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.)