There I was in Goodwill (how typical of me), casually strolling through the housewares. I wasn’t hunting for anything in particular, when I came across this house shaped cookie jar. It was chipped and cracked, so I knew it was primed for a makeover. But not just any makeover- a Halloween makeover! With a little paint and some creativity, I could transform it into a Halloween cookie jar!
I pondered a few options for this Halloween makeover – aka, “spookification”. The hardest part would be covering up the little girl and boy, but I decided to deal with that later.
Ironically enough, I’ve upcycled Halloween cookie CUTTERS before. Just never a cookie jar…
But anyway, back to the cookie jar in Goodwill. I snapped it up and headed to the cashier- ready to see how my project turned out?
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Transforming a Cookie Jar into a Miniature Haunted House
First things first, I needed to spray paint the entire cookie jar for a uniform look.
And what better color for a haunted house than gray?
Next, I hand-painted the roof shingles black (using craft acrylic paint).
To add contrast to the bricks of my Halloween cookie jar, I used the pointy end of a bamboo skewer to drag hints of black craft paint in between each one.
It wasn’t nearly as tedious as it sounds and acted as the perfect “mortar” on my miniature haunted house.
See? Doesn’t that add nice definition to the Halloween haunted house? As you can tell, I also painted the window frame black, too.
Next, I continued my hand-painting journey by painting all the window frames black. Then, I filled them in with an eerie yellow-orange.
Haunted houses always have a fire burning inside, don’t they?
Besides, my Halloween cookie jar needed a pop of color. But it was DEFINITELY transforming before my eyes!
Halloween Cookie Jar and Miniature Haunted House
Then, I added MORE color by painting the windows purple. I wasn’t 100% done with painting, but I needed some time to figure out how to deal with the little country folks on the cookie jar.
These folks posed a challenge. Could I just paint them as spooky characters? No, that wouldn’t suffice. What about using modeling clay over them? Close, but modeling clay never hardens. And oven-dry clay wasn’t an option either.
A mix of Google research and a craft store yielded the solution- behold the magic of air-dry clay! I hadn’t worked with clay since elementary school art class. But this stuff was easy to use, forgiving, and really quite perfect for the job.
First, I covered the doorway girl in the shape of a Halloween ghost.
Then, I created little shutters, which I painted the same purple as the curtains in the front windows.
Next, I glued them to the corners of the large side windows on the Halloween cookie jar. Crooked and cockeyed like on a real haunted house.
Once all the shutters had been glued on, I was nearly done!
Halloween Cookie Jar
The Halloween cookie jar was coming together nicely. But I still had the little boy (on the other side of the top here) to deal with.
I decided that a little jack-o-lantern made from the self-drying clay would be perfect for covering him up!
I stuck a small stick in the clay for an imprint, then I let it dry before painting. Finally, I replaced the stick in the hole, securing with a bead of glue.
Doesn’t my Halloween cookie jar look SO different and perfectly spooky?
The best part is that the price tag at the thrift store told me that this little cookie jar had been there for several weeks…which is unusual!
I’m so happy to have revitalized it for Halloween. And it now has a starring role in my Halloween mantel display.
If you enjoyed this upcycling idea for a Halloween makeover, then you’ll love this Halloween candy bowl stand!
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
I just recently discovered your blog and am amazed at what you come up with to repurpose an item. I look forward to seeing what you do next.
Thank you so much, Mary Ann- I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I need kind words like that for encouragement! 🙂
Very cute transformation! 🙂
Thank you, Rhonda!
That is toooo cute…will have to keep my eye out for one….Great Job!
Thank you so much!
Wow. This is an awesome transformation. Love how you made it into a Haunted House. Thanks for sharing at Friday Favorites. You will be my pick for one of the features to week. Sharing and Pinning. Hope to see you again this Friday. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much!
Tooo funny & cute & I have this exact same cookie jar! I feel a transformation coming on!
And you’re not mad at me for revamping it?? I was worried that someone who has (and loves) that cookie jar might be horrified…even though I found mine at Goodwill! 😉
I’m not attached to it! I found mine at a yard sale, i think, and have it offered for sale in my Etsy vintage shop http://www.thevintagedresser.etsy.com
It isn’t selling, so i’m thinking it needs a make-over!
