My kids love animal crackers. Don’t most kids? When I was growing up, I always loved to eat the Barnum animal crackers that came in the zoo train box. I mean, it had a string handle! And do you remember when you could pop the perforated wheels out of the train so that it became a toy when you were finished with the cookies? Memories, y’all.
Well, my kids don’t like that kind. They prefer the Stauffer’s animal crackers, particularly the ones that come in the giant plastic bear jar (Amazon affiliate link). I think they must like them because of the packaging – I still think that the Barnum crackers taste better than the Stauffer’s ones. But, the jars are really cute, and I have been threatening to use them in a project for a while now.
Inspiration finally struck.
Ha! Isn’t he cute? Super quirky. And he was so easy to put together.
I started by removing the labels and then washing and drying him. Next, I filled him with potting soil until it came to just under his chin.
Then, I transplanted a part of a crazy plant that I found at Lowe’s. It was in a hanging basket in their indoor greenhouse section. I have no idea what kind of plant it is (it was labeled “assorted tropical basket” – if you know, please tell me!), but I thought it looked like dreadlocks. The other section of the plant I potted for use elsewhere in my house. It was just too large to put it all in the bear jar.
I then got out my Silhouette CAMEO and cut out some labels from vinyl. I used light blue and white, and I simply added the white parts to the blue parts after everything was cut. I had never “layered” vinyl before, but it was really easy. You can use my .Studio file if you have a Silhouette machine (download here – the font I used is Vintage Straps). You could also easily just cut the big pieces out of card stock with scissors and use paint pens to add the details. It doesn’t have to be a big production.
I put him in my kids’ playroom, where I think he serves as a good reminder to just relax this summer. We’re trying really hard to live by that rule!
Have you been tempted to use an animal crackers jar for a craft? And where do you fall on my animal cracker brand debate?
Michelle says
That is so cute! I have a small bear honey jar (plastic) that I have been saving to spray paint gold when the weather gets nice. I’ll have to keep an eye out for these bigger jars. Thanks for sharing.