Upcycle Baby Food Jars – DIY Spice Rack
Check out this useful and space saving way to upcycle baby food jars! When my baby first started eating purees from the jars I threw them out. Then I got a big guilt trip and decided I should probably try to save them and use them. I figured they were a perfect fit for for spices. I did what all good moms do when looking for inspiration and started a Pinterest board. None of the spice rack ideas there were a good fit for my space (non-existent) so I decided to upcycle baby food jars to make my own kind of spice rack.
Besides for being a great way to upcycle baby food jars, this is also an amazing space saver as it uses an area that is otherwise wasted and clears up some cabinet space. I also love that I can decide on my own how much spice is dispensed from each jar as I am making my own holes.
Upcycle Baby Food Jars – SUPPLIES NEEDED
- A magnetic knife strip, or other sheet of strong magnet, fixed to the surface.
- Empty baby food jars, cleaned and with labels removed (it’s okay if glue remains)
- An awl
- Scrapbook paper
- Twine or ribbon (optional)
- Washi tape (optional)
- Spice labels (print this out in black and white or full color) – I’ve created these FREE printable spice jar labels special for this project. I’ve made a few with spices written on them – the rest are blank so you can customize it for you needs.
- E-6000 glue ( a great craft staple in general)
- Scissors, of course
Upcycle Baby Food Jars – INSTRUCTIONS
- Remove the cap from the jar and use the awl to make holes. Vary the hole size according to the spice – you can see how the original spice jar arranged it for that specific spice.
- Cut a strip of scrapbook paper to the desired width. Measure it around and trim the length. Glue on using a strip of e6000 at the end.
- Cut out the spice label and glue that on as well.
- Cut a piece of twine and tie as a ribbon around the neck (optional).
- I was disturbed by the text on the cap – it was ruining my design, so I covered it with some thin washi tape.
- Fill and enjoy! When you place the jars on the rack, the surface covers the holes and prevents moisture from entering.
These are adorable! I have a collection of baby jars and tons of spices without a home; I’ll have to see if we can make this!
Very clever! I love how you decorate them too 🙂
What a great idea! This would be a good way to organize beads, glitter, embossing powders, all sorts of things.
Menucha, this is a great idea! And I love that you stuck them to the underside of your cabinet with a magnetic strip. Great use of space and jars. No guilt trips for you! 😉 A similar use could be for screws, nuts, washers and small parts, which I have jammed into parts organizers because I don’t have a workshop. I would probably have 100 jars! Great post with strong images. Thanks!
I use them for my beads as well! but I just use them as is – no fancy papers and such..
Oh my gosh! What a fab idea and a wonderful way of combining memories of your little ones and doing your bit for the environment! I love it especially the metal strip that keeps it in place – ingenious! 🙂
Stop it! These are too precious and easy!!! I will definitely start collecting these from my new-mom friends! By the way, I adore the design of this space and will be checking back here often for more DIY genius. Keep it up! 🙂
Awesome tutorial, I don’t have any baby food sized jars but I do tend to keep jars. I don’t know if there is any basis to my preference but I like to store baking ingredients (flour) etc in jars, I feel like glass keeps better vs plastic containers. I might start decorating them. I have some washi tape laying around somewhere.
Upcycling has got to be one of my favourite pastimes! I don’t have baby food jars lying around, but I do have a ton of mason jars from a few summers ago, when I tried to make jam with a few friends. Maybe I’ll try it with the mason jars instead. Thanks for sharing!
I didn’t want to throw ours out either and they are just collecting dust in a box. This us a great way to reuse those jars!