If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can subscribe via RSS reader or email (right). Thanks for visiting!
![[del.icio.us]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Hugg]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/hugg.png)
![[Kaboodle]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kaboodle.png)
![[kirtsy]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kirtsy.png)
![[MySpace]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Twitter]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Email]](http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Got any empty glass jars? Get creative and find ways to reuse them!
1. Beach in a jar - This is a fun project for kids who have visited the beach recently and gathered seashells. We just went to Florida and YES we brought home seashells and authentic Florida sand. Simply put some sand in the bottom of the jar (colored play sand works great for this) and add the seashells. A larger shell can be glued to the lid for a finishing touch. Letting the kids paint the shells first is another fun way to add some color.
2. Lantern or candleholder - This is a good project for a glass jar of any size. The kids can use glass paint to create a stained glass look. Use the candle for dining outdoors in the evening…add a citronella candle and you have a bug deterrent too.
3. Use glass jars as paint containers. Just fill with a little paint and away you go. They last longer than plastic, they don’t stain, and since you are reusing something you already have, they are practical too.
4. Flower vase - Glass jars make charming vases. You can give them a layer of paint or a ribbon if desired. Then have your kids pick some wildflowers and you have a lovely arrangement.
5. Snack jars! I like to keep nuts, raisins, shredded coconut etc. glass jars when I can. They stay fresh and they aren’t in close to proximity to plastic.
6. Bank - Jars make great banks. Simply cut a slot in the lid to put change in, and let your child decorate the outside as he or she chooses.
7. An ispy jar - Fill the jar with rice and a few secret objects like a coin, a paperclip, a button, a bead, a small toy, dice, etc and have kids see if they can find all the treasures. Of course make sure to keep and eye on young ones when doing this. 
8. Jack-o-lantern jar - This is a great Halloween project. Cut shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth out of masking tape, and place them on the jar. Paint with orange paint, and remove tape when dry. Add a candle or small light to make it glow.
9. Candy jar - This can be decorated any way your child likes. Fill it with candy or other favorite snacks and give it as a gift, or keep it on the coffee table for guests to enjoy.
10. Planter - Put pebbles in the bottom of a small jar, then fill with potting soil. Plant herb or flower seeds, and put in the windowsill.
Got any more ideas? Comment and let me know!
trina said,
June 19, 2008 at 3:30 pm:
I love this post! I like to keep homemade margarita mix ready to go in an old incredibly well washed spaghetti sauce jar.
Carrie said,
June 19, 2008 at 3:53 pm:
I like the stars. Those are cute. We don’t have any regular glassware in the house, we just use old jars. The peanut butter ones are my favorite size for that. And now that we’re trying to be plastic-free, all the different sized jars come in handy.
Dr.Daisy said,
June 19, 2008 at 7:58 pm:
We love reusing plastic jars, I use a variety of them in my craft room for beads, buttons, etc and they look decorative as well:) Great post!:)
To Think Is To Create said,
June 19, 2008 at 8:00 pm:
Great post! Now I need ideas on what to do with a giant glass apple juice jug (i.e. narrow top). Only thing I can think of is a piggy bank. :/
Wendy@Well-Mannered Frivolity said,
June 19, 2008 at 8:29 pm:
They are great to hold a button collection.
phyllis said,
June 20, 2008 at 12:44 am:
very nice. now…what do we do with all the nalgene bottles that have bpa in them!? need a list of uses for those….!!!
Jenna said,
June 20, 2008 at 10:09 am:
Wow — great ideas! Very creative!
I love the idea of re-using jars to store gifts!
Alicia said,
June 20, 2008 at 10:25 am:
Your ideas are so great! I wash them out and keep them for grease. Instead of dumping any in a drain or into the trash, I keep them under the sink and when they are full, throw them out! Keeps my drains clear and my trash can clean.
melinda s said,
June 20, 2008 at 10:33 am:
Super ideas!!! Another great way to reuse!!
