Reusing Glass Jars

This is a guide about reusing glass jars. Instead of recycling or throwing out your glass jars, find another function for them. From storage to decorating, glass jars have many different ways of being reused.

Solutions: Reusing Glass Jars

Read and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up".

Beaded Lid Upcycled Gift Jars

Two jars with finished lids, motifs, and beads.

Make these upcycled gift jars by decorating jar lids with beads, etc.

Approximate Time: 45 minutes

Supplies:

assorted beads, pearls, jewels, Mardi Gras beads, and any leftovers in your craft box
hot glue/gun, E600, or whatever good quick drying glue you prefer
Glass or plastic jars with lids
(*bamboo skewer)

Motif examples, beads, and finished lids.

Instructions:

I'm starting to think about making Christmas gifts and recycled jars are a good way to contain your gift, and to help the environment.

I'd been saving some unique jars like an artichoke hearts jar, and a horseradish jar. (It's also interesting to see what you can find in your fridge as far as possibilities. Jars with colored lids are really great, as that will be your background color, and you can work with that when you make your "motifs".) Blue, pearl, and gold beaded jar lid. Light blue, pearl, and green bead arrangement.

Add a little bling to your lids by making a "motif". Hot glue a pretty "jewel" right in the center, then start gluing your string, or loose beads, around it, then add another string of beads for the outer edge, let dry, and that is it. Fill the jar with candy, or whatever you wish to give your fav someone. They will even have 2 gifts in one and can use the gift jar for storing something else in later on. Motif examples. Strings of beads, motifs, and completed lid.

Some gift ideas might be a jar filled with pretty beads for a favorite sister, fishing tackle for a big brother, home made cookies for dad, and a sewing kit for mom. (*I find that using a bamboo skewer works really well to "fine tune" your beads into place.)

By CDC from FL

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Glass Jars for Food Storage

I do not throw away any glass or plastic jars that can be reused. I save the small ones for spices I buy in bulk at the store for a fraction of what they cost in bottles on the shelf. I also use them to store taco mix, gravy mix, beans, etc. Anything bought in bulk is usually fresher and less expensive.

By koffeeladie from Twin Falls, ID

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Use Old Jars for Kid's Craft Items

I had some old jars laying around and put some acyrilic paint in the bottom with a little bit of water and shook them up and then let them sit to dry over night. Now the kids have colourful jars to store pencils, crayons, and scissors.

By Coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

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Recycled Jar Garden Vases

Here's an idea for bringing a splash of color to those bare spots in your yard and garden.

Approximate Time: 1-2 hours

Supplies:

recycled jars
wire
tall sticks of varying lengths
snippers or old scissors
knife or file

Instructions:

To keep the wire from slipping down the stick, cut a notch into the stick with your knife or file. Or use a stick with "nubbies" on it that will hold the wire in place.
Snip off a piece of wire about 2 feet long. Experiment with different gauges of wire for the look you want.
Working in the middle of the cut piece of wire, wrap it around the notch several times to secure it to the stick.
Now wrap the ends of the wire that are left over around the top of the jar.
With a pencil or something similar, curl the ends of the wire to form tendrils.
Now look for a spot in your yard or garden that needs a little color and push your vase-on-a-stick into the ground.
Add a little water and some flowers from another part of the garden.
Stand back. Enjoy. Smile.

Bonus tip: if the soil is too hard or too sandy, use a big flower pot with rocks to hold your sticks upright. :-)

Source: I saw a similar project in the book, 2 Hour Garden Art, by Ruby Begonia

By ~gloria from western NY

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Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

When you buy restaurant size jars of mayo, salad dressing, hot sausages, pickles or pickled eggs, save the jars and use them to store your bird seed or other pet food. It keeps the mice from being drawn into your house and eating your expensive animal chow. Any large mouth and large in size jar will do.

By shotpusher from Lucama, NC

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Reusing Empty Glass Jars

I reuse all the glass jars that come into my house. The real small ones are great for extra washers and screws, beads, jewelry holders when traveling (I use small pierced earrings), extra chopped veggies, and so on.

The larger jars make pretty candy jars with a little dab of decoration. The very large jars are great cannisters for staples like flour or sugar. Dried beans, peas or macaroni look attractive with a touch of decoration on any shelf.

