Last Updated on December 18, 2012 by Kristi Linauer
For quite some time now, I’ve wanted to find unique containers to hold dog treats and, well…human treats on the countertop. Until now, the box of Milkbone dog biscuits has been sitting by the pet station. I’ve had my eye out for containers for quite some time, and didn’t find anything I liked, so I decided to make my own. It was quick, easy, and cheap.
I found the containers at Hobby Lobby. I believe they were $12 each, but of course, I had a coupon. Then I used scrapbooking stickers made of chipboard, painters tape, and white spray paint.
After taping off a rectangle with painters tape, I used the chipboard stickers to spell out “(human)”. I initially wanted them to say “dog treats” and “human treats”, but there wasn’t enough space. Oh well.
Then I wrapped the container in a plastic shopping bag, and taped the opening of the bag around the area that I had already taped off.
And then used white Rustoleum Painter’s Touch paint in a flat finish…
…and gave it about three light coats of paint.
I love how they turned out. Now obviously, I would never do this with something that would get tons of use, or that would have lots of little hands (or lots of adult hands, for that matter) handling them, or that would need to be washed regularly (or at all, really).
My initial plan was to etch the area first, and then paint it so that the paint would have something to “grab” onto, giving it a better chance at staying put. But after searching all over for my etching cream with no success, I gave up and threw caution to the wind.
I really don’t foresee myself touching the fronts of these containers anyway. The lids will be handled quite a bit (especially the dog treats…at least once per day), but there’s really no reason for me to ever touch the fronts. So I’m hoping that it’ll last a good, long time!
If the paint just won’t stay on, then perhaps I’ll consider having some custom vinyl labels made. But I really like the dimensional effect of the thick chip board letters!
Most of all, I’m just glad to have the dog treats out of the big red cardboard box and conveniently stored in something a bit more attractive!
This project was for my condo breakfast room makeover. Click here to see the whole before and after of the breakfast room makeover.
Or click on the thumbnails below to see other DIY projects that I did for my condo breakfast room makeover.

Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
10 Comments
Addison
October 7, 2011 at 5:46 amThis is a great idea! I can't wait to try it myself.
Smccollum
October 7, 2011 at 2:20 pmVery nice! Hm…creative juices flowing…if you ever did find the etching cream or spray, you could do the same thing and then peel off the letters when you pull off the tape.
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating
October 7, 2011 at 2:22 pmYep, I love that look. That's what I did on my dish soap bottle: http://blog.addicted2decorating.com/2011/02/ive-always-wanted-to-try-this.html
It's a much more subtle look. I wanted a shot of bold with these treat jars. 🙂
Antonia
October 9, 2011 at 6:39 amI love this post..
lori
October 28, 2011 at 12:02 amThese are so cute, how are the holding up? I am going to do the dog treat one for my daughter.
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating
October 28, 2011 at 12:02 amLori, they're actually holding up perfectly! I just never touch the front of the jars…not because I go out of my way not to touch the fronts, but because it's just not where I naturally grab the jar to open it.
Nicki
November 2, 2011 at 7:04 pmDarling! I am so making these – some for flour, sugar and coffee too! Great idea!
Shelly
November 22, 2011 at 11:48 pmI love these…look great! Maybe you could re-tape/re-bag and spray some acrylic sealer on them so the paint won't chip off? If they're holding up though, I don't know if I'd want to risk re-taping 😉
Plaited Jute And Antiqued Wood Jar Label
April 3, 2012 at 5:12 pm[…] for it, but I had a heck of a time figuring out what to do. Chalkboard tag? I’ve done that. Painted dimensional label? I’ve done that, too. Etched glass label? Done […]
Amanda
May 29, 2013 at 12:59 pmIf it doesn’t last, I heard/read you can used hot glue or even white craft glue to write letters/draw and then paint over it and none would be the wiser. I would think it’d work better with hot glue because in my experience craft glue sticks to hardly anything