The One Way You Never Thought To Repurpose Jar Lids In Your Kitchen

There are many ways to repurpose old Mason jar lids, but there are also some great projects to try with smaller metal jar lids. Instead of tossing or recycling them, use your DIY skills to create an adorable piece of decor, such as a decorative DIY fruit bowl that looks great and is functional in your home. You can customize it and even use up some other scrap materials if you like. In a video, YouTuber DIY Home decor shows how to make this project. You need jute rope, fabric with your pattern of choice, cardboard, a wooden circle, artificial pearls, lids, scissors, and hot glue.

First, cut out squares of fabric that will cover the lid and rim of the lid. You'll need one fabric square for each lid, and this specific DIY uses eight lids. Wrap the lids and glue the fabric in place, scrunching the fabric and trimming excess. Next, cut out a cardboard circle and wrap it in fabric, gluing the fabric down and securing the wooden circle around the cardboard's circumference. Now, use the jute rope to create spirals inside each lid, placing an artificial pearl in the center of the spiral and gluing everything in place. Glue the lids around the circumference of the wooden circle to form a bowl shape. Create another jute rope spiral and stick it on a circle of cardboard the same size as the original circle. Finally, glue the circle along the bowl's perimeter for a finished look.

The YouTuber shows the completed project as a fruit bowl, but you might want to consider using more durable materials if you want to use this in the same way. The cardboard base, especially, could cause problems and fall apart if too much water or fruit juice gets to it. While the two layers of cardboard and the jute rope spiral might seem like enough of a barrier, if moisture seeps through the jute rope, then the cardboard will not last long. Try replacing the bottom cardboard with wood for a stronger base. You can still attach fabric to the bottom of the bowl base and place a jute rope spiral on top of the wood to avoid compromising its appearance. Of course, if any part of your DIY does fall apart, it's easy enough to simply replace and reattach any broken areas using hot glue. Just keep your glue gun clean and ready for use.

If you want to save your DIY bowl from rotting fruit, especially because storing the wrong fruits in a countertop bowl can cause faster ripening, avoid storing bananas, avocados, and apples in it. Consider storing other items inside, such as coffee pods, candies, or tea bags that do not have the same potential to cause damage. You can also move this versatile bowl out of the kitchen and use it in a bathroom (away from water sources), living room, or bedroom.

The final look of this project will vary based on the fabric you use. The YouTuber uses a blue, brown, and tan patterned fabric, which combined with the jute and pearl creates a coastal style. But you can use almost any fabric. You can even repurpose old t-shirts for this DIY. Solid colors will help the jute rope stand out, but patterns, especially fruit ones, are very fitting. You could also choose a lacy fabric for a more delicate style. If you use lace or a lighter color, make sure that the jar lid is not visible through the fabric. If it is, you may want to use two layers of fabric or paint the lid before adhering the fabric so your end result looks more polished.

If you want to try this project with less of a beach theme, an easy switch is to choose different center beads. A crystal bead can be more formal, while a colorful wooden bead can make the bowl seem more crafty. Fruit-shaped beads would also be a cute and fitting choice. You can find cute and affordable beads in craft stores or online for only a few dollars, like ANSGGB's 200-pieces Fruit Polymer Beads. Matching the colors of the fabrics and the center pearl or bead is also a great way to tie the project together. Whether you use beads and materials you already have or buy some affordable supplies, it's a great way to use old jar lids.