What is Valentine’s Day without a few sweet treats to indulge in? Here is a great idea that takes your candy dish to the next level. Not including the candy to fill your jar, it will only set you back $8.34. You can also make smaller versions of this depending on your space. The great thing about this DIY project is that it is something you can do for all sorts of occasions.

You will need

Purchased:

• One 8-inch round glass vase ($4.25 at Flower Factory in Washington Twp.)
• One 6-inch terracotta pot ($0.75 at Flower Factory)
• One 6 3/4-inch Terracotta Saucer ($0.80 at Flower Factory)
• Black acrylic paint ($1.29 at Michael’s Arts and Crafts)
• Valentine’s Day scrapbook stickers ($1.25 at Flower Factory)

Items I already had around the house:

• Mod Podge
• Foam brush
• Knob for top (I used the top to an Estee Lauder Pleasures perfume bottle). Wooden knobs can also be purchased at craft stores.
• Gorilla Glue

Directions:

1. Clean and remove all tags from your containers

2. Paint the inside and outside of your terracotta pot, saucer and your knob. Let dry and give a second coat.

3. Once completely dry, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to you pot, saucer and knob. Let dry and then apply a second coat.

4. Turn your terracotta pot upside down and decorate the base of your candy dish. You can use stickers as an easy way to add some personality. I plan to fill my jar with Hershey Hugs and Hershey Kisses, so I chose to put the words “Hugs and Kisses” in honor of Valentine’s Day. Once your stickers are in place, apply one final coat of Mod Podge to ensure your decorations stay on.

5. Once the Mod Podge dries, you can start assembling your items. With your terracotta pot still upside down, put a thin layer of Gorilla Glue on the base. Try to stay a about 1/4 inch away from the edge of the pot because the glue tends to expand as it dries.

6. Place your glass vase’s base on top of the terracotta pot. Let dry.

7. Turn your saucer upside down and glue your knob to the center of the saucer. Let dry.

8. Once everything is dry and secure, fill your jar with the candy of your choosing, place the lid on top of your glass vase and you have your very own gumball machine-inspired candy dish!

Jessica Garringer is a bargain hunter, DIYer and a couponer who loves to save money! You can reach her at JessicaGarringer@gmail.com. Get more tips at SaverSavvy.wordpress.com or Facebook.com/SaverSavvy.