Bottles, Jars, and Glass Containers — Oh, My!

When we think of plastic and glass bottles and jars, we usually think “recycling”, but you need not toss them quite yet! Have you ever considered how much money you have spent on storage containers? Or how about decorations for your home? Or presents and gifts that you have given to loved ones over the years? Not only do bottles and jars lend these opportunities to you, but they also allow you to show off your creative talents for little money!

Storage Space

Got paper clips and pens cluttering your office? Using small and taller jars will easily help you organize your office. For those who love crafts and have tons of small craft beads, sparkles, googley eyes and any other small pieces, glass bottles and jars are a perfect way to keep all that stuff in order. Being able to see what’s actually in the bottle or jar saves you the bothersome task of labeling.

I have used glass jars in my kitchen for holding large cooking spoons and spatulas, and even use them to hold pasta (which doubles as a kitchen decoration!). If you make your own jams, jellies, sauces, or cleaning products, reusing these bottles, jars and glass containers for these reasons is definitely a given.

If you’re a gardener, using these jars to store your seeds is a great way to keep organized and to keep your seeds fresh. These jars can also be used to grow any size of plant, from small herbs on the windowsill to large flowers in the yard. Nails, nuts and bolts, and even elastic bands can be easily stored in glass containers, bottles and jars too!

Home Décor

One of the first things I did with one of my glass jars was turn it into a potpourri holder. I tinted the glass jar with a color paint that went with the room’s color scheme. I not only saved myself money, but I also saved a lot of time I would have otherwise spent wandering in and out of stores, trying to find the “right” potpourri holder!

Another fun thing to do is to dry full flowers and different foliage. Once it is dry, organize them in a unique way in the glass jar. You will forever have an “art nouveau” piece and a bit of nature in your home, made by you.

Taking different colored sands and adding it into the jar in a different pattern is another great way to spruce up a room. My son absolutely loves his blue and yellow sand swirl jar (I also threw some sparkles in there to make it extra special). You can do something similar with different colored beans and peas for a kitchen decoration.

Feel free to use suitable jars as vases, too!

Gifts

Most of us run out to the stores and spend hours scouring for that “perfect gift” when a birthday or special occasion comes about, even though the perfect gift is something that can fit into a glass jar you have at home. Here are some great do-it-yourself gift ideas that can fit into any container:

• Potpourri Jar (add ribbon or a swatch of material to the lid to make it extra special)
• Candle Holder
• Homemade Cocoa Powder
• Homemade Tea Recipe
• Homemade Moisturizer
• Body Glitter
• Flower Jar
• Personalized Time Capsule
• Homemade Jams, Jellies, Sauces, Pickled Foods, even Brownies!

So before you go out to your recycling bin with an armload of plastic and glass containers, stop and consider how you can use them in the future. You’ll be surprised just how many things you come up with!

photo by Alaa Hamed