Tiph said,
June 20, 2008 at 12:03 pm:
We nail the lids of jars to a board on the wall, and then screw the jar into it, to store things like nuts and bolts…
Also, you can use glass jars as drinking glasses… they make a great alternative to plastic cups which leach things into your water. (an good idea for adults, obviously!)
danielle said,
June 20, 2008 at 3:49 pm:
Just stumbled across your site and it is AWESOME. I work with National Wildlife Federation and we would love to talk to nature mom’s and ask them questions on how you are getting your kids outside! Like in http://www.greenhour.org! I’d love to hear from you if you get a chance. brigidad@nwf.org
Amy said,
June 20, 2008 at 7:35 pm:
Love that photo of the etched glass jars with the stars. What a cool project that would be, and just in time for 4th of July! I think it could make an awesome Christmas gift too with some great soy candles in ‘em!
I love these ideas! I think I’m going to go pull some of my glass jars out of the recycling bin. What was I thinking???
Miss Lynar said,
June 23, 2008 at 10:14 pm:
I thought I was the one of the only “reuser” out there. Thanks for the idea about the snacks, I will definately use that one.
Rapunzel said,
June 24, 2008 at 1:24 pm:
Great ideas! I re-use and recycle glass every chance I get since I hate plastic and have slowly been replacing my plastic storage bins with pretty glass jars.
Nicole Feliciano said,
June 24, 2008 at 2:20 pm:
I love the ideas. I’m stocked up on baby food jars these days so I like the hints. This month on my blog–www.momtrends.blogspot.com–I’m focusing on going green tips. I’ll try to link this page. But feel to leave a comment on any of my posts with your ideas.
Carolpeedie@mac.com said,
June 26, 2008 at 10:50 am:
Yes! I agree with another’s comment here: PLEASE RE-USE your old jars … even as DRINKING GLASSES!!! They’re free, after all, and the best part — they’re recycleable whereas drinking glasses CANNOT be recycled. (It has to do with the additives to drinking glasses. Same goes with window glass and baking ware.) Don’t buy any drinking glasses if you can help it. We shop all the time with an eye on “oh, this would be a good [drinking] glass!”
rebecca said,
July 1, 2008 at 5:35 pm:
I reuse them as jars. HA! Not very imaginative, but they hold my salsa, sauces, soups and so forth. Plus I can send them home with dinner guests without a worry about getting them back. I also use a large jar for sun tea.
When making gravy, I put my flour and some of my pan drippings into a jar and shake it so I can avoid lumps. I guess that means my gravy is shaken, not stirred. The same technique works for salad dressing. And since you can’t have a beverage in my car without a lid - bamo!
My kids have “allowance jars” as someone else here mentioned. They decorated their jars. When we find spare change, we have a family activity jar and use that for movies, ice cream, and all such discrete indiscretions.
Glad to stumble onto your blog!
Carrie said,
August 10, 2008 at 9:42 pm:
We drink out of old glass jars. For some reason we seem to break “real” glasses, but the glass jars last forever!
Lately I’ve been using them to help “baby” plants root.
Inge said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:39 pm:
I am saving all my CLASSICO-pesto and tomato sauce jars. Both sizes have the same size lid, I just love them, they have ounce-marks in 2 sides of the jar and whem you put one on top of the other they don’t slide. Just awesome. There is cornstarch, dried herbs, raisins, dried mushrooms, candied ginger, breadcrums and so much more…. I save only glass jars with lids they have some “grip”, even the tiny ones.
[URL=http://www.bilder-hoster.net/?img=ClassicoJarsP92203467b920.jpg]The picture[/URL] shows only one side of my cubby.
The “bank” idea I like too.
Very many wonderful ideas here. Thanks
James Saunders said,
October 1, 2008 at 9:36 pm:
Does authentic “New Mexico” sand work to? i have some shells from a lake and want to use them