Uses for Empty Baby Food Jars
Once your baby starts to eat store-bought baby food, you will begin to accumulate a lot of baby food jars. Of course, you can always throw them away or recycle them, but there are a lot of different things you can use them for around the house or in craft projects. Be sure to thoroughly clean the jars before reusing them.
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Storage Containers
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Baby food jars are perfect for storing innumerable small things. Put them in the garage on a workbench and fill them with nails, screws, washers and nuts. They can go in an office to hold pens, pencils, tacks, paper clips and extra staples.
Snow Globes
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Glue a small plastic figurine inside the lid of the jar. Put glitter into the jar and fill it with water; make sure there is enough room left that when you put the lid on, the water doesn't come pouring out. Screw the lid on tight and put glue around the seam so it doesn't leak. Tip your snow globe upside down to watch it work its magic.
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Pin Holder and Pincushion
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Fill the jar with sewing pins. Cut out a sponge to fit the size and shape of the lid and glue it in place, on the top of the lid. Cover the sponge with a small piece of sandpaper and a piece of cloth. Screw the lid on top of the jar. You now have a place to keep your pins safe inside the jar, and also a pincushion for when you are in the middle of a project.
Spice Storage
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Create your own spice rack using baby food jars. Empty your spices out of their unattractive plastic containers and into the clear glass jars. Line them up on the counter or shelf to not only look decorative but easy to find. Be sure to put a tag or write on the lid the spice that is in the jar so you don't accidentally use chili powder instead of paprika.
Paint Pots
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Fill the jars with tempera or craft paint. Because they are clear, both children and adults will easily be able to see what color they are using. You can also use one to hold water for washing the brush out between colors.
Drinking Glasses
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If you don't want to spend a lot of money on shot glasses, use the baby food jars. They are the perfect size to hold a shot of liquor or just any plain drink; paint them on the outside to be unique and your friends and family will never know what they are drinking out of.
Pathway
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Baby food jars can make an interesting and one-of-a-kind pathway in your garden or backyard. Dig a hole just deep enough for the baby food jar to sit in so that the lid is level with the ground. Repeat every few inches with another jar. Keep in mind that you will probably need at least 100 jars, depending on how wide and long your intended pathway is.
Candle Holder
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Use the baby food jars as tea light candle holders. Place the tea light or votive candle inside the jar and place it on the table. The jar protects the table from dripping wax, and if the candle melts all over the jar, simply toss it and get a new one. These are good to use outside as a breeze will not tip the jars over.
Give Them Away
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If you really can't use all the jars that you have, donate them to a day care center or church; they are almost always on the lookout for donations such as these.
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References
Resources
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