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DIY BFG Dream Jars Tutorial – colorful and whimsical

If you've read The BFG book or watched The BFG movie trailer closely, you know about the colorful jars that The BFG stores dreams in. The BFG is a good giant. He's a giant that delivers good dreams to the children as they sleep. When I read the book, there was something that stood out to me more than anything else – the description of the jars. My imagination went into a million different directions when the dreams inside the bottles were described. I even went so far as to picture Flubber, stuck inside of a jar. Yes, I just went there! I knew if I didn't put my imagination to work, that I'd never stop thinking about it. 

Purchase The BFG book here

BFG Dream Jars DIY Tutorial

DIY BFG Dream Jars with an easy tutorial

So, when I pictured the Big Friendly Giant hunting for dreams and stuffing them into bottles, I actually imagined the bottles as jars. At first, I pictured fireflies in jars with their beautiful green glow. Then, as the story progressed and the description deepened, a clearer picture appeared in my mind. I imagined jars that were full of pretty colors and lots of shimmer. If my favorite dreams were put into a jar, I'm sure that they'd be just as bright and colorful! That's when the idea of these jars developed!

DIY BFG Dream Jars Tutorial

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY Supplies you'll need

What you'll need

1. Clean the jars.

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY What you'll need

Always work with clean jars. Sometimes, even brand new jars, have oil in them, which can hinder your project. 

2. Fill the bowls with as much water as you'd like.

I filled my bowls with just a little and added more if I needed it. 

3. Drop paint into the bowls.

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY Dilute paint with water

Use 1 color for each bowl. Add enough to get the color that you'd like.

4. Add glitter to the bowls.

Add glitter to paint DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY

Use as much glitter as you'd like. You can never have too much glitter. I also added little pieces of star confetti. Those didn't work out too well. The confetti stars ended up int he middle of the cotton layers each time, rather than on the sides of the jar to be admired. 

5. Stir them all up.

If the mixture seems too thin or too light, add more paint. I like mine to be a little bit thick. 

6. Add cotton to the bottom of the jar.

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY First layer of cotton

You want to fill it about a third of the way. 

7. Pour your first color onto the cotton.

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY Pour last layer

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY First laye inYou want the cotton to absorb most of it. If you've poured too much in, just add more cotton and let it absorb.

8. Layer the cotton.

Add second cotton layer DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY

Layer about the same amount of cotton on top of your first layer. Pour your next color on. I typically found myself adding more cotton and pouring double of the second color than I did the first. 

9. Layer again with a different color.

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY second layer poured

I recommend using the same color as the first. 

10. Repeat

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY Pour last layer

Keep layering and repeating until the entire jar is full. 

11.Admire your work.

DIY BFG Dream Jars - Easy Tutorial - horizontal

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY other side of jar

Check out every side of the jar because they all look different. 

12. Finish it up

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY with dream tag
When you've finished, close the lid, tie twine around it, and tag your jar with the dream of your choice. If you have young children, I recommend gluing the jar shut with Krazy glue because you don't want kids trying to “steal the dreams” haha. 

13. Put it somewhere pretty

DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY Put your dream jar in a pretty place

dream jar with a dream tag DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY
two dream jars DIY BFG Dream Jars #TheBFG #DIY

Use this Disney Wreath tutorial to make your own DIY Beauty and The Beast Wreath. It's a burlap wreath, but super cute!

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  1. […] I'm sure we've all wished for an effective DIY love potion in our lifetime. This year – I'm no longer wishing for it. I am making it happen! Every year, I try to come up with an easy handmade Valentine's Day gift for my boyfriend. This time around, I wanted something more practical and unrestricted – a Valentine's Day gift I could give to anyone. In the midst of brainstorming different ideas, I thought of my mother. Every time she visits, she makes a pot of handmade potpourri for me. Then it dawned on me: why not make a scented love potion? Instead of dry potpourri, I wanted to use fresh ingredients and to utilize my love for jar crafts. […]

  2. Me too! It’s so good!

  3. Charity Cram says:

    I was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of the BFG and loved every minute of it! I can’t wait to see it again!

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