Recycled Jelly Jar
I’m a sucker for a cute label. It can make me reach for a product on the shelf and it can make it hard to throw the jar away once the product is gone. This Crofters Fruit Spread jar is a perfect example. It was just begging for a second chance. Doesn’t it work well as a flower vase teamed up with a playful teddy bear sculpture? This “Teddy Bear Picnic” flower vase is available through my YoungCreative shop on Etsy.
I’ll let you in on a secret. This whole project is a little bit of a recycling project. I originally created the concept in 2012, but I wasn’t 100% happy with the results. The bear’s eyes in my original piece were way too small. I also felt that the dark “basket weave” didn’t provide enough contrast with the brown of the bear. (See photo below.) When I found this similar jar with a light blue label, I decided that it was time to try a do-over. I created a brand-new design for the jar portion. And because you can re-cure polymer, I took the opportunity to enlarge the bear’s eyes and add new polymer “lace” details to her gingham blouse.
Yes! I love the improvements you made in the look, the eyes are awesome now. So is the white trim around the blouse, and the belt., and I like the contrast difference. All in all, a good change. 🙂
Thank you, Jackie! I really liked how the lace blouse turned out on “Patriotic Betsy” that I created for the July PCAGOE challenge. That is what gave me the courage to try it on this piece. I thought she needed a feminine touch.
I liked the old version and I love the new version. The added detail to the bear make such a subtle difference. Very nice!
Thanks, Line. When I first started out, I never would have considered reworking a finished piece, but as I learn new things, it seems natural to try to incorporate those ideas in older pieces.