How to reuse baby food jars... let me count the ways

What is it about miniature things that make people go ga-ga? Think about it: Newborns, puppies, mini M&Ms. You can’t help but swoon, right? (especially for the chocolate) Same goes for baby food jars, which must be why so many people keep them long after the baby years are over. Nowadays, Gerber sells most of its baby food in plastic containers, but Earth’s Best still uses glass. Here’s a nice hearty list to put your jars to good use.

Organize. Short, squatty and see-through–perfect for organizing. eHow has a tutorial for building a baby food jar organizer (don’t be scared, it’s easy). Great for your craft room or workshop.

Food container. (isn’t this how it started?) Great for holding kid-friendly snacks (think raisins or Cheerios) or a single-serve portion of salad dressing in a lunch box. Now if only your 10-year-old would remember to bring it back home…

Candles. Tea lights, votives, even tapered candles can all be placed inside a baby food jar. Keep the jar plain for a simple look or add embellishments for a themed party. Put a small amount of sand in the bottom of your jar to keep melting wax from sticking to the sides of the glass. Feeling really crafty? Follow Ecologue’s instructions for a jar chandelier.

Homemade butter. Now this is creative. But it’s a good idea only if you have a young child (read: gullible) to do all the shaking for you. Fill a jar with heavy whipping cream, leaving room at the top. Add a dash of salt. Cover tightly with the lid. Shake until thick and creamy. Refrigerate.

Shower favors. It seems fitting to give baby food jar favors at a baby shower. Bridal showers are just fine too. Pack ‘em with candy, a candle, loose tea leaves, bath salts…let your imagination run wild.

Snow globes. Share this timeless craft with your child during the next rainy day. Here is an easy set of instructions from Martha Stewart.

Pin cushion & sewing kit. I just love this! Makes a sweet teacher gift. CraftPudding has an adorable photo of this craft, but unfortunately no tutorial. Similar instructions can be found on Cut Out + Keep.

Grass. re-nest suggests growing grass in a jar, which is a nice idea for grass-chewing kitties. Or, line up a few jars with tufts of grass for bright and simple eco-decor.

Spice storage. For those of you that make your own spices or spice mixes.

Envelope sealer. Make-Stuff offers this handy suggestion. Cut a sponge to fit your jar and fill the jar with a small amount of water. Moisten envelope flaps and seal. Save your tongue from paper cuts!

Sculpture. Not the most practical suggestion, but it worked for imaginitive artist Johnny Swing. Check out his chair made from baby food jars. Comfy? Probably not. Cool? Very.

 

Rethink it!

Running out of room for all those jars? Making your own baby food is easy, healthy and cheap. One large sweet potato, baked and pureed, makes about 8 servings of baby food, sometimes more. Even with the increased cost of produce, it’s still cheaper than packaged baby food. Making your own baby food is easier than you think. In less than two hours, you can make food for a whole week. Check out wholesomebabyfood.com for simple instructions and helpful tips.

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