The Gunny Sack

Ice Skating {Date} In A Jar ~ DIY Valentine’s Day Gift

A themed gift in a jar can be anything from a group of similar items like a spa in a jar, to a gathering place for love notes in a jar to a get well soon jar filled with treats. With Valentine’s Day on the way, now is the time to start thinking of DIY gift ideas! Wouldn’t it be fun to give and receive a Date In a Jar?


The concept is basic, just think of a fun date idea. Then, put little clues and useful things pertaining to that date into a jar. These jars can be gifts for men or women, husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. This week I am sharing Ice Skating In A Jar.

For the outside decoration, I made a vintage felt ice skate. Fold a piece of white felt, cloth or even paper in half. Cut an ice skate shape using the fold at the bottom of the skate. Slide a paper onto the fold and glue the skate together. Sew laces with yarn leaving long tails for tying or draw laces with a permanent marker.

For this jar, I tried to stick with a color scheme of red, white and blue. I bought red gloves, powdered mocha mix, lip balm and chocolates. The jar is a vintage blue mason jar that was part of a box of mason jars that I gladly took off my sister-in-law’s hands.

Start by laying one of the gloves in the jar. Add the mocha and then the lip balm. Fill the rest of the area with chocolates.  Tuck the glove fingers into the glove, turn it upside down, stick it on the top of the jar and add the mason jar band. Finally, wrap the yarn for the ice skate laces around the jar.

Once the date is over, fill the the jar with mementos from the date like photos, a restaurant menu, the receipt for the ice skate rental, a slip of paper with a few written memories, etc.

These themed jars would also make adorable party favors! Assemble a bunch of them and host an ice skating party. No matter the occasion, gifts in a jar are so much fun!

What {Date} In A Jar would you like to receive?

Comments

  1. I do like your idea of making this ice skating in a jar gift with the tiny accessories that look like skates while filling the jar with assorted goodies. That would be perfect for my plan to take my wife ice skating this Valentine’s day as our date of choice. This should be able to make her happy and make the event more memorable. Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Hi there 🙂 I really like the skates, and am attempting to replicate them. I’m having some trouble with the laces. Can you please explain what you used for a needle to help the yarn go through the felt easily, and how you started off to get the laces to look so nice? I’m just not sure where to start and where to go with each stitch to make it look as good as the picture:) Thanks in advance.

    Reply

    • Hi Erica,
      I used a needle with a large eye. I believe it was a tapestry needle. I had to pull it a little but I don’t remember having issues. I would suggest using the point of a sharp scissors or a knife to make a small hole where you want the yarn to go through. Unfortunately, it has been almost a year since I made these skates so I don’t remember how I did the laces. I think I started at the bottom and sewed the laces in one direction all the way to the top. Then, I put the needle on the other end of the yarn and sewed the laces in the opposite direction from the bottom. Hope that helps!
      ~Tonia

      Reply

      • Thanks so much !
        I was able to figure it out and it’s exactly the way you described. They look really wonderful.Thanks for the post and great idea. You are so creative. Thanks for sharing your gifts !
        -Erica

        Reply

      • A simple but great idea. I like reusing the jar as a memory jar also. Great idea for “upcycling” and “repurposing” items. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a romantic date, either. It can just be used as incentives, rewards, friend time, parent child time, etc. All memories are important. Reminders of those good times are even better. Thank you for sharing your creative ideas.

        -BJS

        Reply

  11. This jar is adorable. I would love to put in on my mantle to remind me that winter’s not so bad, if you only embrace it. What a cozy and creative way to embrace the cold!

    Reply

  17. Oh Tonia. How cute are those skates? I’m keeping that one in the vault in case my daughter has an ice skating party. We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day as big as you guys over there. Never mind a date in a jar though, a date of any kind would be nice. LOL (Not really. I’m not in the slighest bit interested.)

    Anne xx

    Reply

    • LOL Anne! It could be a date in a jar with your kids! Wouldn’t they be excited if you presented them with a jar full of clues about your outing? It could even be for a trip to the park or beach. I would suggest using a plastic jar though.

      Reply

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