Multi Way Tiered Tray - Using Jars

I am going to show how I created tiered tray display using Jars and how they can be set up/ used in many different ways.

The goal is to stack plates on top of the jar (like a sandwich). Having different plate sizes will allow of a tiered display. To add some variation, I decided not to use a plate to finish of the top most tier. Instead, I kept jar open faced. This allowed me to use the jar as a vase. For another variation, I added shaker lid and this served as a reed holder etc. Lets get to the supplies and steps:

The supplies to build the tiered tray are just a few and they are easily available.

1. Glass Jars
   • 5.5" Glass Jars - Quantity 2
   • 2.5" diameter Shaker Lid - Quantity 2
2. Plastic Plates
   • 14" Charger Plate - Quantity 1
   • 12" Serving Plate - Quantity 1
   • 8.25" Plant Saucer Plate - Quantity 2
   • 9" Pumpkin Shaped Plate - Quantity 1
3. Gloves
4. Mask
5. Drop Cloth
6. Spray Paint
7. Utility Knife
8. Industrial Glue Gun
9. Gorilla Glue Sticks

Decor/Display

For the display, I will be using some store bought fall accessories as I am very excited for fall :)

1. Small Pumpkins - Quantity 2- 3
2. Scented Potpourri - 1-2 bag
3. Pine Cones - Small Bag
4. Small Decor pieces - Few
5. Diffuser Reed Sticks

Lets get started.

The best part about this project is plates and the jars itself. They are available in so many different shapes, sizes and pattern. I started off by sorting the plates by size. I used the following plates

• 14" Charger Plate - Quantity 1
• 12" Serving Plate - Quantity 1
• 8.25" Plant Saucer Plate - Quantity 2
• 9" Pumpkin Shaped Plate - Quantity 1

For the jars, I used the following

• 5.5" Glass Jar - Quantity 2
• 2.5" diameter Shaker Lids - Quantity 2

Steps

1. Removed stickers on the glass jar and the plates. Mine came off easily with some soap and water.
2. Washed the plates and jars to get rid of any dust/dirt. Wiped them down and air dried.

Once all the required plates, jars and the lids were clean and dry, the next step was to spray paint them. Materials needed in this step

1. Drop Cloth
2. Masks
3. Gloves
4. Spray Paint

Steps

1. Set up drop cloth in my balcony and wore protective layers (gloves and mask).
2. Painted per instructions, keeping the nozzle least 10-14" away to get a light coat.
3. Added a second coat 15 minutes later.
4. Let everything dry overnight.

Note: Just for the plates, once they were dry to touch, I flipped them and repeated the above the steps in order to paint them on the other side.

Below are the colors I used:

• Charger Plate - Wine Red
• Serving plate - Hammered Copper
• Plant Saucer Plate - Metallic Gold
• Glass Jar - Matte Black
• Shaker Lids - Matte Black

Note: I did not spray paint the Pumpkin Shaped Plate. I liked its color as is.

Tiered Trays are usually 3 tiered - Bottom (Tier 1), Middle (Tier 2) and Top (Tier 3) which correspond to the placement of the plates. Materials needed in this step:

1. 14" Charger Plate - Quantity 1
2. 5.5" Glass Jar -Quantity 2
3. 10" Serving Plate - Quantity 1

Tier 1

1. Placed a 14" Charger Plate as the base.
2. To one of the 5.5" Glass Jar, applied glue to the base (used glue gun).
3. Stuck the jar onto the center of charger plate and applied light pressure to ensure it is fixed.

Tier 2

1. Next, to the same glass jar mentioned in the above steps, I applied glue on the top rim of the glass jar.
2. Suck a 10" Serving Plate on top of the glass rim making sure the plate is centered on the jar.
3. Finally, applied glue on to the base of the other 5.5" Glass Jar.
4. Placed the second glass jar on top of the serving plate making sure its in the center. Applied light pressure to ensure it is fixed.

Until this point, I have Tier 1 and 2 assembled. In this project, I made variations to the 3rd tier with or without a plate and that's where it gets interesting.

I got excited and wanted to place the accessories already. But I performed this step mainly to check see how strong the trays were. Materials needed in this step:

1. Small Pumpkins - Quantity 2
2. Scented Potpourri - 1 bag
3. Pine Cones - Few
4. Small Decor pieces - Few

Steps

1. Spread some Potpourri and added some fall elements.
2. Also placed a few pumpkins and pine cones.

So far the tray seems to be holding well. Next, I was onto making Tier 3 variations.

This is more of a standard tiered display. Items needed in this step

1. 2.5" Diameter Shaker Lid
2. Pumpkin Shaped Plate
3. Glue Gun
4. Glue

Steps

1. I applied glue around the top corners (around the holes) of the Shaker Lid.
2. Stuck the lid under the bottom of the Pumpkin Shaped Plate making sure it is placed in the center.
3. Attached (screwed in) the lid with the plate to the the glass jar (Tier 2).
4. Now we have a Tier 3 with a plate.
5. Added accessories/decor.

Tip: The plate with the lid can be screwed to the glass jar as needed. Also the ability to just simply detach it from the glass jar allows me to make a different variation.

In this variation, I made a differ Reed Stick Holder. Materials needed in this step:

1. 2.5" diameter shaker Lid - Quantity 1
2. 8.25" Plant Saucer Plate - Quantity 1
3. Utility Knife
4. Diffused Reed Sticks - 10-12

Steps:

1. Using a utility knife, I cut approximately a 2.5" diameter hole in the middle of the saucer plate. Goal is to fit the shaker lid in it.
2. Placed the Shaker Lid inside the hole cut out in the Saucer Plant Plate Ensure a snug fit.
3. I performed steps 1 and 2 prior to spray painting the plate and the lid (See picture in Spray Paint Step)
4. Placed the plate with the lid on the Tier 2 Glass jar and screwed in the lid.
5. Now we have a Tier 3 Plate with a Shaker Lid in the center.
6. The holes in the shaker lid allow as a stand to place Reed.
7. The jar serves to hold the diffuser Liquid/Oil (which I may add later).

Tip: The plate with the shaker lid can be screwed to the glass jar as needed. Also the ability to just simply detach it from the glass jar allows me to make a different variation.

Why not use the jar as a vase ? This is the easiest. I decided to keep the Glass Jar on Tier 2 open faced and used The glass jar as a vase. Simply added flowers.

In another case, I removed the flowers and added a chunky Potpourri piece as a topper to give it a nice touch.

I had fun making this project and I hope you try it out come up with different variations. These trays can be made in many sizes can be used for displays or for organization purposes. The ability to use the jar is endless. I will definitely try out this project once again with different colors and purpose the jars in many other ways I can possibly think of..

Thank you for checking it. I am entering this project for the Mason Jar Contest. Hope you like it !! Please give it a vote if you like the way I incorporated glass jars in my instructable. Happy Fall Everyone !!