On the day of completing them, you add water with some drops of baby oil to them (the more oil you add, the slower the things fall down when shaken) then you can drop in glitter. Use contact cement around the inside lids ridge and put on the bottle, closing tight. They stay on always. When you shake the bottle then set the bottles upside down and you'll see it snow onto the objects that you had glued into the lids top on the inside.
You can also add tiny shapes from craft foam like fish stars etc punched from hole punches. Make themes like under the sea, trees for Christmas, use popsicle sticks cut for wooden people draw on them first with markers, put plastic beaded jewelry inside to move around when shook up. Or put a wooden stick in the center lid and add rings (toy kind) inside floating around to see if they can land them on the stick. They are real fun to play with. And the kids can even paint the outside with their names, etc., curled up tiny pieces of ribbon work good too for floating around inside.
By Julie
By Dolly
By Ann
By Jess
Take a string of mini Christmas lights and stick one light into each jar and secure with glue (test it first if using a glue gun),then, stuff fire proof angel hair in around the lights to hide the wire. If you wish, glue the bottom row of the tree on a narrow piece of wood (paint stick), and then set that on top of a short narrow cap or something to be the tree holder. I saw this at work and it was just beautiful with the lights on!
By Wanda
This page contains the following solutions.
Here is a great idea I used a few weeks ago for a craft project for my kids. Stained glass look candle holders using baby food jars.
I made this candle holder out of a baby food jar. The smallest baby food jars work the best.
I help raise four grand-daughters, all crafty. It is very expensive with art supplies for four. I asked a friend of mine who is also raising grandchildren (babies) for some of her taller baby food jars, and lids.
I have found a use for all of my empty glass baby food jars! I bought some glass paints at my local hobby store and decorated the jars with a nice pattern.
Decorate baby food jar as snowman to hold candy. Remove lid from jar and use as a guide to cut a circle of red or green felt.
Take an empty jar (I used the 4 oz.), wash well and remove label. It doesn't matter if all the glue is off as long as all the paper is gone.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a 9 month old baby girl and plenty of baby food jars. They are just to cute to throw away. In a month, I am having about 10 girlfriends over for an evening of fun. I would like to use the jars to make individual gifts for all the girls. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
This was a children's Bible school project and turned out well: Tear pieces of different colored tissue paper in small strips. Dip into tacky glue (or any glue that dries clear) and place on the outside of the jar. When it dries, put a small candle inside and it will look like stained glass. Other decorations could also be added, such as beads, bits of ribbon, etc.
On a smaller scale, this would work fine.
TREASURE HUNT JAR
1 clean plastic jar with lid
(such as a peanut butter jar)
Finch bird seed
Fill the jar half full of bird seed. Add whatever small items you can find, such as a screw, jingle bell, rubber band, piece of macaroni, button, needle, bead, screw, paper clip, penny, marble, pop tab, etc. Put 20 items in the jar. Fill with bird seed, leaving a space at the top for the seed to move around. To prevent people from opening the lid, you can add some glue to the threads of the lid, then screw it onto the jar. Keep a list of the items you put into the jar because it's almost guaranteed that the person you give it to will not find them all!
Add the following poem:
Some pirates got it all mixed up
And did things wrong way 'round.
They put the treasure in a bottle
And buried the map in the ground!
Their treasure was some silly stuff
Like needles, screws and beads.
Then dear old Polly Parrot
Added all her extra seeds!
So find the twenty items here
No two are quite the same.
Don't open up the bottle though
As that would break the game!
*******KITCHEN BITES*********
January 4, 2001
A Recipe Goldmine Publication
Copyright © 2000-2001 - Lisa Johnson
Hi Pepsi:
Why don't you just get a bunch of odds and ends of craft stuff, plenty of glue and let everybody decorate their own jars at the party.It sounds like a blast. Little paper copies of pix would be cute on them too. I have one of those eyeball cameras on my computer, if you do you could take pictures of your guests and if you can figure out how to get them small enough they could glue them on the jars.
- Linne
Get some mini-figurines, cool buttons or other cute things that you like. Glue to the inside of the lid. Fill the jar with water and glitter, add the lid and you have mini-snowglobes!
You could turn the baby food jars into votives. Purchase colored, scented votive candles and matching ribbon. You can even paint the jars with enamel paint.
- Julie
Dear Pepsi
If your friends have children aswell this project will be a great one for them. Make them into little shakes. Fill them with coloured rice. Colour the rice with food colouring (for the best effect encorage different colours to be used). Fill the jar a quarter to half full with rice then put cylicone or hot glue (use the cooler setting to prevent breaking the jar) on the top of the jar towards the inside then put the lid on it. If any residue does manage tomake its way to the outside of the lid just wipe it off before it hardens. These make great raddles and are easy to clean just through it in the dishwater when washing the dishes. If the jar does get oppened everything inside is completely safe to eat.
