Recycled baby food jars
50+ Fantastic Ways to Re-Use Baby Food Jars
Home » Crafts for kids » 50+ Creative Ways to Re-Use Baby Food Jars
Last updated on
22.6Kshares
50+ baby food jar crafts and creative ways to re-use baby food jars so you don’t have to put throw them in the trash.
If you’ve had a baby in recent years, there’s a good chance you’ve acquired quite a collection of baby food jars. Baby food jars ares so cute and chubby, and such a great size. If you’re like me, you find it hard to thrown them away. If that’s the case, your baby food jar collection could be growing at an alarming rate, and you’re probably looking for things to make with all of those jars.
Well, you’re in luck! One of my Facebook followers recently asked for ways that she could re-purpose her baby food jars, and the HH community responded with dozens of great crafts made with baby food jars along with practical ways to use baby food jars in and around the home.
I’ve gathered up their best suggestions and added a few of my own favourite uses for baby food jars, and I’ve come up with this long list of ideas for you.
From the craft room to the classroom to the bathroom and beyond, here are over 50 ways for you to use leftover baby food jars so you don’t have to toss them out.
50+ Baby Food Jar Crafts
Click on the links below to see project details.
Ways to use baby food jars in the classroom or craft room:
- Crayon Caddy: Paint several baby food jars and store co-ordinating, coloured crayons in them.
- Fill baby food jars with water, and set on the art table to rinse paint brushes in.
- Give each student in the class a baby food jar filled with cream, and make homemade butter together.
- Make a mini “ocean in a jar” in a baby food jar. Pretty on classroom window sill or fun to play with.
- Soak dried out markers in baby food jars to make liquid watercolour paint.
- Make and store homemade finger paint in baby food jars.
- Baby food jars make great paint and glue pots at the easel. Lids keep them from drying out between uses.
- Punch holes in the lids (with a nail) and use jars to store and dispense glitter.
- Make I-Spy Jars in baby food jars.
- Make collection jars for the preschool classroom.
- Fill with small amounts of water for syringe transfer work trays in preschool or kindergarten
- Paint tall baby food jars with food coloring, water and glue for a frosted look. Store pens, pencils and paintbrushes in them.
Things to make for kids with baby food jars:
- Play dough jars: fill several baby food jars with different colours of homemade play dough for a kids’ gift basket.
- Set some baby food jars out in the rain and make this scented rain paint.
- In the play kitchen: fill baby food jars with flour, rice, lentils etc. Glue the lids on, and kids can pretend-cook with them.
- Bug Jars – wrap a pipe cleaner handle around the top, and go exploring in the yard.
- Make these cute and quirky emoji jars for a kid’s dresser or desk.
- Glue painted toy animals on baby food jar lids, use as party favours.
- Fill with homemade slime or silly putty to put in loot bags.
- Make a tooth fairy jar.
- Teach kids how to manage their allowance with 3 tall baby food jars labeled SPEND, SAVE, BANK.
- Make an advent or countdown calendar.
- Fill baby food jars with layers of “coloured sand” (ground sidewalk chalk mixed with salt).
- Use baby food jars to make mini lava-lamps.
Ways to re-use baby food jars in the kitchen:
- Make magnetic spice jars to store on the refrigerator door
- Organize your spice drawer with baby food jars.
- Make Smore’s treats in baby food jars. Hand them out around the campfire or at a party.
- Make a window-sill herb garden with baby food jars.
- Fill baby food jars with condiments for camping or a bbq.
- Sterilize jars and lids, and reuse baby food jars for homemade baby food.
The serving sizes are perfect.
Gifts and party favours to make with baby food jars:
- Baby food jars make great wedding favours. Decorate and place at each table setting.
- These baby food jar lanterns were hung in a tree at an outdoor wedding.
- Make Lego Head Jars as party favours for a Lego party.
- Make mini calming jars for kids or co-workers
- Make a wish jars or dream jars for your family and friends.
- Give a gift of homemade bath salts or sugar scrub in a baby food jar.
- Make these cupcakes in a jar to give to teachers, neighbours and friends.
- Make a craft kit for a child by filling jars with pom poms, sequins, foam stickers, and beads.
