Using & Repurposing Glass Jars
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We all know how harmful plastics are to the environment, and one way to reduce plastic use is to reuse and repurpose glass jars. They’re great for storage and organization.
If it can fit in a jar, you can store things in it.
I like to sort my buttons by color and store them in jars. This way, I know exactly where to look when I need a button to sew onto something or use in a DIY project, and I don’t have to dig to find it.
I use jars to sort and store silverware, craft products, and sewing notions. Jars are cheap, and many are free if you buy something in them and reuse them.
They’re like a little picturesque diorama seen in three dimensions.
I’ll wander through my garden and snip blooms for a bouquet to bring inside during the summer. I stick them in a jar, and once they’re inside with my gathered bouquet, I add water and enjoy them for days.
I’ve also done the same with herbs. I bring herb stems inside and set them in jars of water on the kitchen windowsill, where I can enjoy them while I wash dishes.
You could also create a terrarium with a jar. A terrarium makes a micro-ecosystem for plants and keeps the temperature inside warm. Thus, the lid can be left off or on.
Growing up, rows of preserved foods in jars were in the dark, dank cellar on shelves, providing us with food all through the winter.
I like to stick old clothespins in a jar. It keeps them together, and I like seeing the vintage clothespins as I go about my day.
Spray-Painting Jars:
I remember one time I spray-painted some vintage jars in various colors.
Of course, the textured writing was imprinted on top, making it look especially pretty.
I used them as decor on shelves and still stored things in them.
It made for an interesting styling concept.
Repurposing Jars Into Lights:
I’ve turned Mason jars into hanging lights in a dining room ceiling where I once lived. For this DIY project, I let the jars dangle at varying heights, making them the principal feature of the room.
I decorate with jars, as I love to line them up like soldiers on a shelf and see them gleam in the sunlight.
Jars are beautiful without anything in them. I love to collect old jars from the antique mall and thrift shops. And then gather them together in a jar vignette, or use them here or there in a room in one way or another.
Storing Craft Supplies In Jars:
Jars are an excellent way to store small craft supplies, such as buttons or beads.
I have many jars on my desk in the back room for storing crafts and beads of all sizes and colors. They are an “art form” in themselves, which I enjoy gazing at when I sit there.
I store stickers and graphics in jars. This keeps them safe from the kittens in the house and from small objects they could choke on.
I store colored pencils in jars, and random-sized bits of ribbon, lace, and rickrack to use in projects.
When I have something small to store, like Scrabble letters, I put them in a clear jar. Otherwise, I’d never remember where I put them!
In The Kitchen:
I store many things in my kitchen in jars: leftovers, salads, beans, condiments, spices, and chopped vegetables prepared for a meal I’m planning to cook.
I also keep baking soda in a clear jar. The lid has little holes in it so I can shake out baking soda while cleaning.
Glass jars are excellent storage containers for Q-tips, cotton balls, and bath salts in the bathroom.
If you like to make cinnamon toast, as I did for my girls when they were young, store sugar mixed with cinnamon in a jar and pierce holes into the lid. Then, when it’s time for breakfast, spread butter on slices of bread and shake the cinnamon mixture over it.
If you have something you need to store and don’t know where to put it, see if it will fit into a glass jar. That way, you can easily find it again and store it for safekeeping.
Something strange has happened with your blog. I cannot see the Sunday Snippets post when I log into cozylittlehouse. I could only access it from comfyhouse sidebar. Even then, I had to click on the post listed on the second line and not cozylittlehouse. Hope you can understand what I am talking about. I tried with different browsers and also my computer and tablet. I’m guessing I am not the only one since I see no comments on that post. Posting comment here also in case you don’t see the comment on the other post.
Definitely use used jars a lot in my kitchen…lots of good ideas here, Thanks.
you start out talking about how plastic is harmful to the environment and end up telling us to use glass jars. I use plastic jars (mayonnaise and peanut butter) to put things like screw, nails, and pet treats in. yes glass jars are pretty but they also can break……..stay warm….happy weekend. min
I like to use glass jars because it can be hundreds of years before plastic breaks down in the environment.
Yes, I understand that and I think it is a beautiful idea, however, how is that keeping plastic from being recycled? I cant make the connection.
It’s not keeping plastic from being recycled, but making an effort not to purchase any plastic when glass can be reused. Many plastics can’t be recycled.
I love jars. I got rid of plastic all year. Yuck. I have some really pretty rocks and suck that I had used for home school and rocks we obtained from a gem show and keep them in glass jars and use them for bookends!
What a great idea!
I don’t know where “and suck that” portion of my reply came from, but obviously it doesn’t belong in my reply!
I agree, jars are a great thing to store things in and use as vases. And the colored ones, like the pretty blue ones, look beautiful just sitting by themselves. I’m intrigued by your hanging lights made with the jars. Do you happen to have any pictures of it you could show us?
I’ll see if I can find a photo of it.
The filled jars all look so pretty. I have many on a shelf in my craft room. I am a bit of a hoarder, can’t let anything go in case I might want to use it!
I inherited a lot of buttons from my MILaw, they are all in a tin as there are so many but I can see it would serve me better if I put them in jars.
Happy to know that all 3 cats are getting along together.
I have the opposite problem. I tend to get rid of things and then regret it.
Love glass jars and have quite a few unfortunately don’t use them as much as I should. Maybe I’ll gather a few and placed them together as you mentioned.
Thanks Brenda
I think they look even prettier when gathered together.
The clothes pins in the jars are the kind my grandmother used! I love using mason jars and was thrilled when I bought the bamboo lids! Take care all!
I just love those vintage clothespins.
Thanks, it’s good to know about all the versatile lids for the Mason jars. Very helpful.
I am really surprised there are so many versatile lids. I’m going to take advantage of that.