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| Many uses for mason jars. |
Growing up we always had access to arts and crafts and were encouraged to indulge in our creative inspiration. Unfortunately, I have not a creative bone in my body! I think my three siblings absorbed all of our parent's artistic abilities. 😕 Luckily, in this edition of The Royal View no real creativity is needed. 😉
When people buy jams, preserves, and butters at Royal Cottage, I sometimes get the question of what to do with the empty mason jars. These jars can be re-purposed in countless ways; for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, yard & patio, etc. A few ways I use leftover jars are for; makeup brushes or hair ties, storing fresh herbs and veggies (especially asparagus), money bank, drinking glass, terrarium, home decor, and craft day for the kiddos. I mean, the possibilities are endless!
My nieces and nephews love arts and crafts. It brings me so much joy to see them expressing themselves through art. One way to have some fun with the kids is to throw them a paint party. All you need; a few old jars, a large drop cloth, leftover paint and brushes/sponges, and of course... a lot of patience. 😊
When I'm trying to spruce up my bathroom and give it a little something different, I will use a couple mason jars. I have used them as a toothbrush holder, cotton ball holder, or to add a little "pop" of color. I typically will achieve this by filling the jar with clear or color marbles or with various potpourri. Tip: I sometimes blend 2-3 different potpourri scents to create a unique fragrance.
In the past I have used the larger mason jars as terrariums. The design on these will differ depending on where it will be located. So, again I will reference my bathroom decor. All you would need is a little sand, a few clear marbles or stones, and some sea shells like the ones I collect while on vacation. If you don't have authentic shells, no worries, just head over to your local market or store and grab some. Pour the sand in first, place the stones in then the sea shells. You can opt to use the lid or leave it uncovered. You will end up with a beautiful and inexpensive addition to brighten up your bathroom. Please note: if you have children in the house, you might consider leaving the lid on. Trust me, kids love sand and rocks and putting their little hands in these jars.
Lastly, mason jars have been used in my family for many years. As I mentioned above, they have longed been utilized as drinking glasses. My grandmother used them for drinking ice tea. I usually get up pretty early in the morning and sometimes will make a smoothie or protein shake before beginning my work day. I will blend the ingredients, grab a mason jar, pour, and head to my office. We have so many traditional drinking glasses in our home, but for some reason I still gravitate toward the jar. 😊
Hopefully, this post offered a few ideas of how to give your mason jars a second life. There are so many uses for these wonderful glasses, you cannot go wrong with any idea you have for them. If you have any suggestions or would like to share your own creation, please drop it in the comments below. I would love to see what you come up with!
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| My morning protein drink before starting work. |
Fun Fact about the Mason Jar
The Mason jar is named after John Landis Mason, a tinsmith, whom invented and patented the glass jar in 1858.
