cup for his desk? Or, even better, what about a travel mug for his favorite coffee? When it comes to creating a unique gift for Father’s Day this weekend, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make a lot of impact. Paint-dipped containers are one of the hottest trends on Pinterest these days – a simple search on the site will turn up dozens of ideas. The dried paint, depending on the finish you choose, has a wonderful glazed look.
For this project, simply collect a Mason jar and some paint – and you’re ready to go with this super basic concept.
Materials
- 1 Mason jar (wide-mouth size)
- Paint of your choice (if you decide to make the travel mug, make sure you’re using non-toxic paint!)
- Large plastic bowl
- Wax paper
- Paper towels
- 1 wide-mouth canning ring (for travel mug)
- 1 Cuppow top (for travel mug)
Instructions
| 1. Start out by pouring a large amount of paint into your container. TIP: I used the bottom of a recyclable salad container I got from Holiday Market in Royal Oak. It was just the right size and kept me from getting a bowl messy. |
| 2. Next, place your jar into the bottom of the bowl to make sure it’s covered completely. Rock the jar back and forth to cover the sides as you like. The drippier, the better! |
| 3. When you’ve covered the areas you want painted, remove the jar and let dry on a clean surface. I used newspaper here, but think of a material, like wax paper, that will be easily removed from the jar if paint drips and sticks to it. If you notice any wayward drips or messes, use a damp paper towel to clean it up before the paint dries too much. |
| 4. Let the jar dry completely. At this point, your doodad cup is all set! Perhaps add some new pens and pencils for dad, as well as some notes telling him just how much you love him. If you want to make the travel mug, read on! |
| 5. To complete the mug, scrape off any paint that might have dried to the threads of the jar. If any paint dried to the inside of the jar, remove it and thoroughly clean the jar. Add your Cuppow lid and then screw on the canning lid. You’re all set. (Remember, handwash this container.) |
| 6. Package your travel mug with some of dad’s favorite snacks! Jars are just the beginning of paint-dipped items you can create. |
What else will you make? Email a photo of your creation to me, lish@www.metroparent.com. I’ll feature it in a future Make It blog.
