This simple craft project combines inexpensive supplies to create homemade holiday treat jars with removable DIY window cling stickers. They’re perfect for adding a temporary festive touch. I made pet treat jars, but this also works for gifting human treats as well. It’s a family friendly craft for younger folks who can safely handle paint or with helping hands (simple designs recommended). Because we aren’t painting directly on the jars, do-overs are easy and you don’t need to deal with the headache of using paint on curvy surfaces.
Caution: Homemade dimensional fabric paint window clings will stick to most smooth surfaces, including windows. After having endured the pain of trying to scrape the former owners’ well-toasted clings off the windows at a previous house, I’ve never again trusted anything on the windows to be temporary – bought or homemade. Jars however, are fair game! This is a super fun family friendly craft project.
DIY Window Cling Making Supplies and Materials
To make your own temporary DIY window clings you will need dimensional fabric paint (affiliate link). You will also need waxed paper, freezer paper, or sturdy clear plastic such as a Ziploc bag. The project only takes a small amount of paint per cling, so you can use some from your craft stash (like me) or buy some in versatile colours for future projects. Yay! Our paints are leftovers from making no-sew ugly Christmas sweater dog bandana. It’s also handy to have a template, tape and scissors, and scrap cardboard to protect your work area, just in case.
- Dimensional fabric paint
- Waxed paper, freezer paper, sturdy clear plastic, or similar
- Template (optional) and tape
To use the DIY window clings as stickers to make treat jars you’ll need clean glass jars with suitable lids. Mine are washed and repurposed from groceries. I love that these particular salsa jars don’t have printed lids. I actually buy this brand of salsa over alternatives because the jars are so versatile for reuse. Hint hint product packaging peeps! You can also buy ready-to-use jars in any style you like.
Making a Template (Optional)
Don’t want to freehand your design? If you have access to a printer, it’s easy to create your own custom lettering template in a font style that you like and size it to suit your jars. The best fonts for single-layer clings are script or hand styles with letters that touch to join together as a single piece of writing per word. I used the font “BlackJack” for my jars and adjusted it slightly to join any disconnected letters. Double-layer clings (create a solid base and then write on top) or single letter clings can work in any font style.
These jars were made in the blog years B.C. (Before Cricut). If you have a Cricut, you could cut custom stickers to use with your treat jars instead, but that’s not as fun as painting, especially if the kids are crafting. Prefer to cut? check out our Cricut pet crafts for other ideas and inspiration. Want a quick and simple ready made sticker idea instead? See our guest post DIY alphabet sticker dog treat jars for inspiration. Looking for a shortcut that’s more temporary than using a vinyl or stickers? You can use ready-made window clings (affiliate link) to temporarily decorate treat jars too, as long as they flexible enough to curve and small enough to suit your jar.
DIY Holiday Pet Treat Jars Using Homemade Window Clings
Making DIY Window Clings with Fabric Paint
- Optional: Create your template, and double check size for fit. You can freehand, if you prefer.
- Optional: Cut to separate multiple labels or different clings for ease of tracing and painting.
- Layer a piece of waxed paper (or other see-through material from which the dried paint can be removed) on top of your template for your painting surface. Tape to secure so that it doesn’t shift or slide during painting.
- Carefully paint with dimensional fabric paint to trace the lettering. As a tip, if your text has dotted letters, you can paint the dots away from the main text for easier separation and removal. I used wee little hearts in lieu of dots, and painted a few extras, just in case!
- Allow to dry completely.
- Carefully separate the dried paint from the paper backing. Take care not to stretch or tear the lettering. Easy does it, patience required.
Using the Window Clings as Pet Treat Jar Stickers
These DIY window clings will stick to most smooth surfaces, including windows. But user beware! I’d strongly recommend applying with caution and limiting these to surfaces that won’t be harmed or create issues if removal becomes difficult. I wouldn’t use them on my windows! Trust issues as noted in my caution above comments.
To make custom pet treat jars using the homemade clings, treat them like stickers. Carefully place on the surface of your glass jar to re-create the lettering for your temporary label. Done! I’ve been using these jars for around a month now, and have hand washed them carefully without difficulty; however, these were created with the intention of temporary use only. Once you’re ready for a change, simply remove the trashed stickers. Use a scraper to lift if needed and then peel away. Reuse or recycle your jars. Easy peasy!
