Turn glass yogurt jars into stunning sea glass and mercury glass votives. Add bottlebrush trees, greenery, jingle bells, tinsel and faux snow and use them as part of your Christmas decor.
I have a thing for glass jars and upcycling. So when my blogging friends suggested a little challenge involving Yoplait’s Oui french-style yogurt jars, I was all in.
I used the jars to make faux sea glass and mercury votives, then added some festive touches for Christmas. I think they’re pretty gorgeous.
My blogging friends also have some clever and pretty upcycling ideas for the glass jars. Be sure to visit their links at the end of this post.
Once I got started crafting with these shapely jars, I couldn’t stop! I made five different version of holiday votives/place cards/party favors.
Now, I need to head back to the grocery store to buy some more yogurt!
This isn’t a sponsored post, but I’m thinking Yoplait must have known the creative packaging would appeal to those of us who shop with our eyes and an eye toward upcycling!
Want to know exactly the process I used to decorate and upcycle the jars?
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you make a purchase based on my referral, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Supplies
- glass yogurt jars (these jars are similar if you can’t find Oui at your grocery)
- Krylon Sea Glass Spray Paint in Aqua
- Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint or Rustoleum Mirror Effect Spray Paint
- Spray bottle with vinegar and water
- miniature bottle brush Christmas trees
- miniature paper garland
- tinsel wire
- 2.5 inch foam ball
- serrated knife
- faux snow
- craft glue
- jingle bells
Instructions
After eating the yogurt, wash the jar and remove the labels. This is by far the most difficult part of this project. I recommend using Goo Gone to dissolve the adhesive and remove the labels. If you don’t have any, I found that a combination of baby oil and rubbing alcohol — with lots of elbow grease — also worked. Be sure to clean and degrease the glass thoroughly after removing the labels.
Paint the jars. If you’re using the Krylon Sea Glass paint, apply it to the outside of the jars.
If you’re using the Looking Glass or Mirror Effect spray paint to make the mercury glass votives, you’ll need to spray on the inside of the jars. You’ll use a mixture of vinegar and water in between coats to get the mercury glass effect. (I have a tutorial on how to make mirrored mason jars that explains the entire process.) You can also watch the video below to learn the proper technique.
Once the jars are painted and dried, it’s time to start decorating them.
For some, I just wrapped tinsel or paper garland around the jars and embellished with snowflakes and bells.
Fill them with faux snow or epsom salts and add a battery-operated tealight candle for some tabletop ambiance. (I would not burn real candles in the mercury glass votives. Do not use liquids in them either, or the finish will wash away. You won’t have that problem with the Sea Glass paint.)
Of course, my favorite jars are the ones with the snowy scenes on top of them.
They’d make sweet favors for a holiday party.
Add a metal initial charm, and you have personalized place cards for your Christmas table.
To make these snowy scenes, begin by wrapping tinsel, garland or decorative ribbon around the rim of a jar.
Next, use a serrated knife to cut a 2.5-inch foam ball in half so it fits inside the yogurt jar, almost flush with the top. If you like, you can glue the foam ball into the jar, but this isn’t necessary.
Remove the stands from the bottle brush trees and gently stick the trees into the foam. Don’t press too hard or you might break the foam ball.
Coat the top and edges of the foam ball with craft glue.
Pour faux foam snow pellets onto the glued surface and shake off any excess, just like you would do when working with glitter. I highly recommend working over a pan or bowl because the tiny snowballs roll everywhere. Individually, they’re pretty hard to pick up. Just go ahead and plan on vacuuming after you finish this craft project!
These sea glass and mercury glass votives are worth a little extra housework.
Don’t you agree?
If you don’t want to be bothered with faux snow and glue, you can fill the votives with burlap with some bottle brush trees peeking out. I used a drawstring burlap favor bag in the mercury glass votive above. I love the rustic luxe juxtaposition.
Are you ready to see how my friends repurposed their yogurt jars?
Votives with Herbs & Printable Tag by Robb Restyle
Monogrammed Galvanized Jar by Major Hoff Takes a Wife
Simple Christmas Votive by Seeking Lavender Lane
Rain Chain by Hunt & Host
If you liked these upcycling ideas, you may also enjoy these projects:
Kristy Robb
Love these – they look so glam – you would never know they started life as a yogurt jar! Very chic holiday.
Cheers – Kristy
kim jones
I can’t decide which one is my favorite, they are all so cute!