Ideas for Repurposing Common Household Disposables – Glass Jars

They’re everywhere right? Glass jars that you buy food in. You know they’re strong because they make it through all the shipping so why just toss them into your recycling? Let’s look at different ways we can use that glassware to make our lives easier and more colorful. This goes beyond your daddy storing his screws and nuts.

Pasta Sauce Jars

• DIY Lanterns – Fill them partially with dry beans, rocks, rice, sand, etc. Slip in a tea light and Viola! Tie twine around the lip and you have hanging luminaries. Glue paper to the outside or transfer your favorite picture for another look that will glow when the candle’s lit.
• Kitchen Canisters – Spray paint the lids to make them look more appealing. Fill with flour, sugar, coffee, beans, rice, etc. It’ll keep the food fresh without eating into your wallet.
• Infused Booze – Fill it up with your own homemade infused booze!
• Grease Catch – A simple way to collect your hot grease and oil for disposal. Reseal the jar and no mess!
• Memory Jars – Put inside little trinkets from a special occasion & label the top with the date, location, and who was there. Example: Sand, pebbles, kite string, and photo for baby’s first time of flying a kite.
• DIY Terrarium – Succulents, succulents, succulents! I love them in terrariums and an old pasta sauce jar is a cheap way to make terrariums.

Beer Bottles

• Oil Lamps – Fill with oil, slip in a wick and you’ll have light for hours.
• Sand Art – Use a clear bottle and fill with different layers of colored sand. You can get creative and make scenes with a little practice. Fill to the very top and then cork it.
• Essential oils – If you make your own essential oils, dark bottles are perfect for storing the oil. Just use a cork and you’re all set.

Baby Food Jars

• Spice Storage – Install magnetic tape to the inside of your cabinet door. Be sure to label the bottom of the jars so you’ll know what you’re grabbing.
• Sand Art – The different shapes & sizes make a gorgeous tableau.
• Finger Paint Pots – Pour the paints into the jars. No muss, no fuss. The paints will stay wet and not leak out.
• Tackle Box Organizer – They’ll keep prepared baits moist and since they’re so small you can easily keep several different baits in your tackle box. They’re also good for keeping sinkers and hooks organized. A piece of magnetic tape on the lid makes it easier to grab a single hook.
• Lip Balm – If you make your own lip balm, pour it into one of the smaller jars for storage. It’ll last forever!
• Removing Nail Polish – Cut a hole in the center of a sponge. Stuff the sponge in the jar and saturate with remover. Whenever you need to change your polish, just slip your nail into the hole & rub it around.
• Candle Jars – These are the perfect size for making your own candles!
• Gifting Facial Scrub – Mix up your favorite facial scrub or mask and pour it into the jar. Paint the lid or cover with paper/fabric & put a label on it. Now you can spoil your friends with your homemade beauty treatments.

These are just some ideas on what you can do with glass jars that would normally go into the recycling bin. If you have any additional ideas, let me know if the comments!