DIY Upcycled Apothecary Jar

Easy Upcycled Apothecary Jar DIY Using a Plastic Candy Canister

Give your empty candy jars a stylish second life with this vintage-inspired DIY apothecary canister. An easy upcycle project perfect for craft rooms, kitchens, or spring displays!

Alright stop! Collaborate and listen, this gal is back with a brand new edition... of upcycling of course. 

Yep, some days you just need to change the words to a song and sing your heart out when you're having a day, and let's just say it has been one of those weeks here at the cottage. 

I get a bit stressed when we are doing any updating on our home, and this past week has made me a big ole' stress-ball. In order to de-stress, this gal let's her hair down by crafting, decorating, or coloring. 

Yes, I do like to color, but this vintage lovin' gal isn't sharing that today,  Nope, today I’m bringing you a fun and easy upcycle project to help take your mind off the heaviness in the world and inspire a little creativity in your day. 

So, before you toss that empty candy jar or plastic canister into the trash—STOP! You can totally save it and transform it into the cutest vintage-inspired apothecary jar your craft room (or kitchen!) has ever seen.

After tackling a few more advanced upcycling projects lately, I figured it was time to share a simple one. Not every DIY needs to take hours or require fancy tools. Sometimes, the best projects are the ones made with just a little paint, a bit of imagination, and materials you already have on hand.

With that being said, I am sharing how you can take a discarded plastic container and make it into a vintage apothecary jar. I admit, I really liked how this one turned out, and I plan to use it for storage in my craft room. I also think it could be adorable with a bouquet of spring flowers sitting on the kitchen counter or the dining room table.  

But, you can decide where you place your vintage apothecary canister, I'll just show you how to get there, and I promise, this is an easy one.

How to Turn a Plastic Candy Jar into a Vintage Apothecary Canister

Whether you use it to store supplies, style your shelves, or display spring flowers—this upcycled apothecary jar is versatile, affordable, and just plain charming.

Materials:

1. Plastic canister, ours stored chocolate covered peanuts once upon a time
2. Chalk paint of your choice, I chose the color celery by Waverly chalk paint
3. Chip brush
4. Packing paper 
5. Stamps of your choice, I used apothecary stamps 
6. Black ink pad
7. Antiquing wax
8. Twine
9. Corner Rounder Punch
10. Mod podge
11. Craft tag punch 

Instructions:

• Leave the label in place. Trust me on this—these plastic labels don’t remove cleanly. Peeling them off often makes a bigger mess.
• Stipple on your chalk paint. Use your chip brush to dab the paint directly onto the jar and label. I only needed one coat for good coverage. Let it dry completely.
• Paint lid color of your choice, place to the side and allow to dry
• Cut packing paper to fit over the label on the canister, round out corners so they match the existing label
• Crinkle up the paper since we are going for a vintage feel, smooth paper back out
• Stamp desired designs onto packing paper, I went with an apothecary-inspired motif
• Paint mod podge over the fully dry plastic canister to set paint, if the paint is not fully dry, then it will smudge and will remove paint from the canister
• Apply mod podge to packing paper label, be sure to cover the entire label under and over packing paper, allow to fully dry 
• Add antiquing wax to enhance the vintage charm. Thanks to the Mod Podge base, you can adjust the depth of the wax easily.
• Place packing paper into craft tag punch to create a label, apply black ink to the edges of the tag, and add a stamp to the center
• Thread tag with twine and wrap twine around the canister several times, tie off tag, and tie twine in a bow
• I went back in with black ink and added to the packing paper around the label for a more vintage feel

Voila! A vintage-style apothecary canister from a plastic jar that was destined for the recycling bin.

While I was working on this little cutie, I kept picturing something straight out of Little House on the Prairie—shelves lined with large jars full of mysterious remedies and old-fashioned herbs. I swear, if I had a big antique wall cabinet for storage, I’d never stop decorating it. (Now I’m officially on the hunt… see how I get myself in trouble?)

That’s what I love about crafting and decorating—it’s not just about the project. It’s about where it takes you. One moment I’m brushing on a coat of paint, and the next I’m dreaming up an entire vintage apothecary shop in my head. My husband loves those days, let me tell you!

Ways to Use Your DIY Apothecary Jar

If you're wondering what to do with your finished piece, here are a few ideas:

• Craft Room Storage – Use it for washi tape, buttons, ribbon, or anything that needs a pretty place to land.

• Bathroom Organizer – Store cotton balls, bath salts, or makeup sponges in a stylish container.

• Spring Floral Display – Tuck in a small bouquet of faux tulips or wildflowers and set it on your kitchen table.

• Gift Packaging – Fill it with homemade cookies, bath bombs, or treats for a thoughtful and personalized gift.

• Entryway Drop Spot – Use it to collect spare change or keys (yes, even that can look cute with the right container!).

• Laundry Room – Store laundry detergent inside this vintage styled canister (you can add a vintage vibe in the laundry room).
  

Want to Make This Even Easier?

Good news—I’ve turned the stamped apothecary label I created into a free printable just for you! If you don’t want to stamp your own or you're short on time, this label gives you that handmade vintage look with no extra effort.

If you’ve got an active imagination like I do—or just love a budget-friendly upcycled decor idea—I hope this project brought you a little spark of joy today. The world is a big place, with lots happening, and sometimes we all just need a mental breather and a good ole’ dose of DIY inspiration.

And hey—next time you're about to toss that empty container, remember this project. A little paint and creativity can go a long way in making something ordinary feel special.

Thank you for stopping by and spending part of your day here with me. I hope your mind wandered in the best possible way, and that you’re already thinking about what you can make next.

As my grandpa always said: Keep your chin up, kid. 😉

Wishing you peace, creativity, and a good day ahead,

Cara