Crafts Made With Baby Food Jars
One of the most versatile and recyclable containers is the 4 oz. baby food jar. The small size and compact shape of the jar makes it a very desirable commodity for creative moms, grandmas, teachers and anyone who loves and works with children. While kids crafts using baby food jars are very popular, there are many craft projects that can be enjoyed by adults as well. And best of all, this valuable crafting resource will not make a dent in the crafting budget.
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Snow Globes
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Children love snow globes, especially when they can make their own. Just remove the jar lid and turn it upside down. Attach a small decorative object to the lid with florist clay. Fill the jar nearly full with cold distilled water, a drop of vinegar to prevent mold and a teaspoon of glitter. Invert the lid and attach again to the jar, adding a bead of hot glue around the rim of the jar to seal. A variation on the snow globe is the floater. For this craft, just fill the jar half way with colored water, drop in a small decorative object and top off the jar with baby oil. Reattach the lid, shake the jar and the clear oil and colored water will separate, leaving the object floating in the middle.
Candle Holders
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Baby food jars are the perfect size to serve as votive candle holders. To transform these jars into decorative containers, simply apply stickers or cut small pictures from greeting cards and decoupage to the side of the jar with a product called Mod Podge. Another way to decorate baby food jars is to coat the entire jar with Mod Podge and roll the jar in glitter, small buttons or other materials. Trim the jar with ribbon and you have an attractive candle holder.
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Holiday Display
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Why not use baby food jars to create a beautiful lighted display? Use 33 jars and a strand of 35 miniature Christmas lights to create a gorgeous illuminated Christmas tree. Hot glue the jars into a Christmas tree formation as shown in the illustration. Drill a hole into each jar lid that is large enough to accommodate one bulb and reattach the lids to the jars. String the lights by pushing one bulb each into the holes in the lids. Push the two extra bulbs in between the jars.
Gifts
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These jars also make great containers for small gifts and remembrances. Fill a jar with one envelope of instant hot chocolate and top off with miniature marshmallows and reattach the jar lid. Decorate the outside of the jar for a warm token of winter thanks. Turn a baby food jar into a handy pin cushion by wrapping the jar in fabric and tucking excess fabric inside of the jar, securing with hot glue. Now fill the jar with polyester fiber fill, leaving an excess of fiber fill extending from the top of the jar. Cut out a circle of fabric with pinking shears that is 1-inch larger in circumference than the top of the jar. Attach to the top of the jar using a rubber band. Trim with ribbon to conceal the rubber band.
Party Favors
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Create economical party favors by using craft foam shapes to convert baby food jars into animals or traditional holiday characters such as reindeer, snowmen or turkeys. For example, glue simple feather shapes in bright colors to the back of the jar with Mod Podge and add craft eyes and a craft foam beak to an oblong piece of brown craft foam for the front of the jar to create a friendly turkey. Fill the jar with candy corn or nuts and you have a whimsical Thanksgiving-themed party favor. Or you can create larger craft foam animals and attach these creations to the backs of baby food jars with Mod Podge. Fill the jars with treats for kid's parties.
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