DIY - Coastal Votives with Tray

I was racking my brain for a thoughtful gift to thank my amazing friends who've been absolute lifesavers lately. Something personal, something handmade. That's when inspiration struck! I dedicated my weekend to crafting these adorable DIY coastal votives, and honestly, I'm completely smitten with the results. The most surprising part? The breathtaking, ocean-inspired hues I achieved! Plus, I was able to give new life to those little glass jars I'd been saving and use up some leftover scrap wood to create rustic, beachy trays. Talk about a win-win!

I vaguely remember stumbling upon a similar idea somewhere online – Pinterest? Instagram? The depths of my saved browser tabs? Who knows! But when those petite glass jars from our Costco caramel custard desserts were emptied, a lightbulb went off. Their perfect size and shape screamed 'votive holders!' And with a vision of sandy shores and sun-kissed sunsets, I set out to create these charming coastal accents.

If you're looking for an easy, budget-friendly DIY project that adds a touch of seaside serenity to your home, or if you need a unique, heartfelt gift, you've come to the right place. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step through transforming ordinary glass jars and scrap wood into stunning coastal votives. Get ready to unleash your inner beachcomber and create something truly special! Let's dive in!

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It was my first time using Krylon Sea Glass spray paint, and I LOVE it!

The little glasses were set upside down, and I began spray painting them, but they were too close to each other.

The size of each little glass is about 2½" x 2½"

I changed the technique. Instead, I spray-painted the yards individually, holding them with a stirring stick, as shown in the above picture.

| Krylon Sea Glass spray paint |

Depending on how much spray paint you use, you can give them a light or deep color. It's such a lovely hue!

I was delighted with the glass votives, but I built little trays out of scrap pieces of wood and square dowels to turn them into a gift set.

Materials for one tray:

• 1-  9½" x 3½" x  ½" piece of wood ( I used scrap pieces of ½" plywood)
• From one 3/8" square dowel, cut the following lengths:

              2 pieces - 9½" long
              2 pieces - 2¾" long
              4- ½" for the legs.

RYOBI Brad Nailer

The little trays were created by gluing dowel pieces all along the perimeter of the wooden board. 

Since I didn't want to wait for the glue to dry,  I used my brad nailer to speed up the work.

Rust-Oleum Chalk Paint

After sanding the rough edges, the trays were painted with chalk paint and distressed with 60-grid sandpaper.

The final details were to wrap jute rope to the top of each jar, add a bit of sand, and place a votive candle and some shells in it.

Well, this, indeed, is a trash-to-treasure transformation. 

I love how these gift sets turned out!

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