LOL, I think I looked at your listing when I bought the cookie jar- was just curious about the age and background of the maker! How funny is that?? It would be such a bear to ship…I say transform it! 😉
You are soooo creative. Not in a million years would I have thought to do something like this. Turned out awesome.
Thank you so much, Mary!!
Love this idea!!
Thank you so much, Christina!
It never ceases to amaze me just how creative you are. I never would have been able to envision this transformation myself, but it is absolutely adorable!
Thank you so much, Jessica!!
Oh. Em. Gee. That is THE COOLEST! Can’t believe you turned around that dreadful cookie jar. Really inspiring, thanks for the great post, Sarah!
Thank you so much, Michelle!
I am amazed that you turned that old cookie jar into this great Halloween jar! What a great upcycle! Very impressive. Thanks for sharing at Inspiration Thursday!
Thank you, Lela!
I have to say simply amazing! WOW you did a great job and have now inspired me to redo something thrifty! YAY Your awesome!
Thank you, Suzie!!
Such a wonderful transformation Sarah. I love the cute ghost, pumpkin, and shutters! I have a friend that uses that clay to make the cutest pumpkin and snowmen heads and attaches them to vintage tins. .
Thank you so much, Jann!
This is an amazing transformation! How wonderfully clever!
Thank you so very much!
Well done! So cute!
Thank you so much!
oh my gooood..it looks fantastic! I just found your blog through OMHGWW and love it. Brilliant idea and I love to see all the details for halloween :). Cheers..
Thank you so much!!! I’m so glad you found me and hope you poked around for a while. 🙂
You created such an adorable cookie jar transformation. Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm hope to see you back this week.
Thanks so much, Sharon!
This is so adorable! 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Okay that is very impressive Sarah. Thanks for sharing with us again at #ThrowbackThursday.
Thank you so much, Quinn!
You are such a creative genius! I wouldn’t have looked at that cookie jar twice, if I even noticed it at all. Pinned and shared on Facebook. Thank you for sharing with us at Merry Monday!
Thank you so much, Amanda!!
WOW, this is incredible, and so creative!! You always come up with the best stuff, I tell ya. 😉 You’re my featured pick at this week’s Merry Monday! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Thank you so much, Christine!!! I’ll be there. 🙂
You have officially blown my mind! What an amazing transformation! I’m featuring your makeover tomorrow night at our Best of the Weekend Party! Thanks so much for linking up with us.
Thank you so much- I’ll be there!!
Super cute–er spooky! 😉 I loved that you had such a fun vision with that upcycle, it turned out fantastic!
Thanks, McKenzie!
Very cute indeed Sarah! Thanks for sharing at Five Star Frou-Frou. Love, Mimi xxx
Thanks, Mimi!
Wow, Sadie this is awesome 🙂 I am so happy you shared at Snickerdoodle, this is definitely one of my favorites!
Have an awesome weekend 🙂
Joanita
Awww, thank you!!! I know it’s our own link party, but I think we can share our projects here, too, right? 😀
Wow – what a great way to repurpose! It’s just darling. I love your t-shirt inspiration story, too. Thanks for sharing this on Throwback Thursday!
Thank you! 😀
This is so creative Sarah! Thanks for sharing at the Pleasure of the NW’s DIY party!
This is awesome and so creative. I would have never done this. LOL, I love it and so happy you shared at Dishing it and Digging it link party. We love having you.
Thank you so very much, Vanessa!
So creative and adorable!
Jemma
Hi Sarah, I really like your spooky version of the cookie jar a lot more and what a great idea to create the ghost and shutters with clay!
Thanks, Katrin!
Way clever! Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday!
Found this post through acraftymix.com ‘s linky and I am SO glad. Im totally going to have to look t now for a cute little cookie jar to revamp!
Thanks so much!!! Happy treasure hunting! 🙂
No waaaaaaays, that a brilliant transformation. So cool
Thank you so much, Michelle!