DIY Change Jar

I love this project. It makes perfect sense to have one of these in a laundry room! Imagine all the change you could collect if you put it all in a jar when you are emptying pockets before washing clothes. You could just have a bowl or jar out on a shelf, but why not make your own super cute "Keep the Change" holder. These would make great gifts as well.

What you'll need:

7x11 piece of wood

Paint

Clear sealant

Stencil letters/vinyl cut letters

Paint brush

Sawtooth hanger
Nails

Mason jar

Pipe clamp sized to fit mason jar
Flathead screwdriver (or a dime)

Sander (optional-for distressed look)

What you'll do:

First, I painted the piece of wood and let it dry.

While the paint was drying, I used my Silhouette to cut out "KEEP THE CHANGE" on vinyl. Stencils can be used if you don't have a cutting machine.

Next, I applied the vinyl. 

To make sure I put the letters in the right place, I laid the transfer tape down on the wood and placed the jar where I wanted it. 

Then I applied the letters and removed the transfer tape.

After the letters were on, I painted a coat of clear sealant and let it dry.

After the sealant was dry, I flipped the piece of wood over and nailed in place a sawtooth hanger.

Time to add the most important part, the jar! To attach the jar, I first positioned the clamp with the open and closing part on the side where I could easily access it to loosen and tighten it. This is important because it's how you remove the jar to empty it.

Once I had the clamp in the position I wanted, centered with the letters and with a little room to spare at the bottom of the wood, I took a nail (the ones that go with the sawtooth hangers) and nailed it into one of the slits in the clamp. One wasn't enough. The jar slid side-to-side, so I put another nail in the same slit and make the jar a little more snug.

After I got the clamp nailed in place, I secure the jar in the clamp using a flathead screw driver (or a dime) to tighten the clamp.

And there you have it! A cute and functional piece of wall decor for the laundry room, or wherever you want to "Keep the Change"

To add a distressed look, I took a hand sander and went around the edges to take off some of the paint.