Seven Things You Can Make With Jars

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I have seven things you can make with jars for you DIYers out there. Jars are often objects we toss into the trash or the recycling bin every day without giving them a second thought.

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We buy spaghetti sauce in them. Pickles. So many things we purchase come in glass jars.

So you might want to consider holding onto those empty jars. Your DIY project could be a decorative complement for your home. Or a gift to give at the holidays.

My great-grandmother used them for canning food. Those filled jars of fruit or vegetables were something she sweated over every summer after we harvested the garden.

After filling the jars and letting them cool, she would go down into the cellar to store the jars on simple wood shelves. In the wintertime, she’d make cobblers with the fruit, or pies.

The vegetables tasted so good. You couldn’t begin to compare them to store-bought canned goods. So I have wonderful memories of the canning process and the food saved for later.

Why Use Jars for DIY Projects?

There are so many possibilities for what you can do with a simple glass jar. Whether it’s using them to can food or make crafts.

After they’re emptied of the food that came in them, soak the jars so you can easily get the label off.

After they’re cleaned and dry, they’re ready for your creativity!

1. Bug Repellent

In the summertime, bugs are truly aggravating to deal with. You try to relax outdoors and here come those annoying mosquitoes or flies.

If you put together a few DIY bug repellent luminaries, you might have a little more peace outdoors.

I always plant various types of herbs every year. And many of them are in containers placed right by my patio.

Bugs don’t like herbs. Neither do rodents. It’s the strong scent they hate. Herbs tend to repel insects. So consider herbs one of your friends in the summertime.

You can find the instructions for this project here.

2. DIY Photo Jar

For this project, you will need three things. A Mason jar with smooth sides, spray paint, and printed photos. You can use 2×3 photos or 4×6 photos that have been cut down. Just make sure the photo completely covers the jar.

This tutorial will guide you in making this project.

3. Potpourri In A Jar

Everyone loves potpourri. Come fall, many of us will be putting simmer pots together to scent our homes.

Potpourris are perfect for the holidays. You can simmer them on your stove and make your home smell wonderful. Or make dry potpourris to put in jars for gifts.

Follow this link for instructions.

4. Mason Jar Bathroom Storage

I don’t think you can ever truly have enough storage in the bathroom. I’m always trying to figure out ways to streamline things I need in my small bathroom.

Painting and distressing these jars turns them into nice and decorative storage for the bathroom. You can store Q-tips, cotton balls, etc.

And it also looks so pretty! You can follow this link to the tutorial.

5. Lavender Candles In Jars

I’ve considered making candles, but somehow I’ve never gotten around to it.

The scent of this pressed lavender candle must be wonderful. You might even consider it “perfume in a jar.” What wonderful gifts these would make to someone on your Christmas list.

Here is the tutorial for this project.

6. Mason Jar Lamp

This vintage Mason jar lamp showed true creativity. I’ve seen various types of lighting made from Mason jars before, but I’ve never seen one quite like this.

Wouldn’t it be a cozy addition to a screened or covered porch? If I saw this for sale in an antique mall and it was the right price, I’d snap it up for my own home.

You can find instructions for this project here.

7. Mason Jar Pin Cushion

Now, just how cute are these pincushion-topped jars? You could store buttons or other small sewing notions inside the jars.

If you’re one of those creative DIYers out there, I would wager that you have used buttons in your projects before. If so, share your button projects with us.

You can find the instructions for this pincushion project here.

Why Jars are So Fun for Projects:

Creating glass jar projects is fun because they turn ordinary, inexpensive jars into something useful, pretty, and personal. There’s satisfaction in taking something that might otherwise be tossed away and giving it a second life.

Glass jars are also versatile. With a little creativity, they can become vases, candle holders, storage containers, planters, lanterns, craft organizers, or seasonal decorations.

You can paint them, wrap them in twine, add ribbons or fabric, or simply leave the glass clear so the contents are part of the decoration.

For a cozy, cottage-inspired home, jar projects have an old-fashioned appeal. They remind us of simpler times when everyday objects were saved, reused, and made beautiful rather than discarded.

The possibilities for fun jar projects are almost endless. These jar projects would make a wonderful handmade gift for someone special.