Mason Jar Tote

Last winter I purchased several things at a yard sale to make over into items I could use in my home. Here is a wood (perhaps a a toy tool box?) tote that I painted, added some text that I created in PicMonkey, to make a Mason Jar Tote. I can use it to hold Mason jars that contain flatware at causal dinners, to serve drinks, or even use the Mason jars as flower vases. 

I started by painting the tool box all one color. This color will show through the finally paint coat.  

I mixed a solution of one part white glue with one part water (I used the kids craft glue) and brushed it on the tool box only where I wanted to have some crackling action. 

After the glue mixture dried, I painted the box with white house paint. I used an eggshell finish house paint because that is what I had. (I recommend flat finish paint or chalk paint as a better paint for this, then seal it) 

 I used sandpaper to distress it a little after it dried. Check out the crackling; sweet! 

While the paint dried I created my text in PicMonkey and printed it to fit my tool box.Then I used a soft pencil and rubbed the back of the print. 

Next I taped the print copy onto the box and traced my lines with my pencil transferring the design to the box. 

Then I cheated a little. Rather than paint it with a brush, cause I figured I would mess up a lot :)  I used a black sharpie permanent marker over all my trace lines. A paint pen would have been fabulous here! 

Then I ruffed it up with sand paper again. It made a bit of a mess smearing the black from the marker all over. I used a small artist brush to paint white over some of the smears to clean it up a little. I wanted it to look like it had been around for a long time so some smearing is fine with me. 

I like my fun 'new' reused tool box re-purposed into a Tote; it holds 6 Mason jars perfectly and I know it will be used a lot around here. My mother would have loved it! Today is her birthday; Happy Birthday mom, love you!

I link at these parties. 

Below are some products I thought you might like to look at. There are the tool boxes; the first one would not work for Mason jars I don't think but it's cute! Maybe the second one could hold three pint jars or try smaller 1/2 pint jars. My box dimensions are 7 3/4" wide x 12 1/2" long and 8" high. It holds 6 pint jars. Be sure to check dimensions if you plan on using the jars. There is crackle finish and paint pens and transfer paper that works great for transfer designs to wood. Yes these are affiliate links and purchasing might give me a small commission to help support this blog.  Find Mason Jars at the bottom of this post. Thank you for looking! 

 




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