Creative Ideas for Repurposed Jars
Why should we care about repurposed jars? For me, it started with a need. I needed glasses for my new home, but had little to no budget for anything new. This was years before I discovered the value of thrift stores.
So, how did I fill the need? I prioritized our budget and found that if I purchased items in pretty containers, I would have a set of some really nice mason jar glasses! Not only did they make a great addition to my farmhouse home décor, it launched my obsession with pretty containers. Since then, I’ve discovered countless ways to use glass jars and creative ideas for glass jars.
Over the years, some of my mason jar glasses were replaced with hand me downs or thrifted finds, but I am always on the lookout for pretty containers. I don’t look at jars of olives or sauces like a normal person. I’m always thinking, “what can I use that for”?. Now I’m sharing my finds with you on how I incorporate repurposed jars into our home and best tips on how to repurpose glass jars, where to find glass jars, and how to use glass jars for décor, storage, or entertaining.
This post is all about repurposed glass jars.
Repurposed Mason Jars
Here’s what kick started our repurposed jars lifestyle. I found Classico Traditional Spaghetti Pasta Sauce at the store. I realized the jar was the perfect size for drinking glasses, so I continued purchasing the sauce and colleting the jars until I had a set of about 8 glass jars! The sauce was not only worth the cost, but it was affordable and easy to incorporate into frugal dinners for our family.
Read more here about our One Pot Pasta Recipe
It doesn’t stop there, though. I also found they make excellent glass storage jars. They keep my dried pantry foods fresh longer. This saves so much space in the pantry and makes wiping down shelves so easy! Plus, look how pretty!
My favorite store-bought pasta sauce glass jar is Bertolli Pasta Sauce. Not just for the pretty jar, but for the taste. This one is my favorite.
Here’s how we store them in our little wall pantry. Yes, that’s a reused Cheez Whiz jar. If it serves a need, I’ll use it!
Repurposed Canning Jars
I have been thrifting canning jars for years at thrift stores and antique shops. Sometimes you have to be a little patient. Some sellers put pretty high prices on the jars (especially if they are genuine antiques). You have to find a really good second hand seller and source.
TIP: Don’t hesitate to buy thrifted canning jars that might be missing lids or rubber seals. You should be able to get those jars for the best prices, and I’ve found some a sources for you. Scroll to the end for links to source your lids for either mason or wire clamp jars.
Repurposed Blue Mason Jars
These are typically going to be at the high end price point as they are truly antiques. There are crafters out there (I am not one of them) who have a skill to turn a clear mason jar into a blue mason jar. I believe it involves glue, blue dye, and oven baking. Not sure if I will ever try this, but if I do, I will post it on our blog to share the results.
We found this jar which is either a faux blue color craft or a true antique. It was hard to tell. I could not get the film appearance out of the glass, so I decided to use it to store my dishwasher pods.
Creative Ideas for Glass Jars
- Flower vases
- Storage for pens, pencils, or kitchen utensils
- Holding food that I am prepping for a recipe (like soaking cashews)
- Arranging ingredients or supplies for coffee bars (or a hot chocolate bar as pictured here)
Oui Yogurt Jar Crafts
Oui yogurt jar crafts have been trending for quite some time. I literally stumbled upon them one day when I wasn’t feeling well and putting an order in for a quick grocery delivery. I just clicked on the first yogurt that I found, just to get the order completed. When it arrived, I again looked at the glass jar and thought, “what can I make with this”?
We used these jars as a sweet nod to my mom. She used to say “smile” to us all the time, and she always had a smile to share. It was made with a Cricut label (I’ve provided a link for you) and displayed lovingly on the tables for her celebration of life. We were able to share with our guests and keep a few for ourselves. Oui has also created limited edition designer jars (as pictured above) I was able to snag a couple of these Oui jars with blue flower design.
Tips and resources for repurposed jars:
How to remove labels from glass jars
- Wash the jars with soap and cold water.
- Dry the jar.
- If that doesn’t remove the label and all it’s residue, you’ll need to apply an adhesive remover. We use a product called Goof Off with great results.
Where to find labels and label makers:
We use a DYMO Embossing Label Maker
For the chalkboard labels, we found these online — 173 Pack Premium Chalkboard Label Stickers
Where to find canning jar lids — follow this link to find the size and count that fits your needs:
Ball Regular Mouth Mason Jar Lids
Where to find rubber seals for wire clamp jars – or canning jars:
Where to find Oui Yogurt Lids:
Bamboo lids with silicone sealing rings, perfect for Oui jars!
This post was all about how we repurposed glass jars. They give our pantry a clean and charming storage solution and make great glasses for cold drinks!
