Snowmen out of baby food jars
50+ Fantastic Ways to Re-Use Baby Food Jars
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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
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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.
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Amazing Baby Food Jar Crafts
Published Last Updated / By Sarah Leave a Comment
Have a bunch of baby food jars that you want to repurpose? We’ve looked all over to find the best baby food jar crafts so you can reuse the jars to make fun and beautiful things!
If you have babies or toddlers, you are probably going through a lot of jars of baby food! Maybe you have so many that you can start your own baby food company! Instead of throwing them out, why not make things with them? Since we are always looking for new crafts to make, we decided to look for all the best baby food jar crafts!
Our Easy Bath Paint for Kids fits perfectly into little jars, and DIY Candles is one of our favorite crafts we’ve done recently.
Check out our crafts page for more inspiration!
Tips for Making Baby Food Jar Crafts
- When using glass jars, make sure you clean out the jar and lid thoroughly.
- Glass jars can be used in the oven if making a mini cake or pies in a jar just make sure you remove the labels.
- Do not, however, put jars in the freezer, they may burst.
Baby Food Jar Crafts
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Vases for Flowers
Photo by Beth Liebetrau for Apples & Onions
I love this set of paint dipped jars from Apples & Onions! They are the perfect little vases for those white tulips.
Try making a Wood Vase and Candle holder like Make Life Lovely did! It’s totally gorgeous.
Plant some kitchen herbs in your jars! Herbs look beautiful on kitchen counter and you’ll never have to run to the store for some fresh rosemary or mint!
Baby food jars can also be used for Planting Wheat Berries – I love this idea from See Jane Blog!
Party Favors
- My kids would go crazy for this Unicorn Slime by the Best Ideas for Kids
- How cute are these DIY Bubble Party Favors from Chickabug
- Crafts by Courtney made these perfect Minion Party Favors
- Butterfly Sippers by Stay-at-Home-ista are perfect for a birthday party and you could personalize them to any party theme!
Desserts in Jars
- We adore these Mini Cheesecakes.
They look elegant but they are so easy to make! - Gimme Some Oven shared these Mini Fruit Crisps and I can’t think of a more perfect summer party dessert!
- Make some Homemade Pumpkin Butter and give it to friends (or keep it all for yourself, I won’t tell!)
- I love these no-bake Mini Grasshopper Pies from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
I love the idea of having Yogurt Parfaits in mini jars like they did over at Hilldale House. They would be perfect for a baby shower or a brunch party. We recommend having a Yogurt Toppings Bar to go along with little jars of yogurt!
As I mentioned you can bake with these jars, just remove the labels so it doesn’t burn. I love these Rainbow Mini Cakes by Make Life Lovely!
Organizing with Baby Food Jars
These mini pin cushions are from Seasoned Homemaker adorable.
Perfect use for your baby food jars AND fabric scraps!
This under the shelf storage from Craftiness is Not Optional is, well, crafty! I love to see ways to use space that would otherwise be wasted.
This color coded crayon organizer from Monkey See, Monkey Do is awesome!
More Useful Things
- These Gel Air Fresheners by Dream a Little Bigger are so cool! I had never thought of making my own.
- I love this Nail Polish Remover Jar by the genius One Good Thing by Jillee
- How cute are these Picture Magnets by Oh How Crafty
- These Mason Jar Oil Lamps from A Piece of Rainbow are gorgeous and you could totally make miniature versions with baby jars!
Kids Bath Paint
Easy three ingredient bath paints you can DIY in a few minutes.
Kids and toddlers will have a blast painting during bath time and they'll even get clean in the process!
SEE THE POST
Mini jars are the perfect size to make bath paint in and the best way to store it, too!
Holiday Crafts
These Halloween Pumpkin Jars from Make It – Love It are absolutely adorable. They can be decor or hold treats in them!
Valentines
I am impressed by these Turtle-y Awesome Valentines at Consumer Crafts. Clever and fun!
These Lego Valentines in Jars are genius. This idea could carry over for other holidays too! They’d make great Christmas gifts for friends or even be great for Easter!
Love these simple Valentines from So Festive!
Easter
We love these Easter Candy Jars by our friend Amber at Crazy Little Projects
These colorful Topiaries with Jelly Beans in them from Sugar Tot Designs make a fun decoration or Easter gift!
And these Bunny Jars from Making Life Lovely are so cute! All you need is paint and some white felt.
