This date night ideas jar is the latest dollar store DIY that I’ve been working on! It’s so simple to make and only cost $2!
I think far too often couples forget about the importance of “date night”!
Especially once they’ve been together awhile, and have kids and other responsibilities!
So today I wanted to share this DIY to help with that!
It can be a cute way to remember to set some time aside to spend together, just the two of you!
Inside the jar are 18 date night idea cards, plus 18 blank cards to fill in with your own ideas!
Just pick out a random one, and you have a fun surprise when it’s time to plan your date night!
It would also make a great gift for Valentine’s Day, or any time of the year!
You can get both sets of printable cards for FREE to use in your own jar by signing up to my email newsletter!
Supplies Needed:
- Free printable date night idea cards
- Mason jar (Dollar Tree)
- Letter stickers (Dollar Tree)
- White paint (Rust-oleum spray paint – Gloss White)
- Black paint (optional)
- Clear sealing spray (optional)
(Note: these letter stickers are usually avaible in black at Dollar Tree, but they were out when I went and only had them in blue and green so I had to improvise by painting them black! If you’re able to find them in black you can skip this step)
Step 1: Paint the jar
The first step will be to paint your jar white (or whatever color you prefer!)
I used Rust-oleum spray paint in Gloss White for this because I wanted a smooth and glossy finish, but if you prefer you could use chalk paint, the white paint sold at Dollar Tree, or whatever you have on hand!
If you find a jar in a color you like without writing on it, or even just a clear jar you may be able to skip this step all together!
If you do decide to go the route I did, just remove your jar’s lid and set the jar upside down on some newspaper or cardboard.
Then spray it with a few coats of spray paint.
Be sure to keep each coat very thin when painting on glass to keep from getting any drips!
After that I painted the inside white as well, but again that step is optional!
You can leave your jar to dry while you move on to the next step…
Step 2: Paint the letters
Like I mentioned earlier, this step is optional as you may find letter stickers at Dollar Tree that are already black, or you may find a different color that you like!
But if you run into the same problem that I did, don’t worry!
Painting the letters black is quick and easy!
Just take a small paint brush and paint each letter you plan on using ( D-A-T-E N-I-G-H-T) with one or two thin coats of black paint.
Be sure to give them enough time to dry before applying them to your jar!
Step 3: Applying stickers
Now you can apply your stickers to the jar!
Just be sure to check the dry time on the paint you used for the jar so that it’s been long enough for it to be handled without smudging the paint.
Start by choosing where on the jar you want the words to be.
Next you’ll want to lay the jar down flat.
Then begin gently peeling up the first letter, and placing it on the jar without pressing it down at all yet.
You want to leave it loose like this so that you can adjust it if needed once all of your letters are in place!
If your stickers are painted be careful not to scratch off the paint with your nails!
Repeat until all of your letters are on the jar, then adjust them until you’re happy with the way they look.
Now you can push down on each letter for a few seconds each.
If you make a mistake it is possible to peel a letter back up to adjust it again but be careful not to scratch the jar if you do!
And if you find that your letters aren’t sticking well, you can always add a little glue or modge podge to the back of them before applying!
Step 4: Sealing
This step is optional, but since this is something you may be using often, it’s probably a good idea to seal it to protect the paint from any scratches!
I used Rust-oleum clear sealing spray in Gloss on mine.
Just repeat the same steps as when you originally painted your jar white.
Lay it upside down on some newspaper or cardboard and then spray a thin layer of your sealing spray over the entire thing.
You can check your sealer’s directions to see whether you need to apply more than one coat.
Allow plenty of time for it to dry, screw the lid back on, and you’re on to the final step!
Step 5: Date idea cards
Last but not least, you’ll want to print out your free date night idea cards!
If you haven’t already you can sign up for the newsletter below to get the cards delivered straight to your inbox!
Once you’ve printed them, just cut each one out and then drop them into your jar!
(Using a paper trimmer makes this step MUCH faster!)
Be sure to fill in the blank ones with your own date night ideas!
If you’re giving this as a gift you could also wrap up the cards in some cute ribbon or twine before putting them in the jar!
And that’s it!
You now have a cute way to keep things feeling fun and spontaneous for lots of future date nights to come!
I hope you were inspired to try making your own dollar store DIY date night ideas jar!
Remember, you can really use any jar for this project, so customize it to look however you’d like!
How do you come up with ideas to make date nights fun? Be sure to share your stories in the comments below!