- Hot Cocoa in a baby food jar: layer hot chocolate, shaved chocolate and mini marshmallows in a jar. Cover the lid with a swatch of fabric tied with a ribbon.
Other ways to use baby food jars around the home and garden:
- Store pony tail holders, Q-tips, and hair clips in baby food jars on the bathroom counter.
- Make a spill proof nail-polish remover kit with a baby food jar.
- Plant succulents in baby food jars to display on a porch or patio.
- Hang these colourful baby food luminaries from a tree in your yard.
- Baby food jars are great for storing seeds for the garden.
- Make Photo Globes by placing your child’s photo inside a baby food jar.
- Organize your spare change: each jar holds a different type of coin.
- Use baby food jars to hold paper clips, thumb tacks etc. on a desk or in a drawer in an office.
- Travel jewelry keeper for earrings and rings.
- A Mini sewing kit in a baby food jar is great for travel or the office.
- Fill baby food jars with Puffs, fishy crackers, Cheerios, nuts etc. Keep in the diaper bag for the kids.
- Nail the lids of baby food jars to the underside of a shelf to store screws, nails and craft supplies.
- Store several baby wipes in a baby food jar and keep in your purse or diaper bag.
Baby food jar Christmas crafts:
- Turn a baby food jar into a snowman Christmas tree ornament.
- Make festive holiday votive candle holders.
- Make sparkly tea light luminaries in baby food jars.
- Baby food jars make great miniature snow globes.
- Make Reindeer food for Christmas Eve.
What if you STILL have leftover baby food jars?
If you have more baby food jars than you could possibly ever use, even after reviewing all of the ideas, please consider giving your collection to a teacher, a crafter or a daycare provider. Most will be happy to put your little glass jars to good use.
Looking for more crafts to make with your recyclables? Check out:
Re-purposed Denim Craft Aprons
Re-purposed Denim Bibs
25 Creative Ways to Re-use your Keurig’s K-Cups
22 Ways to Re-Use Cardboard Tubes
Follow the Hooligans on Facebook!
Jackie Currie
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans.
She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
22.6Kshares
Reader Interactions
Recycle Baby Food Jars - Reasons To Skip The Housework
Baby food jars can accumulate by the dozen, but it seems like a huge waste to throw them all out (even if you recycle!) Here are some great ideas to recycle baby food jars and put them to use in fun and creative ways!
25 Ways to Recycle Baby Food Jars
Baby Food Jar Cakes from Make Life Lovely
Baby Food Jar Snow Globes from Craftaholics Anonymous
Washi Tape Baby Food Jars from Lovely, Etc.
Baby Food Jar Vase and Candleholder from Make Life Lovely
Fall Baby Food Jars from Creative Ramblings for Unoriginal Mom
Lego Batman Baby Food Jars from Laura’s Crafty Life
Snowman Hot Chocolate Kit from Empress of Dirt
Glitter Baby Food Jar Votives from Delicate Construction
Baby Food Jar Pumpkin Craft from SAHM Plus
Cheesecake in a Jar from Our Thrifty Ideas
Mini Jar Ornament from Lovely, Etc.
Crayon Organizer from Monkey See, Monkey Do
Baby Food Jar Party Favors from Make Life Lovely
Magnetic Spice Jars from One Lucky Pickle
Chalk Paint Spice Jars from Unsophisticook
Mini Calming Jars from One Sophisticated Daisy
Lego Head Jars from Sarah Lemp: All Things With Purpose
Photo Snowglobes from Design Mom
Baby Food Jar Advent Calendar from Teacher by Trade Mother By Nature
Magnetic Bug Jars from Yesterday on Tuesday
Blizzard in a Jar Craft from The Country Chic Cottage
BFG-inspired Dream Jars from Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty mom
Glitter Slime Monsters from The 36th Avenue for Eighteen25
Glow in the Dark Jars from A Girl and a Glue Gun
Mason Jar Nightlight from Crafts by Courtney for Mod Podge Rocks
These fun ways to Recycle Baby Food Jars are perfect to keep you and your kids busy this summer.
Which one are you dying to try first?
