DIY Mason Jar Utensil Caddy For Dining Al Fresco

I love eating outside. Whether we’re having a barbecue, or just taking our food out to the patio, it’s so nice to be able to eat in the sunshine, hearing the birds – and pesky squirrels – play in the yard. The trouble with moving meal time from inside-to-out is the inevitable carting of cutlery, dishes and other dinner time needs outside. I fashioned up a little DIY mason jar utensil caddy for just those occasions. And unlike caddies you would buy in the store, you fit whatever you like into this! Ketchup and mustard? Just take out a jar! Straws, spoons, and forks – put all three jars in! It’s a great way to add some colour to the picnic table.

Supplies needed to make your own DIY mason jar utensil caddy:

• Unfinished Wooden Planter Box
• 3 Canning Jars (including metal rings)
• Americana Decor Chalky Paint
• Sanding Block
• Jute Twine
• Glue Gun

I started by painting the jars and the caddy with acrylic paint. The jars got two even coats of paint, but I allowed them to fully dry between coats.
One the paint had dried, I went over the jar lightly with a sanding block. It won’t take very heavy hand to distress the jar, so start off slowly. It’s much easier to take paint off than to repaint the whole thing again.

I wanted the caddy to look a bit weather-beaten and not too perfect. I put a VERY light coat of white acrylic paint on it, using a nearly dry brush. I wanted the grain to pop through and to make the wood seem almost white-washed, rather than painted.

If you prefer a crisper look, then two coats of white paint should do the trick.

Once the caddy dried, I wrapped the handles in jute and secured the ends with hot glue. I love how this adds a bit of interest to the otherwise plain box, and also – it’s just a teensy bit rustic.

And voila your DIY mason jar utensil caddy is done! A pretty way to display all of the “necessaries” for dinner outside!

I imagined this set-up as a centrepiece of a table, but it could be far more practical.

Condiments and napkins could replace the DIY mason jars, or you could go completely decorative…

… and fill the jars with blooms from the garden.

This DIY mason jar caddy project was a quick and easy one, but I think it has great impact. I’ll be bringing this out to the patio table many times this summer.

What colour would you paint YOUR DIY mason jars?

About Tara

Tara is the creator, writer, and flurry of chaos behind her blog, Suburble. Her blog focuses on making a home (emphasis on "making!"), but not forgetting to have a laugh in the process. Her partners-in-crime, her two little girls, are often beside her when it's time to get creative. A mug of tea, good friends, and a project (or three) are all this girl needs. Join the gang at Suburble and see what we're up to!

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