Holiday Ideas Using Mason Jars

Most people think of canning when they see a Mason jar, and you can certainly do that. However, these containers have many other uses. There are many wonderful craft project, gift container and home décor ideas for the holidays that can be made using Mason jars. Many ideas can be assembled in minutes for great last minute decorations and gifts. Purchase new jars by the case or dig through your basements and garages for a treasure trove of recycled jars for an inexpensive alternative to store bought creations.

Mason Jar Mixes

Add the dry ingredients for baking mixes, snack mixes or beverage mixes to a quart size Mason jar, and attach the recipe with additional ingredients and instructions. Cover the lids with holiday novelty fabric and tie a holiday matching ribbon around the rim. Some recipes may take a little tweaking to fit in the jar, but usually tamping the ingredients down will make them fit and give a lovely striping pattern from the different colors of layers.

Cakes, brownies, cookies, pancakes, cocoa and coffee mixes are yummy gifts for Mason jars. If you are strapped for time or cash, purchase inexpensive box mixes and transfer them to the jar. Nobody ever has to know your secret, just provide the instructions and smile at the compliments of your cleverness.

Mason Jar Candle Holders

Decorate you home for the holidays by making candle holders from Mason jars. Place tea light candles inside painted jars for a festive glow, or set a glass votive holder or small flower pot in the rim of a narrow mouth Mason jar to hold a votive candle. Paint your jar white with a snowman face, brown with a reindeer face, or orange for a Jack-o-Lantern face. Tie a flannel scrap around the rim for a snowman, cut antlers from craft foam to glue to the reindeer head, or tie several strands of raffia around the rim for the Jack-o-Lantern.

Mason Jar Candy Containers

Mason jars make cute candy containers for the holidays.

Fill a jar with jelly beans for Easter and create a bunny face by painting two dots for eyes, gluing on whiskers made from pipe cleaners, and a pom pom for a nose. Finish by tying strips of fabric around the rim for floppy ears.

Spooky eyes painted randomly on a Mason jar full of candy corn add a whimsical touch to Halloween. Paint black dots for the eyes and allow to dry, then dot tiny white highlights on the black dots.

Mason Jar Gift Containers

Use these versatile jars as clever gift containers for those hard to package gifts or for packaging special hobby kits for your friends and family. Fill a jar with scrapbooking supplies, sewing kit necessities, charm quilts, or embroidery designs.

Place a folded fabric checkerboard mat and checkers in a Mason jar for the game player in the family, small cars for a special little boy, or hair accessories for a little girl. Glue items to the top of the lid too.

References

• Cyndee Kromminga, Craft and Interior Designer; Kro Crafts; Winfield, Kansas