Like these recycling ideas? Here are some more great ways to recycle materials!
Recycle K Cups // Milk Jug Planters // Recycling Egg Cartons
26 ideas on how to use baby food jars
The child has grown up, eats with everyone at the same table, and there is no longer a need to buy baby food in jars for him. During the time while you accustomed him to various tastes, a huge amount of containers for juices and purees accumulated. Where to put jars of baby food? InterestsPortal invites you to take advantage of our ideas.
Candle holders from jars
The simplest idea that most often comes to mind is to make candle holders. Place colored sand, beautiful pebbles, decorative glass pebbles on the bottom and light tea candles.
DIY candle holders
Baby food jars can be decorated to fit any theme. In this photo, the candlestick is made in a marine style.
Paint the jar with paint. Apply colorless varnish around the bottom and, while the varnish is still wet, sprinkle sand on it. Tie the neck of the baby food jar with pretty ribbon or twine. Glue decorative glass pebbles, shells, starfish.
Vase for your interior
It is always a pleasure to keep fresh flowers in different parts of the house. You can decorate small vases with your own hands to match the style of your interior.
A group of vases for an original interior
We are used to having a bouquet of 5-7 flowers in vases. Try using several juice bottles. Put one flower in each jar, and you will get a bouquet of vases. Is it really original?
For table setting
Use the idea of table setting. Place cutlery and napkins in each bottle. If you also write the names of the guests on the jar with a permanent marker, then you will also get cards for seating guests at the table.
For bathroom utensils
Place ear buds, cotton pads and other small things that are needed for daily hygiene in glass jars and you will see the contents.
By screwing beautiful handles to the lids, you will no longer need to unscrew the lid of the jar every day - just cover it. Brilliant idea for organizing space in the bathroom.
DIY napkin holder
Paint the baby bottle your favorite color. Make a slit on the lid of the jar, twist the napkins and place inside. Pull the center napkin through the slot. Such a napkin holder can be used both for table setting and placed on an office desktop.
Lunch to go
Use the food jar as a food container. Our idea is to prepare a healthy cheesecake and put it to the children at school. Place crumbled shortbread cookies on the bottom, then curd cheese, decorate with berries from cherry jam on top. We think your kids will definitely like this dessert to take away.
Healthy food to go
It's always nice to start every morning with a healthy breakfast, like this smoothie. Can't have breakfast? Close the lid and take it with you.
Here are some more healthy smoothie recipes.
Baby food jars as glasses
Why buy wine glasses or drink glasses when you have a huge number of bottles? Pour cold lemonade into them, insert a straw and treat your friends.
Spice jars
Another idea for using baby food jars is to use them as spice containers.
Storage box for buttons, needles and threads
Organizer for all sewing accessories in one jar. Use this idea to lose nothing and find quickly.
Nails, screws, bolts container
Screw the jar lid to the bottom of the shelf in your shed. Now you don't have to look for anything, all content will be immediately visible. Why not a paradise for a perfectionist?
Garden lights
Twist the handles for the candlestick out of the wire. Place a tea candle in a jar - the lantern for your garden is ready.
Romantic garden
Do you want to create a romantic atmosphere in your garden? Hang these lanterns over your resting place.
Here are some more ideas for creating garden seating areas.
Garden Party
By combining the two previous ideas, create a blooming fragrant garden. Use bottles as vases.
Pencil holder
Colored jars are the perfect solution for storing office supplies. These glasses can hold pens, pencils, crayons, scissors and more.
Do-it-yourself small terrarium
You can make such a terrarium with your children on vacation.
More ideas on what to do with your child during the holidays read here.
New Year's decor
Preparations for the celebration of the new year always begin with decorating your home with themed decor. Glass jars provide an incredible amount of ideas.
DIY gift for the New Year
Every year we spend a lot of money buying souvenirs for loved ones. Make a New Year's gift with your own hands from a baby bottle. Place artificial snow, a spruce twig, a snowman toy, glass beads inside - an original gift is ready!
Girl's birthday
Rinse bottles that used to contain juice.
Fill them with a milkshake or other drinks for a girl's birthday party. Insert tubes. Your princess's guests will be delighted.
