The jar is all empty.

December 2, 2008 8:09 AM

What gift item can I make in or from jars without lids?

I purchased a food product that came in a jar that looked like a mason jar, thinking I could recycle the empties with new mason lids for the holidays. I saved. I washed. I scrubbed off labels. I tossed out the original lids. Then, lo and behold, I learned that although they look like mason jars, they are imposters. My replacement lids don't fit!

Now that I have more than a dozen of these suckers, what can I make out of them or what can I gift in them that does not require a lid? They are pint size, but shaped like the larger quart size. I've thought of candles, but was hoping for better inspiration.

posted by Breav to grab bag (23 comments total)

I've used jars to hold things that don't normally go in jars before wrapping them up. For example, but a blouse in a large jar, throw some taut plastic (or a piece of cardboard) over the top and wrap it in wrapping paper. No one will suspect it's a blouse. You could put just about anything in there so long as it fits through the mouth easily. Jewelery or accessories would fit quite easily. Of course the jar itself is superfluous to the gift, but it's still fun to wrap things up in well-disguised packaging.

I actually sealed the top with the plastic and tape that you buy at the dollar store to insulate windows. With one dollar package you get enough plastic and tape to seal dozens of bottles.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:19 AM on December 2, 2008 [3 favorites]

I see people doing this sort of thing a lot with a baking mix. You pre-mix up batches of cookie dough in attractive layers, make a nice card with the directions, put cardboard, some sort of plastic and cloth over the top, secure with a rubberband or string and you're set. Not a super-personal gift but a nice office type present and nice to look at. Amazingly, there is a "gifts in a jar" category on dmoz and you can check there for more info.
posted by jessamyn at 8:25 AM on December 2, 2008

You could make layered baking mixes. Recipes here.

Seal using plastic wrap and a rubber band. Then put a piece of pretty cloth over that, and tie with a ribbon. (Should look something like this; adjust cloth to your tastes.) If you're fairly careful, and warn the recipient that the top isn't rock-solid, you should be fine.
posted by charmcityblues at 8:26 AM on December 2, 2008

Candles & Terrariums.
posted by macadamiaranch at 8:29 AM on December 2, 2008

seconding candles/candle holders:

either mix up some paraffin with smell or coloring and pour it into the jar itself, or just insert a votive (easier!).

you could get mod podge and decoupage the outside with scraps of tissue paper, makes a nice stained glass effect.
posted by dahliachewswell at 8:33 AM on December 2, 2008

A variation on the candle theme (sorry!) but I think these look pretty cool

You could also plant herbs in them (fill them 1/3rd full iwth small stones, put soil on top, add seeds).

Or, and this would be great, make an ant farm! You'd need to secure some sort of lid but that shouldn't be too hard. See here and here.
posted by jonesor at 8:36 AM on December 2, 2008

Sorry if this is obvious to you, but there are two sizes of canning jar lids: regular and wide mouth. Are you sure neither will fit? I'm also assuming you won't be canning with them but merely need the lids to keep the contents inside. You shouldn't use non-canning jars to can food.
posted by peep at 8:45 AM on December 2, 2008

herbs!
posted by iamkimiam at 9:06 AM on December 2, 2008

Floral arrangements - Get a block of floral foam to stick in the jar and then fill with boughs and roses and carnations etc.
posted by machine at 9:19 AM on December 2, 2008

ah, well, i came in to suggest candles.

but, another alternative is homemade bath salts (recipes abound on the web).

i would also be happy with a jar full of hershey kisses or some other kind of wonderful candy.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:21 AM on December 2, 2008

Flavored sugar, if you put some plastic wrap (tightly) and pretty ribbon around the top.

mmm, vanilla sugar
posted by timetoevolve at 9:33 AM on December 2, 2008

potpourri?
posted by cestmoi15 at 9:40 AM on December 2, 2008

Firefly-in-a-jar night lights. Get a string of mini Christmas lights (like 10 bulbs). Stuff them in the jar. Put some mesh or netting over the top and secure with a rubber band or twine. Plug it in. Turn on your imagination and pretend there are fireflies in the jar.
posted by evilmomlady at 10:00 AM on December 2, 2008

How about a ship-in-a-bottle, and covering the opening with burlap and tying it with some brown twine?
posted by cabingirl at 10:19 AM on December 2, 2008

Are the mason lids too small or too large? If too large could you wrap the top in a colorful fabric swatch and then screw down the lid? If not how about a nice leather (or other material) strap to hold the fabric on?
posted by Pollomacho at 11:53 AM on December 2, 2008

Force some bulbs in them-- now is the perfect time of year to get an amaryllis or a few paperwhite bulbs and force them.
posted by orangemiles at 12:01 PM on December 2, 2008

One of my favorite wedding presents was a set of 6 glass peanut butter jars which had been cleaned and decorated with designs using glass etching cream.

