How to Use Mason Jars

John Mason invented the "Mason Jar" in 1858. Since then, the jars have been manufactured in several sizes and colors by a number of companies and used primarily for canning and preserves. More recently, these jars have become the objects of crafters and are sold at bazaars and art shows.

Instructions

1. Use a mason jar instead of the blender container. Fill the mason jar with nuts, spices or herbs to be chopped or ground. Remove the base of the blender container and screw it securely onto the mason jar. Pulse as needed to chop the contents.

2. Use a set of Mason jars in varying sizes as canisters for beans, coffee and sugar in a county kitchen. Decorate each with a label and gingham ribbon.

3. Fill a Mason jar with an inch of sand and add a pillar candle. Create a dramatic effect with a group of jar candles.

4. Make a welcome or hostess gift by filling the a Mason jar with the dry incredients for soup or cookies. Hang a recipe card from the neck of the jar with a pretty ribbon.

5. Organize a fund raiser for church or school. Pass out Mason jars to the community and ask them fill them with candies, toys, office supplies, hair ribbons, marbles or seashells. Raffle or auction off the jars, or spin a roulette wheel and let winners pick their favorites.

6. Make firefly lanterns to hang from the trees using pint-size Mason jars. Cut two 24-inch and one 18-inch pieces of wire. Wrap one of the 24-inch wires around the neck of the jar twice and twist the ends tightly together. Curl the wire by wrapping it around a pencil. Repeat with the second 24-inch wire, positioning the curls opposite each other. Use needle-nose pliers to curl the ends of the 18-inch wire and fasten them around the between the wire curls and the jar. Set a tealight inside each jar. Hang the lights from the trees or around a patio.