Mason Jar Mania!

When John Landis Mason was granted a patent in 1858 for the canning jar that bears his name, I am sure he could never have imagined 2012 and the creative ways in which we use those glass jars.

What Southern woman doesn't have boxes of canning jars in her basement or attic?  Some are older than we are as they were handed down from our grandmothers.  That simple jar that generations of women have used to put away jams and jellies, pickles and preserves, and everything in between.  But my oh my, it is not just for canning anymore!

 The photo  is taken from Country Living where a jar has been turned into a soap dispenser.  The pump shown is available at www.onedreamdesign.com for about 3.75.  You could find other pumps on the web.  How cute is this!

So let's think of other ways to use the Mason jar - since it so easily available and inexpensive.

1.  Picnic in the Park 

•  use a Mason jar and screw on lid to hold your individual servings of salad, slaw, fresh fruit, etc.  Or use it for your homemade salad dressing.

 2.  Party on the Patio 

•  use quart jars for silverware holders on a buffet.  One for each utensil.  
• fill pint jars with water (colored to match your decor if you wish) and float candles in the jars.  Sit around the patio or line your dining table.
• fill pint and quart jars with sand about 1/3 to 1/2 up and add a candle in each one 
• use bendable copper wire or other wire to wrap the threads of the jar and make hanging lanterns for your trees or hang from shepherds hooks
• Serve your beverage in pint jars - what is more Southern than sweet tea in a Mason jar!  Especially great now that you can purchase jars with handles.
• Make Mason jars your centerpiece holder - fresh cut flowers in a jar are the perfect summer accent.

3.  Dirt in a Jar

• Who hasn't made "Dirt" for dessert!  Kids love it.  So why not take it to the next level and before filling individual jars with pudding and crushed oreos place your gummy worms and bugs in the bottom of your jars and then slide some extras down the inside of the jar after filling with pudding.  Great visual presentation.  You can even use the screw on lids to transport each dessert to the party or stack them in your refrigerator or cooler until ready to serve.

4.  Cookie in a Jar

• When gifting your favorite cookie recipe to a friend or teacher.  Why not use a quart jar and fill it with the dry ingredients for the recipe.  Attach the recipe on a cute card with ribbon around the neck of the jar.  Not just for Christmas.  Think end of year gifts and give a recipe for lemon cookies or key lime coolers. 

5.  Bird Feeder

• Using a pint or quart jar upside down and screwed into a chicken feeder (available at any hardware store or feed store and on ebay - galvanized mason jar feeder base).   It is that simple.  You fill your jar with birdseed before screwing on the top and then turn over and sit out for the birds.  Or use it in your house for your own "little birdies".  Fill the jar with jelly beans, hard candy, pastel m&ms for the spring and summer and in the fall - of course, candy corn.  You can let them decorate the jar with season clings or stickers!

6.  In the Home

• Use a jar and lid to store everything from paper clips and rubber bands in the office to crackers and snacks in the kitchen pantry.
• In the garage make them part of your organization system to hold screws. 
• Purchase a light adapter and make a lamp from the mason jar - fill a quart jar with buttons, wine corks, clothes pins, marbles, dog treats, small toys.  You get the idea.  Whatever fits your decor and mood.  Then just add a shade.
• Purchase a pendant light kit and make a hole large enough to thread the cord through the lid of the jar and use a small bulb in the jar.  Hang as any pendant light or bunch several together for a chandelier effect. 
• Fill your jar with your dogs favorite treats.

Now I come to the best part - Weddings!  These days the Mason jar is just as at home at these affairs as it is in a farmhouse kitchen.  You can refer back to numbers 1-4 and think wedding and then add these ideas.

• Fill a jelly sized jar with personalized candy in your colors as favors.  Before the wedding date you can spray paint the lids to the jar in and add your initial to the top.
• Plant a flower or herb in a pint jar and tie a tag with your names on the jar.  These can be used as part of your table centerpieces and then go home with guests.  Lavender, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Pineapple Sage would smell wonderful!
• Fill quart jars with bread sticks on each table
• Spray paint jars with silver paint for a special touch
• Spray jars from the inside with neon colors or wedding colors and use as path markers with candles inside
• Hang jars filled with flowers from each row of chairs down the aisle
• Personalize the jars with bride and groom initials 

As you can see, I have just scraped the surface.  The use for the Mason jar is limited only by your imagination.  I would love to hear from you and some ideas I have not mentioned.   Take out those crates of jars and use them!  If you run out of ideas you can always use them to make jelly!

Happy Creating!