Welcome to the post in which I encourage you to buy packages of high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and food coloring. Brace yourself – there are no vegetables mentioned, nor do I offer suggestions for using whole wheat flour or coconut oil. Once you see the idea, you’re sure to understand and know full well why frozen peas just wouldn’t cut it for this project. ;)
It is no secret that I love jars. I have cabinets full of jars, I store my leftovers in jars, I preserve a lot of produce in jars.
Knowing of my jar obsession, Teresa emailed me the fun idea of using jars full of candy as a way to package gift certificates. I loved the idea and was very excited to finally make use of it last week at a baby shower I helped host.
Several friends pitched in money for the mother-to-be. I used the money to buy a gift certificate, then filled a pint jar with brightly colored Tropical Skittles. (Yes, you should have heard my boys when they were unloading my shopping bags.)
I stuck the gift certificate down inside the candy, put on a lid, tied a bow around the jar and had a lovely gift ready to present to my friend.
I think this would be fun to do at Christmas time with red and green M&Ms or for a graduation gift using candy that matches the graduate’s school colors.
In case you’re wondering, one 14-ounce bag of skittles was exactly the right amount needed to fill a pint sized jar (with a few leftover to give eager children who may or may not be standing by watching you fill the jar).
What kinds of fun ways to you use jars?
(And by the way, aren’t you proud of me for giving away one of my beloved jars at this baby shower? I didn’t even ask my friend to give it back to me when she was finished with it. I almost did, but stopped myself just in time, so as not to appear obsessed. Shocking.)
this is a realy cute idea! and a great way to use those jars with chips in the rim!
I store buttons in jars and use them as fun decorations. I use my grandmother’s button collection and some of her old Ball jars.
I have beautiful, special rocks that we’ve collected from the North Shore of Lake Superior in a pint jar on my kitchen shelf. To make them look more interesting, I filled the jar with water. The rocks look great, but I don’t take the lid off very often because it doesn’t smell nice. :-)
What a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that? Thanks for the wonderful suggestion.
That is a really fun idea….I love it for Christmas time filled with red and green kisses! ;) yum.
I am so glad I am not the only person who asks for the jars back! I love my jars–cannot stand to give them away! I do offer more jams and jellies if they return them!
Love your blog!
Blessings,
Lisa
I love my jars as well, but I might be willing to part with them for making up such a cute gift. We give teachers a $5-10 gift card at the end of each school year, and I think this would be a great way to dress up the gift!
Cute idea! As I was reading this post, I thought “Did she really give a jar away?” :) I have trouble parting with mine as well.
Great idea! I was shocked by the skittles :) I, too, have a hard time parting with my jars. When I feel I *must* part with one, it’s carefully selected because I have my favorites.
Silly question, I know…but is there something on the gift to let the recipient know there is a gift card, or do you just let them think they are getting a jar of candy?
Very cute idea!
I was wondering the same thing! :)
Me, too! I can just see somebody setting it on a shelf because it’s pretty and never eating down to the card.
LOVE this idea! I usually give our boys an iTunes card for Christmas – this would be such a fun way to package it.
I LOVE this idea! We have an Eagle Scout Court of Honor this weekend and I was wondering what gift to give the young man. Thanks for sharing!
This is a great idea. I’m reluctant to give gift cards. My theory is, if we’re all going to give gift cards, then let’s just sit in a circle, everyone take out $30 and pass it to the person on your left ‘cuz that’s essentially what we’re doing.
But I like the idea of putting the gift card inside something – like a treat filled jar. That way, you’re still putting in some effort, making it pretty, and making it personal or on-theme. Great idea and so simple!!
You just summed up Christmas in our family. I actually suggested, “How about we just go out to dinner in your name? And you go out to dinner in our name? I have actually gotten gift cards for restaurants that are not in our town. I’m not driving an hour to go to Red Lobster! I’m making jam for everyone this year.
I love it…and will use it for a shower gift next month!! thanks!
I think that’s a great idea…I save old jars from other products (a good use for the coconut oil jars!) and then those could be used rather than the good canning jars.
I save all my jars, too. It’s rather an obsession. Last month, for my mom’s surprise 70th birthday party, I made jute-jar vases for centerpieces, using spaghetti sauce jars. Since I save ALL jars, I had enough to make them all the same. Last fall I made apple butter and canned in recycled jars-there is still a “pop” left in most tops, and if they don’t pop-just refrigerate and use!
This is an awesome idea!
Easy, I like that!
I search all year long at my local thrift store for unique jars. Then I take them to the candle shop. You can choose your own scent and have them filled for a few pennies per ounce. I then give them as Christmas presents.
I’d have to put the gift card in a baggie…or have wrapped candy. I don’t like the thought of a potentially germy card messing about with my food!
I was thinking the same thing! This is why I don’t want lemons in my water at a restaurant.
I feel the same about lemons! :)
The red and white mints would be pretty. Hmmm, I can’t wait to walk
down the candy aisle, maybe I’ll choose a variety so I can give different
ones.
I was just going to say make sure you wash those cards first. I work retail and I know where those things have been YUCK!!!!
oh but I Love the idea jars are like the best thing ever next to gingham, grosgrain ribbion and poka dots.
This is a great idea for this Christmas because they will no longer recycle glass in our town!! I like the Hershey Kisses idea. That way they are wrapped.
The gift card could be washed and dried real good. Cute ideas with any kind of candy. I sure have enjoyed putting 10x sugar, raisins, coconut sugar, dried coconut ,etc. in jars since I read Laura’s post.
I love seeing other jar obsessed people! Hmm, what do I use my jars for? About everything. Mine are mainly storage solutions but I LOVE these great ideas- the gift card and the centerpieces. Thanks!
I am absolutely using this for our MOPS speaker gifts! Love! I don’t even have to give my jars away, I get to use MOPS money to buy new ones, yahoo!
I’m using this for a kids bday party tomorrow. My friend and I are going in on it and
adding balloons to the lid. So cute!
I also have 2 bottles of Vodka brewing vanilla beans in my closet for Christmas.
That was so very exciting to make!!
Thanks so much for all the wonderful, fun, unique ideas!!!!
This post made me laugh! I thought of myself, my sister thinks I’m suck a weirdo because I love baking EVERYTHING with whole wheat flour and talk about it all the time. So I LOVED your preface.
I love parties and I love party favors~my friends laugh at me because no one comes to my house without leaving with a little ‘something’–my nieces sell gift cards as fundraisers at their school! And I have dozens of canning jars in the garage–a win, win situation!
I love this idea. I like creative ideas for giving my in-laws they are hard to buy for and I like making it fun. This year she put our gift cards in a puzzle. I have to one up her so I am starting early on ideas for her birthday.