OR
For an adult craft.
Fill the jars with layers of colored sand or aquarium gravel of different colors. You can create various designs in the sand using a toothpick and gentlely drag the toothpick along the side of the jar starting from the bottom working your way up.
The science teacher at our church grammar school was thrilled to have donated baby food jars. The teacher showed the students how to fill the jars with potting soil and how to grow seeds.
I have spray painted the tops of baby food jars various colors (silver/gold/red/green for Christmas); pink/blue/yellow for birthdays). I keep a supply on hand in various colors. I also glue little items on top of the lid such as tiny silk flowers, buttons, seashells, charms, coins. Add a few shreds of pretty ribbon or shredded papers - color coordinate. Excellent way to give a pretty pair of earrings, money $$ - wrap/fold up green bills or use quarters, half dollars. A (soft) bracelet will fit in the jar. IOUs on slips of paper can be placed in the jar: IOU to wash the dog/IOU a game of checkers/IOU to a movie/etc etc. Remember there are tiny baby food jars and there are the larger ones too. Never turn down the opportunity to be given some free baby food jars.
Christmas Tree
Get a 3' by 5' piece of wood, 15 baby food jars, christmas lights and tintsle. Glue the baby food jars to the wood in a triangle shape (5 jars on the wood, than 4 on top of them, then 3, then two, then one). Glue guns work best. In the lids of the jars hammer a hole and put just the lights of the christmas lights in the hole. Put the tintsle in the jars and put the lids on the jars and decorate any way you like. That is your baby food Christmas Tree. Merry X-mas!
I found this recipe for Cinnamon Honey Butter that my mother made and distributed to her friends in baby food jars. She got rave reviews.
2 sticks Butter and 2 sticks Margerine, both soft
Mix at medium speed
Slowly add the following:
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup Honey
1 tsp. vanilla
Whip until well blended
Refrigerate before using
I used baby food jars for baby shower thank you favors. I put candy inside the jars and then decorated the jars with blue or pink mesh, tied ribbon around the mouth of the jar and tied little pacifiers (the kind in the craft stores ) to the ribbon. I attached a little thank you note from "mom and baby" to them. Everyone got a kick out of them!
I used baby food jars for baby shower thank you favors. I put candy inside the jars and then decorated the jars with blue or pink mesh, tied ribbon around the mouth of the jar and tied little pacifiers (the kind in the craft stores ) to the ribbon. I attached a little thank you note from "mom and baby" to them. Everyone got a kick out of them!
Don't forget to add glycerine to the snowball jars so the "snow" will "float" a little slower.
I am looking for ideas for using empty baby food jars for Christmas crafts.
Nancy from Pryor, OK
When I was a kid we used to make snowglobes out of baby food jars. You glue an ornament (water-friendly) to the jar lid then fill the jar with water. You can add glitter to the water or food coloring. Close the jar very tightly and if nessessary, hot glue around jar edge. If the metal lid bothers you, it can be painted to match. Tie a ribbon where the lid meets the jar and voila, homemade snowglobe. Hope this helps:)
Smear a thin layer of ModgePodge on the glass and stick on (slightly overlapping) small pieces of colored tissue paper. When you've covered the jar, put a thin layer of ModgePodge over all the tissue and let it dry. Put a tea light candle in the jar and you'll have a "stained glass" candle holder.
I saw Carol Duvall make a tree similar to this on TV several years ago:
crafts.kaboose.com/
You could also do mini Snow Globes in them.
crafts.kaboose.com/
When I was in kindergarten (many years ago), we made crafts out of baby food glass jars for our mothers for Christmas. We stacked about 3 jars, (2 with tops together), and glued them together. Before gluing, we filled the jars with plastic mistletoe or some other sort of greenery, and some shiny little metal (I think) balls, about the size of cranberries, of assorted colors that were inserted loose in with the greenery.
The stack of 3 jars was glued onto a teacup saucer plate, as the top of the end jar fit perfectly in the center ring of the saucer. Finally some red ribbon was tied around the outside. It was unique, cheap, and easy. My mother saved it for a long time, but I don't think she has it anymore.
jelly jar deodorizers
2 cups liquid potpourri
4 packets knox gelatin (plain unflavored)
Jelly jars, lids and rings
Plastic wrap
Decorations (i.e. lace, ribbons, fabric, etc.)
Bring 1 cup liquid potpourri to boil in a non-reactive saucepan. Do not use your good pans!
Add packets of knox gelatin and stir to dissolve.
Add 1 cup of liquid potpourri that is at room temperature and stir.
Pour into jelly jars, cover with plastic wrap and put into refrigerator to firm.
After they have congealed, add lids, rings and any decorations.
These will last several months when uncapped. Just set in a room and let them do their magic
Here's a picture of the baby food jar "Christmas tree" my daughter made for my friends 80th birthday.
