Hobbies And Interests
Making Storage Containers
Ball jars make good storage containers. They are decorative, especially the old blue ones, and provide storage for pencils and pens, loose change, needles and spools of thread, buttons, things from the junk drawer, craft items and other small things. Their wide mouths allow many items to fit inside and make for easy retrieval. Larger jars make good containers for flour, sugar, baking soda, pasta and other food items because they keep everything fresh and keep insects out. Plain jars are easily made more decorative by using a little ribbon and flowers with glue or painting on the outside.
Decorative Projects
Use Ball jars as vases for dry arrangements by placing oasis or Styrofoam inside to hold the arrangement in place covering it with sphagnum moss, or put fresh cut flowers in a jar filled with water. Fill jars with layers of different colors beans, peas and lentils. Seal the jar, tie a bow around the rim and use as a decoration in the kitchen. Make luminary jars with wide-mouth Ball jars filling them half full with sand, seashells, pebbles or other non-flammable materials. Place a votive or tea candle inside and use as a centerpiece or hang with wire to make a candlelit chandelier. Make a Ball jar terrarium by placing an inch of aquarium stone and activated charcoal in the bottom, then a layer of potting soil to fill less than halfway. Plant small plants using chopsticks, knives and tweezers to get in the small space. Water the plants, put on the lid and place in an area that does not get full sun.
Useful Ball Jars
Ball jars make great drinking glasses, and a large one can be used to produce sun tea. Grow alfalfa sprouts in a jar to use in salads. When the kids have a painting project, put the paint in a jar to keep it sealed when storing. Make a soap dispenser for the bathroom or kitchen by drilling a half-inch hole in the middle of a lid and inserting a soap dispenser pump. Place liquid soap in the jar.
Make Gifts
Give a gift in a jar by taking a favorite cookie or cake recipe and layering the dry ingredients in a jar. Layers include flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, chocolate chips or nuts. Place the lid on top, attach a recipe card on what to add (egg, vanilla and other liquid ingredients, for example) and steps on how to make the item.