DIY dog-topped mason jar lids

I wanted to make this post sooner than the day before the largest gift giving event of the year, but that’s just how things go. That being said, these jars make great gifts. I didn’t come up with this idea—and I’ve since lost the dog treat recipes these jars were featured in—but I couldn’t find any tutorials on making the lids themselves.

In terms of materials, they couldn’t be more simple—just about everything  I needed is there in the completed project. In fact, it’s such a simple project that I didn’t need any how-to. Despite easily figuring out the required materials on my own, there are a few things I wish I had known before going into this project.

What I got vs. what I needed

Here are the materials I thought I needed:

• pint-size, regular mouth mason jars
• plastic toy dogs
• super glue
• spray paint

Here are the materials I didn’t expect I needed:

• plastic gloves
• one-piece mason jar lids
• cardboard box

All of the mason jars in stores had two-piece lids, that is, separate rings and bands, which wouldn’t work too well if someone wanted to use the jar often. I had to buy one-piece plastic lids separately. As for the gloves, painting the dogs and lids was difficult. My hands were covered in turquoise Valspar spray paint for days. I didn’t get the gloves, but I did save my clothes by placing the lids inside of a cardboard box and then spraying them.

If you think the paint is dry, it’s not

After painting the lids and dogs and gluing the dogs to the lids, I allowed them ample time to dry. Then I made the mistake of storing them against one another. As the jars touched each other, the paint peeled and flaked. I had to reapply so many coats of paint that the lids are still tacky days later. I don’t think they’ll ever be totally dry now.

Begin with a plan

Rather than spray painting willy-nilly like I did, think of what your own crafting limitations are. I made the mistake of painting the dogs before gluing them to the jars, which resulted in a lot of chipping when one of the dogs fell off its lid. It was also hard to keep the dogs upright after painting. But painting before gluing may be a better method for someone else.

Good luck! Let us know how yours turned out below!