1. Block designs on outside using masking tape stencils.
2. Apply etching cream.
3. Wash off etching cream.
4. Remove stencils.
5. VOILA. Gift set of personalized glasses and have a beer.
posted by hybridvigor at 12:16 PM on December 2, 2008

cake in a jar. i think the lids are pretty optional here. just promise to send me one.
posted by genmonster at 1:23 PM on December 2, 2008

Good ideas already! Good thing I saved alot of jars. I enjoy making gifts (but not tacky ones) and these suggestions take me down new paths. I'm partial to a gift is consumable, leaving the jar to be reused or recycled. Hardly anyone has room for more stuff.

To answer Peep's and Pollomacho's questions, the mouth of the jar appears identical to a regular mason, but the neck is a little taller so the grooves on the lid can't reach the grooves on the jar so it never "catches".

They are a little short for the gift mixes. I was originally thinking of filling them with candy or spiced nuts, but I'm afraid a top tied with ribbon or string won't be strong enough. I don't want the gift to be stale or to fall out. Thanks for the advice of not using them for canning, though. I would not have known that.
posted by Breav at 1:27 PM on December 2, 2008

You could use cork or rubber stoppers to plug the tops of the jars, making them airtight to keep consumable gifts fresh.

There are non-perishable foods that might work well- individually wrapped stuff like packs of chewing gum, retro candy (Fizz!), or other individually-wrapped candy (Ginger People's Original Ginger Chews are my obsession this year- I'm in no way associated with that company, I just love the candy to the point where I seem to have spontaneously become an evangelist for them).

You could also fill them with non-perishable stuff, then just seal them with plastic wrap hidden with fabric & a ribbon. Not being able to re-seal the lid wouldn't matter with any of the following choices, and they are all pretty clutter-free:
Cute fridge magnets
Small bottles of essential oils + tealights
Packets of nice seeds or bulbs for a gardener
Kid stuff: a fun jumble of stickers, fancy erasers, face paints, barrettes, crayons, temporary tattoos, interactive lottery tickets (scratch or tear ones), bubble solution, maybe even a disposable camera + $10 to develop their own film? (I would have loved that as a kid)
Also for kids: craft stuff, like yarn & googly eyes & glue to make pom-pom monsters, or an origami star kit? (You can buy one, or cut paper into strips & teach the person how to make them)
Cosmetic stuff: bottles of nailpolish + manicure thingies, lip balm, eyeshadows, travel-sized packets of high-end cosmetics, really nice bar of hand soap + washcloth, ouchless hair elastics, etc.
Small clothing items: several pairs of really nice argyle socks? A scarf? Undies? Necktie?
posted by pseudostrabismus at 3:25 PM on December 2, 2008 [1 favorite]

It may not be what you're looking for, but when I make jams and preserves I seal them with paraffin wax at the top. Lids make things easier, but aren't necessary. I've also seen people close up jars of preserved stuff with plastic wrap and string.
posted by the luke parker fiasco at 10:54 AM on December 3, 2008

I had a thought last night as I was falling asleep! What kind of lids do you have - are they one piece?

Canning lids come in two parts - the lid and the ring. The ring is what has the grooves. So if you just want a lid to keep most air out, or keep a powdered mix from going stale, you could use the metal lid, then place fabric or plastic or whatever over it, and tie with a ribbon or rubber band, as others have mentioned. The lid won't stay in place by itself, and it won't seal (so make sure people know that it isn't preserved and needs to be consumed shortly), but might offer an extra few days/weeks of freshness.
posted by peep at 11:24 AM on December 3, 2008

Tiny Pies! And, more here too.
posted by hazel at 9:20 PM on December 4, 2008