About two months ago, Berkeley got its very own 99 Cents Store. On opening day, curiosity got the better of us and we strolled through the aisles (did you know that they often carry Earthbound Farm Organic produce?).
The only thing we saw that inspired any excitement, were these green Ball Mason Jars with super-sealing lids. We bought one of these in a thrift store years ago, and had been looking for a few more ever since.
Now we have three more and they're just sitting on top of the refrigerator. We're trying to come up with an interesting way to use them. Mason jars like these are obviously great for storing dry bulk food items like lentils, rice, or pasta. However, we bought these because we think they're beautiful. So we want them on display. Using them as a vase seems obvious, but we're hoping to get a bit more creative.
What would you use these for in your home?
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they are great for storing dry bulk food items AND on display. I keep my better looking storage containers (basically the same in white) on the counter in the kitchen, so you get the best of both world.
those are purdy.
view amt230's profile
Fill them with snacks items and keep them on your coffee table or desk. Fill them with christmas lights or candles and make them ambient light jars.
view jaucoin's profile
I have some apothecary bottles I use for display, and partially fill them with dried flower buds or petals. I leave them on a windowsill and change them when the colors bleach out too much. I have another one I keep meaning to dump all of my spare buttons in.
view mAlice's profile
It might be a bit too country, but my mother made lamps out of these. She filled them with buttons, old wooden spools of thread, etc., then got a lamp kit and, well, turned it into a lamp.
I'll bet there's a way to do this without having it look like my mother's house in 1980's Idaho.
Maybe as a lantern instead?
view sjbreeze's profile
Preserved lemons! If they were clear I'd say make a terrarium out of them. Small-pet food.
I might have to track this place down and see if I can get some like that.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
i use these to store cat and dog treats! Although they are too small for the whole thing of foods, they are the perfect size for treats.
As i get more i plan on keeping cereal and dry goods like rice and pasta in them
view dosergirl's profile
How cool - A bloggy friend just emailed me your post because, coincidentally, I just posted a pic on my blog today of what I did w/ my mason jars. Mine are on display in my bathroom with odds & ends. http://kelliebrown.blogspot.com/2008/08/design-on-dime-bathroom-edition.html
view Greenhab's profile
I'd use them to infuse vodka.
view thepeopleseason's profile
Make lamps, welcoming present, pickling, and yes.... infuse vodka (i like it with chili, citrus zests, or dill).
view callbob's profile
They are great for gifting stuff like pistachios or m&m's, and I use regular canning jars for iced tea. Just use the metal top for a template to cut a plastic top from a CoolWhip lid or similar plastic, and punch a hole for a straw. Then the plastic lid and the metal rim keep your tea or water bug free while the glass jar keeps the chemicals out of your drinking stuff.
view lucythesplainer's profile
we save the mason jars from store-bought pasta sauce (and get new lids) and keep bulk items (nuts, raisins, rice) in them... they work well.
view redneckmodern's profile
I have a few of these that I use in the bathroom to store cotton balls, hair ties, and the like.
view califmom's profile
I was lucky enough to have grandparents and great aunts who kept many of these. I use the smaller blue pint jars to hold pencils on my desk. They look great. The wire lid jars make great vases. I can't seem to get enough of these.
view esmithproductions's profile
These beautiful jars are perfect for homemade lacto-fermented veggies such as sauerkraut and kimchee. Especially to use as a gift!
view jeanmarie's profile