Boy's birthday party
Have you already decided that the boy's party will be pirate-style? Then this idea is for you. You can place these candy bottles in a candy bar, or distribute them to little guests as birthday gifts.
Healthy dessert
What's a party without dessert? Place the berries in portions in baby food jars, add curd cheese or natural yogurt. No one will refuse such a dessert.
DIY gift for Valentine's Day
It is customary to give heart-shaped sweets on Valentine's Day. Pack your gift in a glass jar and tie a crochet heart. It's so cute.
Small present for a colleague
Succulents are said to relieve static energy accumulated on the desktop. Give a colleague such a plant in a glass jar pot. Tie with a pretty ribbon.
Change box
What do you think of the change coin collection? How often do you find her at home in various places? Collect and put it in such a cute piggy bank.
In truth, a penny saves a ruble. By giving a second life to baby food jars, you save on buying accessories and items that you can easily make yourself. To do this, you just need a little time and imagination. Dare, and you will succeed!
How do I use empty baby food jars?
Are you a new mother? Then, probably, glass baby food jars appeared in your life, which the hand does not raise to throw away. There are already a lot of them in my house, so I propose to discuss how they can be useful to us.
I conducted a small survey of colleagues and friends on this topic. The results are as follows:
Lena keeps her branded adjika in jars - it is convenient to take it in such a container for a picnic, for example.
Stores dried berries for tea.
He also arranges small tasty gifts for his friends - homemade jam. Arranges in jars, decorates them and gives them.
The last idea caught my attention - I like to make homemade jam.
I took note of such a sincere gift option.
Zhenya keeps medicinal ointments in jars. Also a great option, given the odor of such drugs, as well as their small volumes.
Anya uses the jars as a sugar bowl and salt shaker on long journeys. Or for a picnic. She also keeps beads for needlework in them.
I tried to use jars for leftover canned cod liver. And this, I tell you, is extremely convenient. Open canned food should not be stored for longer than a day, and it is imperative to transfer food to a container, preferably glass. And the baby food jars are perfect! Small, hermetically sealed (which is especially important in the case of products with the smell of fish), and then it is not a pity to throw them away.
I also put paper clips in one jar. There was an open package at home, now the paper clips are neatly stored in a jar.
Inspired by the opening horizons for the second life of jars, I began to look for other ways to use them.
I searched websites and social networks. I confess, I am delighted with the fantasy of young mothers, and dads too!
How to use baby food jars
Use can caps in educational games for children:
- stick pieces of colored paper on them and arrange them in containers by color,
- stick drawings with letters on them and add syllables and words,
- make a slot in the lid of the milk formula jar (or in a box of chips, for example) and put the lids into it, like in a piggy bank,
- make a fishing rod out of a pencil, string and magnet and arrange "fishing", collecting caps.
Use cans:
- for dipping the brush while painting with watercolors,
- for seedlings of flowers or greenery,
- as small vases for small wildflowers,
- for storing spices,
- as a home air fragrance: put a piece of cotton wool into a jar and moisten the cotton wool with a drop of perfume or essential oil. If you decorate a jar - it’s not a shame to replace the sachet and put it in a prominent place in the house,
- for needlewomen - to store small items such as buttons, beads, etc. in jars,
- use as a portion dish in candy bars that are so popular now at children's parties,
- colorize and turn the jar into a candlestick by putting a pill candle into it,
I found candle-tablets. It's a sin not to try, I decided. I’m not friends with paints yet, I found a satin ribbon. Half a minute to tie it, and voila! Modest, but also an option.
But finally I was subdued by such decor of the can.
Using a jar as a photo frame is original, isn't it?
And also, I think, it may even be interesting not to search for the use of jars or lids, but the process of decorating itself. Space for imagination, yours and your child!
How to decorate jars
• Spray paint or decorate with acrylic or stained glass paint,
• Paste over the jar with double-sided tape and roll in sequins or beads,
• Use the decoupage technique (stick a beautiful napkin with a pattern on the jar), since there is an abundance of materials for needlework on sale now,
• Stick lace, ribbons, fabric on the jar,
• Paste clippings from magazines or newspapers - looks very interesting.
