Jar Gifts - Learn How to Make Affordable, Creative, Useful Gifts in a Jar!

Jar gifts - they’re useful, fun, and keep on giving! Learn how to turn a jar into a wonderful gift, sometimes without even spending a penny!

Not only will they appreciate your thoughtful gift, but also they can reuse the jar!

 

Jar gifts are:

• inexpensive
• personalizes
• thoughtful
• useful
• reuseable (click for jar reuse ideas)
• easy!

Learn how to make a jar gift in just 4 easy steps:

Step 1: Find a jar
Step 2: Fill the jar
Step 3: Add a recipe card
Step 4 (optional): Decorate the jar

Step 1: Find a jar

You don't have to run out and buy a jar. You can usually find one in your kitchen.

Many sauces, dips, jams, and other foods come in glass jars. Just thoroughly clean them and remove the labels. If you don't already save your glass jars, maybe now's a good time to start!

Mason jars are also available at your local supermarket or hardware store...often for less that $1 each.

Step 2: Fill the jar

Typically, jar gifts are filled with dry ingredients for a specific recipe. The recipient can then bake a fresh batch at home when the time is right.

It's convenient, easy, and soft cookies straight from the oven are oh-so-amazing!

You can fill your jar with dry ingredients for:

• cookies
• brownies
• muffins
• quickbread
• cake
• biscuits
• cornbread
• or just about any baked good you can think of!

The key here is dry ingredients.

Don't include wet ingredients such as eggs, milk, or butter. They can spoil easily and make you sick...not exactly the gift you're looking for!

Now, get creative!

Share your favorite recipes or find great recipes online. If you can find the ingredients in your own kitchen, you don't even have to go to the store!

Jar gifts don't have to be limited to baked goods. Consider the following ideas:

• pudding mix
• pancake mix
• scone mix
• blended fresh tea leaves
• carmel popcorn
• cinnamon sugar
• hot chocolate mix
• oatmeal mix with fruits and nuts
• coffee mix
• candy
• encouraging messages written on scraps of paper (instructions: read one each morning)

For a fun presentation, add each ingredient separately, creating layers of different colors and textures.

It's easy to make multiple jar gifts at the same time. Just keep the jars next to each other and measure out the ingredients a few more times.

Tip: To make the ingredients longer, use a vacuum sealer to seal the jar lid. It doesn't preserve food like canning, but it does keep the contents fresher for longer. For easier lid removal, instruct your friend to unscrew the top and use a dish towel to pop the lid.

Step 3: Add a recipe card

Handwrite the recipe on a small card and attach it to the jar with a ribbon or a string. If you'd like, include a thoughtful note about the person, sharing food, or remembering times you baked cookies together.

Step 4 (optional): Decorate the jar

Let your imagination run wild! Decorate your jar with:

• ribbon
• paint
• stickers
• glitter
• wrapping paper
• crepe paper
• tissue paper
• doilies
• glue on:
  • shells
  • photos
  • stones

You could add a festive message, decorate in a creative theme, or just personalize it to the recipient's style and taste. Have fun...the sky's the limit!

Re-use!

Jar gifts are perfect for the clutter-concious person in your life. Once they've used the ingredients inside your jar gift, they can reuse the jar for:

• storing the cookies they make
• canning foods
• storing dried foods / bulk food
• storing homemade mixes
• more recipe in a jar gifts!
• storing leftovers in the fridge
• use as a measuring cup
• store saved seeds
• grow sprouts
• drinking glass
• homemade candles
• store fresh milk or juice
• store cotton balls
• holding small toys / Legos
• hold nails, screws, washers, etc.
• hold ball of yarn while crocheting or knitting...drill a smooth hole through the lid and thread the yarn though
• make sun tea
• hold fresh flowers
• candy holder
• store spare change
• store potpourri
• pencil / pen holder
• display jar for shells, pebbles, layered sand, etc.
• fly trap - poke holes in the lid big enough for flies. Add equal parts of sugar, vinegar, and water to the jar.

As an added bonus, include the above list with your jar gift. Every penny counts these days, and they'll appreciate the useful suggestions.

Think outside the jar

Jars don't have to be the only gift vessel. You can easily construct gifts around a:

• teacup
• beer mug
• measuring cup
• pitcher
• metal mixing bowl

Just use your imagination...find a useful household item that can hold things!

More Great Homemade Gift Ideas

After this article, you should be able to transform any jar into an amazing gift! But why stop there? Learn how to make even more great gifts - check out these creative homemade gift ideas.

Or, post a question about jar gifts and start a fun discussion that helps everyone.