By Elizabeth from Dodson Prairie, TX

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Store Dried Peas and Beans in Glass Jars

I try to store my open bags of peas and beans in a glass tea jar (I use a funnel to get them in). This keeps me from having the beans spill all over my pantry when the rubber band doesn't go on properly. I have found that if I open up the plastic bag at one end, I can slide the bag with the label and directions over the end of the jar, so that I don't forget what's inside OR how to cook it. It's easy to pour the beans out into a measuring cup since the mouth of the jar is narrow. Now my pantry stays a lot neater with the jars upright instead of having different shaped rice and bean bags everywhere. Also, I can save some money by not buying containers since I just reuse a jar!

By Erin from Blue Bell, PA

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Reuse Small Coffee Jars For Spices

Sometimes I buy coffee in jars that look like small storage jars. I use lots of spices so I find them very handy to use as spice jars. When they are empty, this is what I do. It saves on money and they hold so much more than the small ones that are sold. I also keep the fuses from plugs when the appliance has refused to stop working in the jars to reuse when a fuse blows in another plug.

By Longworth from London, Middlesex

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Painted Glass Jar Vases

A pretty way to display your flowers.

Approximate Time: 30 min

Supplies:

glass jars
acyrilic paint
brush
stencils
flowers

Instructions:

Wash your jars and remove paper from them.
Then paint the outside of the jar with acyrilic paint, let dry.
Tape a stencil on the jar, use a different color for stenciling.
Then add your flowers into the jars, and use as a vase.

By Coville123 from Brockville, Ontario Painted Glass Jar Vases

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Decorated Candy Jar

Decorate an old jar (any kind of container will work!) with scrapbooking paper

Approximate Time: 10 minutes

Supplies:

a clean jar or container
scrapbook papers
adhesive (tape runner works best)
stampin' dimensionals
rubber stamps and ink

Instructions:

Wash and dry the jar thoroughly. It's important that there are no residual oils, which can prevent the paper from adhering properly.

Cut a band 2-3 inches narrower than the height of the container. Make sure it is long enough to completely encircle the container, plus 1 inch. Join 2 pieces of paper together with your adhesive if necessary (as I had to do in this sample). Apply adhesive to one short end of the strip and to both long ends of the strip. If your strip is particularly wide you may need to add another line of adhesive in the middle.

Carefully position the short end of the strip at the center front of the container (the seam will eventually be covered with your label). Here is the tricky part. Go slowly to assure the strip is properly positioned on the container as you will not easily be able to remove it and reposition. Turn the container on its side and apply adhesive to the remaining short end and secure over the beginning of your strip.

Create a label (I used Stampin' Ups new Label framelits dies). I used 3 different ones, but used coordinating papers and dimensionals to give the label height, contrast, and interest. Stamp a sentiment and adhere to the label.

Mount your label to the front (covering the seam of the 2 short ends of paper).

Fill with treats and enjoy or give as a gift!

By Diana from Prospect, KY

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Make Your Own Spice Jars

Recycle your large salsa jars. I use them for my salt, pepper and spices. Just spray paint the lid any color, I use white spray paint then take a nail and hammer in holes on the top of the lid large enough for whatever spice you are putting in them. Great for dry rubs and your own spice blends. These work great for barbecue. After friends and family saw mine they all made their own.

By Pam

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Uses for Recycled Glass Jars

Ways to use recycled glass jars from condiments and other foods. Post your own ideas here.

Questions

Here are questions related to Reusing Glass Jars.

Recycling Glass Jars

I have about 20 or more little 2 oz. glass jars with lids. Seems a shame to throw them out. Any ideas what to do with them? Thanks!

By Batwing from Virginia

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Most Recent Answer

By GryphonLady 06/07/2009

Use them to store leftover food. Or use them as drinking glasses. Save the lids and use them so that if you knock over the "glass" it doesn't spill out. Peace!

Recycling Glass Jars

I hate throwing away and even just recycling glass jars. I wash and reuse them instead. As a result, I am overrun and need some thoughts on additional uses for glass jars (with lids or without).

Glass Jars for Food Storage

Recycle small wide-mouth glass jars to store leftover onion. Store on a shelf where you can see it. No odor and no waste since it is easy to see and does not get pushed to the back of the fridge.

Glass jars are great for other foods, since you can easily see the contents; you know the old saying, "out of sight, out of mind."

By Syd

Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

We have a sandwich shop and end up with empty glass gallon jars from the pickles. Any suggestion for a craft or other uses?

