I mentioned a few days ago that I would be sharing some of the projects that I worked on for the vintage market last weekend. It was really interesting to see what was popular with customers and what wasn’t. For example, I was really surprised that I did not sell more than a few of my French Flower Pots… they had such a positive response on the blog and I didn’t feel like I had overpriced them, but they just didn’t sell.
My mason jar soap dispensers, on the other hand, were by far the hottest items around. They literally flew off the shelves – in fact I sold all of them except one (which is now in my bathroom). I had two different styles: some were painted in heirloom white with a gloss finish and black lid/pumps; and some were the same color, but I used sand paper to distress the paint in areas, especially around the wording on the front of the jars.
I personally liked the distressed ones myself, but was actually expecting the nice “shiny” ones to be the big sellers. NOPE. Everyone loved the distressed ones! In fact, I ended up borrowing some sand paper from Claudine over at Condensed Home Love when I ran out of the distressed ones, and went outside and quickly sanded the glossy ones and brought them back to my booth. I sold two more after this!
A few of you asked about making them so here’s a quick tutorial:
Materials You Will Need:
- large or small mason jars
- spray paint (colors of your choice – I like the contrast of the black and ivory).
- Drill with small and large drill bits (I used 13/64 & 3/8).
- Soap Pump Dispensers (from a used soap bottle, or you can buy individual ones at some craft stores). I wanted black ones and I found them at this adorable little store The Soap Dispensary on Main Street in Vancouver.
- silicone sealant (I used )
First I spray painted the jars (upside down first) with Rustoleum Heirloom White (gloss). I used about 3 coats, turning them right side up after the second coat. I spray painted the lids using Rustoleum black (gloss).
When the paint was dry, I screwed the lids onto the jars and took a small drill bit and while holding the jar with one hand drilled a small hole into the center of each jar (prior to this I marked the center of the lid with a sharpie). After the small holes were drilled, I used the largest drill bit I had (3/8) and drilled through where the smaller hole was. Now, depending on the width of the base of your soap dispenser, you may need to use pliers to pull back some more of the lid to make the hole a little larger. I had to make mine a little larger, and this was not hard to do at all. Using needle nose pliers, I pulled back a little (from the inside) at a time and kept checking to see if it was JUST big enough to shove the pump through. You don’t want to make the whole too big, because you want a tight fit around the dispenser. Once it’s inserted you can use your silicone sealant around the inside base of the pump. Let it dry 24 hrs before use. The sealant I used is called RTV 108 – it’s a translucent high performance adhesive (silicone).
One last piece of advice is to trim your dispenser (tube) so that it almost touches the bottom of the jar when fully inserted.I think I’d like to try making some aqua ones next with black lids….
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Tess Sole said:
Hi! I love your jar dispensers! I would love to order a couple of them? I am in New Mexico so would that be possible? Please let me know. Thank you in advance!
Ugly Duckling said:
Hi Tess,
I did have a bunch, but sold them all at a Vintage market earlier in the summer… I won’t be making any for a while, but will let you know when I do and let you know how much shipping would be!
Kathryn
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west furniture revival said:
LOVE THE MASON JAR SOAP DISPENSER OF YOURS, I WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE IT, IF THAT WOULD BE OK PLEASE LET ME KNOW
Ugly Duckling said:
Sorry for the late reply! Thanks so much.
Shannon said:
My paint goes on all crackly. How do you get such a smooth coat? Maybe it is too cold outside? Thanks
Margaret Garcia said:
Hello, i tried this at home, but my silicone sealant isn’t sticking. What is the brand name of sealant you used for your project. I’ve attempted to seal them twice already and they keep falling off… Please help….
Ugly Duckling said:
Hi… I will check. I just used whatever silicone sealant was in my husband’s toolbox. It certainly works like a charm. I’ll let you know!
Kathryn
Ugly Duckling said:
Hi again,
the sealant is called RTV 108 translucent Adhesive. It comes in a black and white tube. Hope that helps!
Michelle said:
Looking forward to this, we make our own Organic Liquid Soap and have lots of these jars.
Clo said:
I made some similar. Insted of painting, I used fabrics to match my rooms and pulled it up a ways ariund my Mason jar, then tied a ribbon around it. Really look nice!
Stacey said:
Beautiful finish! I agree, it’s so hard to tell what people will respond to. So many things I get a positive response to are the very same things that sit around forever. But we learn so much from shows don’t we? I think they are all beautiful, but i love the distressed finish as well. I think it gives the jar such a lovely time-worn feel. Thanks for sharing! I might try making a few of these for stocking stuffers 🙂
Erika said:
These jars are truly lovely, what a great work you did and thank you so much for the tutorial, I want to try some myself.
Amber @ Recipes We Love said:
I LOVE these!!!!!
Bliss said:
Too Darn Cute – so I pinned it!
~Bliss~
Christy Cochran said:
So In LOVE with these. They are amazing and thanks so much for sharing the tutorial. I’m so going to make some of these for my family and friends for xmas this coming year. So perfect! Found you via a link party and am now a new follower!
BethM@Under A Pile of Scrap! said:
I have noticed that what’s popular online is NOT at the shows. It’s weird like that. I love these jars that you used for the dispensers & the distressing is perfect!
Kristin @ Little Corbin Hill said:
Love these! =)
Beez Rental Designs said:
These are so creative! I love your idea of the aqua and black, will probably sell just as fast. Thanks so much for sharing your tutorial! Hope you’ll share at my Frugal Treasures party going on now through 7pm Sunday.
Barbe
Jeanette Sumruld said:
Beautiful! I love the jars you used. We can only get Ball and Kerr jars here.
Pamela said:
Was that the Market in Maple Ridge? I sure missed out on those. I would have grabbed one in a flash. They would be perfect in my kitchen.
Thanks for sharing the tutorial, but I think I will look for one to purchase. Hint Hint.
Ugly Duckling said:
Thanks! The market was the Olde Farmhouse Vintage market… It was the first one they’ve done and was a big success! I will be making more soap dispensers in the next week or so – I can email you if you’d like one. 🙂
Christina at I Gotta Create! said:
I LOVE your soap dispensers! I definitely want to try this.
❤ Christina at I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original Round Up party is open!
Diana said:
very nice, love your idea of the mason jars. Where did you get your jars ?
Ugly Duckling said:
Thanks! I bought a flat of jars at my local grocery store… They carry both the small and large sizes.
Claudine said:
Dear Kathryn,
We never know what people will like, I guess??? I would imagine these would sell very well in a school fair close to your home? Perhaps right now check the Christmas Fairs around you, so you can sell your containers, bags and soap dispensers! I say close to you so you don’t spend all your profit in gas, lol!
I love my soap dispenser, and I love that is not “hard” to pump, it is so light when I press on it. Some pumps are hard to press, I am not sure if I am saying this right, but I get lots of resistance and need to press hard. Yours is perfect formy dish soap!
Perhaps make them in two colors so people can put soap in one and hand cream in another?
Hugs!!!