Vintage Flair DIY

We're going to kick off our DIY project spree with a simple project for your kitchen and/or bathroom.  We're going to make a mason jar soap (or lotion) dispenser.  You've probably seen these all over the internet.  They're pretty popular and there are a number of ways to make them.  If you don't want to do any work at all, you can buy the precut lid with the pump insert and just pop it into a mason jar. You can use a new jar or an old jar, either way you'll get a vintage look.

The method I used is pretty simple.  You will need a mason jar, an empty plastic soap bottle and a few basic tools.

Begin by unscrewing the pump and setting it aside.  Next, cut the top off the plastic soap bottle.  I chose to cut just below the "shoulders" of the bottle, but you could cut just below the threaded portion of the "neck" if you prefer.  A hack saw works well for this.  Just be careful and take your time.

Next, trace the opening of the bottle onto the seal of your mason jar.  Use a sharp nail and hammer to poke holes all the way around the circle you traced.  When you've made it all the way around, gently pop the center of the circle out and slip the threaded portion of the bottle through the hole.  If the hole is too small, you can punch more holes to enlarge it or very gently enlarge it with pliers.

I flipped the seal over, traced the circle and punched my holes on the underside.

Now screw the pump back onto the threads (if the neck is loose in the hole, you can use a bit of silicone adhesive or hot glue to secure it to the seal).  Fill the jar with soap, screw on the lid and it's ready to use.  Trim the pump tube so it just touches the bottom of the jar if it's too long.

I didn't want to alter the vintage lid and seal, but I wanted them to be white,
so I painted a new set.

I also had a few jars that I wanted to paint.  I tried brushing on some latex paint, but the look was too rustic for me.  No matter how careful I was, the paint was uneven and you could see the brush strokes.  If that's the look you're going for, that's fine.  Just be sure to apply a protective clear top coat when the paint is dry.

If, like me, you're looking for a smooth, less rustic finish, spray paint works well.  I especially like epoxy appliance spray paint.  If you use white, the result looks very much like milk glass.  Just be sure to take your time and apply the paint in sweeping strokes.  Multiple light coats will prevent drips and give you a smooth finish. Go light on painting the threads of the jar or you won't be able to screw the lid on!

You can lightly sand over the writing to remove a bit of the paint if you want the lettering to stand out.  I chose not to, but it's up to you.

BONUS PROJECT!

I liked the look of the white epoxy appliance paint on glass so much that I decided to try painting a clear glass dollar store votive holder.  It turned out great!  It gives a beautiful, soft glow when it's lit.

Coming up next on our DIY spree, a fast,easy, cheap way to give new wood an aged look.





Willoughby


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