Baby Food Jar Christmas Crafts
Baby food jars are perfect for Christmas crafting because they are the perfect small size for DIY gifts! Try making some Christmas neighbor gifts or DIY ornaments with your little jars!
DIY Candles
How to make DIY candles in baby food jars with soy wax and essential oils. These candles make great Christmas neighbor gifts or party favors!
SEE THE POST
Making your own candles is easier than you think. We love these for neighbor gifts!
This Cranberry Body Scrub gift idea from Alicia Costa is so smart and I imagine it smells really good! I have this on my list of baby food jar Christmas crafts for this year. Watch the full tutorial on Youtube.
My kids would love decorating these Christmas Treat Jars from Amber at Crazy Little Projects.
These easy Mason Jar Lid Ornaments from Salvage Sister could easily be made with baby food lids!
This Luminary Advent Calendar from our friend Taryn Whitaker Designs is ALL THAT.
So classy and creative!
This snow globe made out of a jar by Craftaholics Anonymous is so awesome! You could make a bunch of these and give them out as neighbor gifts.
Upcycled Home Decor
I cannot get over this Chandelier by Mother Earth Living.
Or make these Dyed Glass Luminaries from Inspired by Familia – how great would they be out on the patio for summer?
How creative are these Foam Lighthouses from Crafts by Courtney? They would be perfect in a beach house or if you have a nautical vibe going on in your home decor!
That’s it! All of these crafts are really clever. I’m feeling very inspired. You will probably be seeing more baby food jar crafts here at Pretty Providence. Happy eating to babies everywhere!
Pro Tips
- When cleaning out the jars, make sure you remove the baby food labels while they’re wet.
It’s much easier to remove then. - Glass jars can be put in the oven, just make sure the labels are already removed.
- Do not put jars in the freezer, glass can break when frozen.
- Acrylic paint works best when painting glass.
Which baby food jar crafts are your favorite? If you make one, share your creations by tagging us on Instagram!
This post was originally published in August 2013 and has been updated with new ideas, photos, a video and more detailed information.
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DIY crafts from jars :: Infoniak
15 Oct, 2015 02:40 59604 Crafts
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Useful Tips
If you still have small jars of jam, baby food or something else, you should not put them in the pantry and even more so throw them away.
Of course, you can store something in such jars - spices, tea, coffee - and you can make interesting crafts out of them, and involve children in creative work.
Here are some interesting crafts you can make from regular jars:
DIY flower pots and vases
Small jars can be used to make beautiful flower pots .
You can also make a flower vase. These buttercups were almost in bloom, so they decided to cut them off and put in the decorated water jar .
If wrap them with pretty paper , tie a string and add wish tag , then you can create a beautiful gift or bonus to the main gift .
See also: 20 easiest crafts for everyone
Vases from glass jars for the holiday
You will need:
- acrylic paint
- water
- flowers.
1. Pour some paint into the can.
2. Start turning the can a little so that the paint "draws" waves inside the can.
3. Lay the jars on their side and leave to dry overnight. Then turn the jars upside down and leave for a couple more hours for the jar to dry at the bottom.
* Different inks or inks of similar shades can be used.
* If you use a brush, you can draw patterns.
See also: DIY crafts for the home
Glass jar crafts: handy nail polish remover
You will need:
sponge
nail polish remover.
How to make a snow globe out of a glass jar
You will need:
- small jars with screw caps
- small artificial trees (maybe toys)
- degreaser (if necessary)
- spray paint or acrylic paint (optional)
- glycerin superglue
-05
- glitter
1.
Remove the label and wipe the jar with a degreaser. If there is no label on the jar, then just skip this step.
2. If desired, you can paint the lid of the jar in any color.
3. Apply a little superglue to the inside of the jar lid and to the bottom of the faux wood.
4. Leave to dry for 24 hours, then pour 1 teaspoon of glitter into a jar and fill with water, adding 5 drops of glycerin.
5. Close the lid tightly and turn the jar over (so that the tree is in the correct position).
Done!
See also: How to make a vase with your own hands
Beautiful pumpkin jars
You will need:
- acrylic paint
- glitter paint
- brushes.
1. Start painting the jars. It will take 2-3 coats of paint. If the theme is "Autumn" or "Halloween", then you can use orange paint (under the pumpkin).