Materials:
17 Baby Food Jars
1 35 light string of small lights
Car Mirror Glue
Glitter Garland
Instructions:
Drill a hole in the tops of the lids.
Paint them black & let dry.
Glue the jars together in a tree form. (17 jars) (She first used hot glue, didn't work well. We also tried super glue, that was a disaster.) USE CAR MIRROR GLUE.
Cut 2-3 inches of glitter garland for each jar and place in the jars.
Use a 35 light string. Put 3 lights in the top jar, in through the hole of the lids, put 2 lights in the rest of the lids and tape with black electrical tape, to hold them in.
Plug in and enjoy. I still have the one my daughter made over 15 years.
for a gift: fasten the jar lids to a board, with screws or glue that would hold them, fasten the board to some kind of shelving or where you want it, screw the jars back on the lids and use them for any kind of storage of small items and you can see what is in the jars - for example, screws and bolts in a work shop or beads, etc in your craft room. You can make it as large or small as you need and can prefill it for a super gift for a crafter or a workshop.
How about making face scrub & storing in the jars? Tie some Christmas tissue or fabric to the top, tie with raffia - a nice gift. There are lots of sugar/salt scrub recipes on Thrifty Fun, just make the grains extra fine for the face.
I saw an awesome thing once. Someone smarter than I had taken baby food jars and laid about 5 on their side and glued them together. Then 4 stacked on top of them and glued then 3,2 and 1 typical triangle only glued together. Then they took and put holes in the lids right in the center. They then inserted 1 colored light through the hole to where it would be inside the jar and screwed the lid back on. They did this to all the jars with different colors and then sat it on the desk and the office. With the beautiful lights shining through the bottom of the jars, it added such dimension and sparkle.
I really appreciate these ideas using baby food jars. Thank you anymore I would like to have them.
Paint the lids, trim with lace and ribbon, then pour melted paraffin in the jars to make candles. A set of these make great gifts, or they can be used for favors for parties, baby showers, etc. I've also seen them filled with candies instead of candles.
Glue some together to make a trinket holder for a desk, junk drawer, or to hold jewelry.
Fill with dried herbs from your garden or flavored teas. Also look for recipes for spice mixes, spiced tea, hot chocolate mix, bath salts, etc, and add to the gift baskets for birthday or christmas gifts.
A neat gift for a child is to put some charms in, a small ball, a balloon, a wishbone, a marble, a seashell, etc, and fill the rest of the way with sand. Glue the lid on. This makes a good rainy-day or travel gift. The kids take turns turning the jar, trying to find all the hidden treasures.
Put some sand and a votive inside each jar and use on the table during a party.
Organize your tool box--use for nuts, bolts, and extra screws.
I always put some paint in one after we paint a room. It is convenient for touch-ups.
I make and freeze homemade pesto in some for a side dish during the winter. Don't put the cheese in; add it after defrosted.
I'm sure there's many more uses--GOOD LUCK!
Since I now have a grandchild, throwing away the baby food jars is hard. I have used them for inside drawers putting in small items, and have used them to keep things like nails, etc., but now I am looking for crafty ideas to do with them. Ideas?
Here's an idea. It's for Christmas. Glue Christmas wrapping paper on the outside of the lid. You'll stll need to be able to get the lid on the jar.
In the middle of the inside of the lid, use permanent jewelry glue to glue on a little plastic Santa, deer, snowman or tree.
Add a large spoonful of white, pearlescent glitter to the jar. Put the lid on the jar and glue it carefully shut with the permanent glue. When set on its lid, it is a little, waterless snowglobe.
Oh I remember years ago when all the craze was to make 'pickled bums', 'pickled pigs' and 'pickled people'. They are made from quilt batting and old nylons. We'd decorate the lid with gingham & ribbon and attach a label "Sweet Mixed Bums" or "Pickled Pigs". A cute little novelty gift or stocking stuffer that we used to sell at holiday bazaars. I've attached a photos I found online, instructions can be found on the internet.
I saw an ornament at a craft fair that was made out of baby juice jars that looked like they were melted a little and pressed together. Before they melted and pressed it together, they had placed a picture of a snowman or whatever on the inside.
Does anyone know how to melt the jars and press them flat like that?They probably used a kiln...haven't seen anything like that though, so not sure!
Hi, the short answer is that they do it in an electric kiln using a technique called "slumping". Tthe bottles are placed in position on a specially treated surface in the kiln. The kiln then heats up until the glass starts becoming soft and collapses ("slumps") to make the item you saw. Do a search for "glass slumping" to find someone in your area. Have a nice day!
LWH
This is a page about making a baby food jar Santa candy jar. Create cute little Santa candy jars using baby food jars.
This is a page about making "gerber" baby food favors for 1st birthday party. A special birthday keepsake can inexpensively be made with baby food jars.
Don't throw out those glass jars! Turn them into 'stained glass' with permanent markers.