By C Hop from Winter Haven, FL

RE: Reusing Gallon-size Glass Jars

Using them for canisters is the obvious 1 ; people are always asking for them on freecycle and Craig's list, I just gave a lady 4 for her to make an herbal tea. You can turn them into aquariums or terrariums frost the outside and put Christmas lights on the inside put creepy-crawlies things in them for Halloween decorations you can ask your customers if they give you an idea you give them a jar, in fact I have 1 in my garage and I put my chicken feathers in. (06/15/2009)

By BABBIE

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

They can be made into lamps. Drill a small hole in the bottom for the cord, u can purchase a special lamp head and wiring. After wiring and before putting the top on, fill the jar with something cool, like shells, marbles etc. Easy to decoupage on too. If u do it on the outside, the inside could still be used. Use a single printed layer from pretty napkins for a semi-transparent look. (06/18/2009)

By thriftmeg

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

My sister used to take them and make a covering of your choice that was open at top and bottom. She put elastic around top and bottom with the closure much tighter on the bottom. The elastic at the top fits around the neck of the jar. Mine she made me has the following: White eyelet fabric trimmed at the top with white lace with white grosgrain ribbon tied around the neck and decorated with white tiny roses and white pearls. Inside you put a toilet brush for your bathroom. Makes a beautiful holder. (06/18/2009)

By angel3210

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

Another thing I saw besides the toilet brush jars that my sister made me was one for a bank. I bought this one in Northern Arkansas. The whole thing was painted in this case royal blue. Then a cute horse say from a coloring book or craft book was painted on the front. It said, "Horsing Around Fund". And the lid had an opening put in it for money. My little brother-in-law who is handicapped just adores horses. He loved the bank to add to his horse and bank collection. (06/18/2009)

By angel3210

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

My first thought was to use them as a cloche'. I root some plants and use cloche's to act as a greenhouse. Love the other ideas too. (06/18/2009)

By suem1009

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

Why not make pickled eggs in them and sell them too. (06/18/2009)

By busdrivr

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

Using glass paint, you can paint them to look like pumpkins. The lid you just paint green. You can add green foam leaves glued on the top, if you wish. Then, you can use them to hold your Trick or Treat candy. (06/18/2009)

By Artlady

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

Make an appropriate sized slit in the jar lid, choose a local human or animal shelter/food bank or any local cause you choose. Make/attach donation details on the jar and place it on your checkout counter ... Make a few and share them with fellow local businesses ... The recipients will greatly appreciate donations and you'll feel good for the effort :-) Even if the amount collected doesn't seem like much, every little bit helps :-) (06/18/2009)

By Deeli

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

They are great for making sun tea in.

You could donate them--preschools and art teachers would love them.

You could sell them in your shop for $1 each

Sell them at Christmas full of cookies made in your shop (06/18/2009)

By mom-from-missouri

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

If you have a bulk-food store or a health food (with bulk food) store they might like them to sell for customer storage of bulk food. Maybe you could trade jars for some of their products that you could use at your store. (06/18/2009)

By tennesue

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

You could take a large, thick pillar candle in the center of the jar bottom and then put small rocks or glass pebbles around the candle to stabilize the candle. Put them outside use as luminaries. I guess you could use them for decoration inside as well, on the counter top or tables?

We did this down the walkway in front of the house one year at Christmas time and it was really pretty! I got the candles at the dollar store and I used all white candles.

You could use other colors at Christmas (red, gold, green, etc.) or switch them out depending on the holiday. Red for Valentines, green for St. Patrick's, pastel for Easter, etc. You could use more than one color candles: red and green for Christmas or red, white and blue for the 4th of July!

Hope that you get lots of neat ideas! Elizabeth Jane (06/24/2009)

By Elizabeth Jane

RE: Reusing Gallon-Size Glass Jars

I use mine for vases, I use rub on decals-usually words,to decorate outside,and colored rocks on inside, my flowers last so long in the jar w/ the rocks. you can etch them, p sponge paint them. (I sponge vodka, wine,etc bottles for vases) (07/04/2009)

By moonseekerjade

Glass Jars for Food Storage

I store my sugars in glass jars, like the big pickle jars, same thing for flour, cornmeal, oatmeal. Bugs can't get in them, because my house is so small. I decorate my jars first and put them on shelves hung in front of window that doesn't get sun. It is like having my personalized canister set.

By Moonseekerjade from Onset, MA

RE: Glass Jars for Food Storage

Hi! I did the same but I painted the lids on my jars to match the decor of my kitchen. I stenciled the first letter of each thing I have in the jar. For example: S for sugar, F for flour and so on. I stenciled designs on the jars. Sure beats going to the store and paying a big price for jars you can make yourself.(11/09/2009)

By DustiRose, South Carolina