2. When the paint is dry, apply a coat of glitter paint on top.
3. You can draw eyes and mouth on the jar with a brush and black paint.
* Fill the jar with sweets and you're done!
Jar craft: wax crayon organizer
You will need:
- round tray
- small jars
- spray paint (optional)
- glue (for glass or superglue)
- masking tape
- acrylic paint in different colors.
1. Put all the jars on the tray to see how much you can fit on it. Mark where each jar will be with a piece of masking tape.
2. If desired, you can paint the tray (directly with pieces of masking tape). To better paint it with spray paint, place the tray in a box (it will protect from the wind). It's best to paint outside.
3. Choose an acrylic paint for each jar.
You only need to paint the inside of each jar.
To make it easier to paint the inside of the jar, you need to pour some paint inside, add a little water, close the lid and start turning the jar over so that all the paint spreads along the inner walls.
4. Turn the colored jars upside down (remove the lids) and place on a newspaper or paper towel to dry for about 1 hour.
5. Then turn each can on its side and begin to twist it so that the paint is evenly distributed along the sides of the can. The paint will need at least a day or even two days to dry.
6. Remove the masking tape from the tray, apply glue in its place and place a jar on each mark with glue.
The crayons, pencils and/or markers can now be sorted by color.
Chocolate snowmen in glass jars with screw cap
For one snowman you will need:
- 3 small clean jars (without labels) with screw caps
- hot chocolate
- small marshmallows optional)
- small twigs
- felt or a small piece of fabric (for a snowman scarf)
- embroidery thread
- decorations (in this example, star-shaped stickers)
- polymer clay (for nose) or plasticine
- small lollipops (for buttons and hats)
- little Santa Claus hat
- glass marker
- superglue or glue gun with hot glue
- secateurs or scissors (to cut off small branches).
1. Fill one jar with marshmallows, another with chocolate or cocoa powder, and a third with small candies. Close covers.
2. Glue to the jar, which will act as the snowman's head, eyes and nose. You can use chocolate chips with icing, felt (brown and white for pupils) and superglue, polymer clay, plasticine, marker or acrylic paint - there are many options.
3. Use glue to attach small branches to the jar in the middle, which will act as the snowman's arms.
4. Glue one jar to another.
5. Cut out a scarf and gloves for the snowman from the felt.
5.1. Wrap the scarf around the snowman and secure with glue.
5.2. Take a small piece of embroidery thread and glue one mitten to each end. Hang the mittens on the snowman and secure them with glue.
6. You can add various decorations to the snowman: stars, stickers, glue pieces of felt, small hats, etc.
Crafts from cans: minions
You will need:
- small jars
- yellow paint
- toy eyes (they can also be made from plasticine or super marker or paints)
- draw on 9005 hot glue and cardboard 9006 glue.
1. Paint the jars yellow. You will need to apply 2-3 coats of paint.
2. After the paint has dried, cut a thin strip of black cardboard and glue it just above the middle of the jar, where the minion's eyes will be.
3. Glue the toy eyes onto the black stripe, or you can use plasticine instead of plastic eyes.
4. Draw a smile with a marker or acrylics and you're done!
Other bottles can be decorated in a similar way, but colored paper can be used instead of paint:
Decoration of glass jars for a house or cottage: candles on a branch
You will need:
- a large branch and a pot or tree in the garden
- decorative stones (you can try ordinary small stones)
- wire
- wire cutters
- small jars
- small candles (church) or artificial (battery operated).
1. Wrap one piece of wire around the neck of each jar. Leave more wire on the sides so that you can twist it and make loops for the future handle (see image).
2. Take another piece of wire and attach it to the loops of the first wire. This will make a handle so you can hang your lamp. Cut off the excess parts with pliers.
3. Pour some decorative stones into the jar.
4. Place your candles on the pebbles in the jar.
Now you can hang up your crafts and light the candles.
Author: Filipenko D.S.
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26 ideas how to use baby food jars
The child has grown up, eats with everyone at the same table, and there is no 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 nice to have 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 accessories
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 your favorite baby bottle 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 container for buttons, needles and threads
Organizer for all your 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 stationery. These glasses can hold pens, pencils, crayons, scissors and more.
Small do-it-yourself terrarium
Together with your children on vacation, you can make such a terrarium.
For more ideas on what to do with your child during the holidays, read here.
New Year's decor
Preparing for the celebration of the new year always starts 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.
