:: The All-Purpose Mason Jar ::

I like Mason jars... and by "like," I mean really like them.  { Disclaimer:  I am not the person who ordered a bunch of them online to be delivered to the local hardware store for pickup just to ensure that they weren't sold out... absolutely not.  ;) }  Anyway, back to our topic -- these glass jars are so versatile and are relatively inexpensive, reusable, and if you use them to store food or liquid, you don't have to be concerned about chemical leaching from plastic, which is an added bonus. 

I used to think that the only reason to have Mason jars in the house was for canning.  WRONG!  There are a lot more possibilities if you don't can and preserve your own homegrown tomatoes... or even if you do!

Ball Regular 1-pint Mason Jars

Here are some handy ways to use Mason jars, which come in varying sizes, of course --



:: as a vase (Place fresh-cut flowers or herbs in a jar of water, then tie a ribbon around the top for added charm!)

:: as a storage container for dry ingredients (It's easy to see what's inside without having to open a storage container.)

... jazzed-up storage jar...

 

:: for cute gift-giving (Giving away some homemade hot cocoa mix is my personal favorite and also a favorite of one of the Craftastic sisters ;) !)  Hot-glue some ribbon around the jar lid to fancy it up.

... candle in a jar ...

 

There's just something really nice about the simplicity of glass jars.  Maybe they are a reminder of simpler times.  Share some of your own ideas on what cute and crafty uses you have for Mason jars!


~S.

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Re-purpose your wine, liquor, and soda bottles!

Any glass bottle can be re-purposed into fun home decor!  I save glass beer, wine, liquor, and soda bottles and turn them into pretty vases and table decorations!  Rinse them well and make sure they are nice and dry.  It is nice to collect different colors, shapes and sizes, too.  You can spray them with quick coat of paint, use a little hot glue and rope to wrap them, or just remove the label and leave them alone!  Pretty green wine bottles look great this way! I like to use them to hold fake flowers.

I love how this green wine bottle "vase" came out!
I just applied removeable stickers before spraying with cream,
then a little silver paint to give it a pearlized effect! Remove stickers and, Voila!

I slid this one into some mesh from a sack of clementines
and gave it a quick spray for a pretty design!

Rope from Home Depot was all I needed
to jazz up this empty bottle of gin!

I've even seen these crafted into "chandeliers" or converted with a light kit into a lamp in home furnishing catalogs! Now, I'd love to try that!

chandelier from
Pottery Barn

Next time you pop open a bottle of wine or a soda, save that bottle to start your collection and see what YOU come up with!  Most of all, have fun!

-D.

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