DIY Apothecary Jars Tutorial

Apothecary jars are so cute and perfect for decorating your home for any and every season. You just fill up the jars with whatever accessories you desire, and you have instant decor that can easily be changed out whenever you want.

I love to fill my apothecary jars with holiday decorations, as they’re so easy to switch out, and the only thing you need to store is the filler.

The only downside to these jars is that they can be expensive if you buy them from a store. A set of three apothecary jars can cost anywhere from $100 and up. And by up I mean well over $100. 

Now as much as I love stylish decor, I prefer to spend that money elsewhere on more important things… like groceries. Because apparently we need to eat every day. Priorities!

And that is where the magic of DIY comes into play. Because we are crafty and thrifty, we know that we can make these things without spending a ton of money. All it takes is a little creativity and glue! 😉 

This is a really simple craft to make, and the result is beautiful apothecary jars that you can use all year long. They really turn out nicely and look like they cost a ton of money (but we all know the truth)!

It’s definitely worth the effort to DIY your own apothecary jars. To create this craft on a budget, check thrift stores or the dollar store for candlesticks. You can also get your jars at the thrift store, or recycle glass food jars or mason jars.

Materials Needed to Create DIY Apothecary Jars

• 3 candlesticks of various heights
• 3 jars with lids
• Lid toppers
• E6000 glue
• Paint
• Foam/paint brush

To help keep your apothecary jars sturdy, make sure your candlesticks are steady enough to hold the jars (and filler), and the jars should be roughly the same size as the candlestick base.

My lid toppers are unfinished wood finials. Craft stores typically have a bunch of different ones to choose from.

Steps to Create DIY Apothecary Jars

1. Paint your candlesticks, jar lids, and lid toppers whatever color you desire. I wanted a color that would match our decor and go with any and every holiday and season, so I chose a light silver paint. It took several layers of paint to cover my dark candlesticks, but they turned out nicely.

2. Once your candlesticks and jars are painted and have dried, glue the jars to the candlesticks. I used E6000 glue, because you want something really heavy duty that’s not going to fall off.

Don’t be stingy with the glue. Use a nice amount to make sure it stays on there really well. We’re not messing around here!

3. Glue the lid toppers to the lids, and you’re finished!

How simple is that? Make sure to let the glue dry thoroughly before filling and using your DIY apothecary jars! 

These not only save you a ton of money by making them yourself, but they’re one of a kind creations, not mass productions. So you won’t find these same jars in anyone else’s home or a store. That’s really special and kind of a big deal in my book.

Aren’t they beautiful? Now comes the fun part, deciding what to fill them with! You can go with a seasonal theme, or use them for something functional like craft supply storage. They’re perfect for displaying anywhere you want, whether it be a mantel, kitchen counter, or entryway table.

What to Put in Your Apothecary Jars

Here are a few ideas for filling your apothecary jars. Don’t be afraid to get creative and think outside the box!

• Items from nature: I like to use natural decor, so I use a lot of things found outside. In the spring, a little moss and some twigs, green leaves, and flowers make beautiful filler. In the summer, I like to use seashells and beach rocks. For fall, pine cones and acorns. Around Christmas, pine cones, pine boughs, and holly sprigs are perfect.

• Seasonal items: You can often find little items appropriate for the season to put in your jars. Mini hearts, Easter eggs, and Christmas ornaments are perfect for apothecary jars. You can typically find these at the dollar store.

• Colored beads or beans: You can typically get colored glass beads for a decent price at the dollar store or craft store. Just get whatever color the season calls for and you have some instant decor! Another way to cheaply fill your jars is to spray paint beans in seasonal colors, such as red and pink for Valentine’s Day, orange and black for Halloween, etc. Beans are usually pretty cheap, and you can save them and reuse them again year after year.

• Food: Whatever candy is popular for the holiday is perfect for filling your apothecary jars, such as conversation hearts for Valentine’s Day, jelly beans for Easter, candy corn for Halloween, mints for Christmas, etc. For a non-seasonal option, you could use noodles, beans, or any other food that won’t spoil easily.

• Storage: Turn your jars into beautiful storage by filling them with office supplies, craft supplies, or even bathroom supplies such as makeup and cotton balls.

• Mix and match: Get creative and combine several different fillers. For example, last year at Christmas I found some glittery styrofoam balls at the dollar store that mixed perfectly with my pine cones.

In order to save a little money, put a toilet paper roll in the center of the jar. Just add the filler around the outside of the toilet paper roll and leave the center empty so you don’t have to fill the whole jar. Nobody will be able to tell, and you’ll save a good amount of money doing this!

I hope I have inspired you to create your own DIY apothecary jars. They’re such an easy craft to make, and they are really so versatile that you could use them in so many different places around the home.

If you’ll be making your own DIY apothecary jars, tell me what you’ll be putting in them in the comments!