DIY Gratitude Jar

Hello Graphics Fairy friends! I’m Diana from Dreams Factory and I’m happy to be here again to share another DIY project with you! Today I will show you how to make this super chic DIY Gratitude Jar with a charming vintage vibe. I created some beautiful sepia-toned labels to decorate the jar, and some gorgeous double-sided gratitude notes keeping the same color scheme in mind – it’s like having your own fancy stationery just waiting to be discovered. Your main task will be to find a new or recycled jar that has a lovely shape, which will easily bring this project to life!

You can use any type of jar that you want! You can keep an eye and look for jars when you go shopping, or you can raid your favorite thrift stores to find some hidden gems. Maybe now would be the perfect time to go through your stash too, I’m sure if you love creating DIY projects you definitely have an impressive stash! I know I do …

The jar that I chose is a recycled one, it used to proudly wear a vanilla-scented candle inside. It’s a medium-sized jar, but if you want to maybe involve your whole family in the process, you can look for a bigger one that would fit your needs.

Free Printables:

I created three printables for this project. Below you will find the first printable that includes different-sized labels to decorate the jar – just pick the one that you need according to the size of your jar.

• jar – recycled or new
• white cardstock paper
• regular printing paper
• home printer
• scissors or paper trimmer
• mini distress inks
• blending tool with foam
• gold watercolors – I used my favorite Kuretake Gansai Tambi Starry Colors
• small brush
• Mod Podge
• crinkle ribbon or lace

Full Step by Step Tutorial:

Print as many double-sided notes as you want. I used regular paper to print the notes and I printed 5 copies to create a total of 60 notes.

After printing them, you can use a trimmer or your scissors to cut them. I found it easier to cut the excess white paper around all notes first.

And then I cut each note individually – you can see both the front and the back of these beauties. They look pretty fancy, don’t you think?

I used cardstock paper to print the labels for the jar. and I used my scissors to cut a label and the matching gratitude saying. I chose the smaller label size because my jar had more of a curvy appearance close to the top, but if your jar has a perfect cylinder shape, you can choose a larger one.

Make sure your jar is squeaky clean before gluing the label – I used plenty of dish soap and water to remove all the stains and the grease and then I let it air dry completely.

You can choose to glue the label directly on the jar and then glue the small cutouts, but I thought it would be easier to glue all the paper elements first and then glue everything on the jar.

Use distress ink to give the paper even more of a vintage vibe.

And if you want, use some light gold watercolors to highlight the whiteness of the flower. I initially only wanted to use the distress ink for the labels, but then I thought some gold would also work here! It always does!

I used a small brush to paint the inside of the flower and I tried not to completely cover its design so I could still get some contrast. I then dabbed some more gold here and there on the petals to create a small raised effect and finally, I used a touch of gold on the edges to create a subtle gilded effect.

P.S. I used a small plastic bag under the label while performing all these distressing, gluing and painting operations.

Now it’s time to use some more glue to adhere your beautiful label to your jar! Apply glue on the back of your label, then center it as much as you can and place it on your jar. I like to glue the center first, then I use my fingers to gradually press the paper towards the edges. Use a slightly damp paper towel and then a dry one to remove the excess glue from the jar if you have any.

Attach a pretty coffee-dyed crinkle ribbon or some lace and you are done!

You can use your new gratitude jar on a daily basis, it will help you be more grounded and present. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to write something meaningful every single time. It’s great if you can, but it’s more important to be able to acknowledge the things in your life and be grateful even for the smaller things.

You can keep the notes folded or unfolded on your desk, a pretty ceramic bowl or a small plate can add even more charm to your gorgeous gratitude jar and matching stationery.

Use a pen to write the things you are grateful for and maybe even practice your calligraphy writing in the process. The pen that you see in my photographs is actually one close to my heart. I used to write with it when I was in first grade, I still remember the feeling of those trembly and exciting first lines our teacher showed us how to make. My mom found it a few years ago and I’ve been keeping it as a small treasure from my childhood ever since!

You can choose to make a gratitude jar for yourself or one for the whole family and maybe start a new tradition of reading the notes when you all gather for Thanksgiving or the holidays. Of course, you can make some for your friends, I think they will make the perfect gift no matter if there is a special occasion involved or just want to show them how much you care or love them.

Fold the gratitude notes if gifting them and place them all in the jar, I’m sure everyone will appreciate such a special and thoughtful gift!

And speaking of gifts, you can also consider my Gratitude Journal project, which will be the perfect match for this beauty!

I hope you will love this project and decide to give it a try! Make one of these beautiful gratitude jars for you, your family or your friends. Print as many gratitude notes as you need to get things going, but also to continue this as a day-to-day activity. Even though some days will feel overwhelming or stressful or just hectic, taking a moment to write down what you are grateful for will help you feel more in tune with your life. You will be more present and you will feel more grounded, grateful and appreciative of all the small things in your life – which usually prove to be the essential ones, the ones that really matter!You might also like this Count Your Blessings Jar HERE.

Happy crafting,

Diana | by Dreams Factory