You know how you buy jelly or jam in the little half-pint jars? Many people throw them away, but I have five great uses for them that keep them out of the garbage and the recycling bin.
Pen/Pencil Holder
Everybody knows this trick, but it bears keeping in mind. I like to use the smaller jars for this rather than the taller thinner ones because it makes the pens or pencils more accessible. Now, if you're into the arts and crafts side of things it's easy to decorate up your jar. Take a piece of paper exactly the width of the main part of the jar and draw designs on it. It's a great way to spend time with your kids having them design neat things to put in the pen/pencil jar. If you like working on the computer, make a design there the same width as the main part of the jar, print it out roll it up and put it inside the jar. It works great! A ribbon tied around the upper part of the jar looks nice too.
On the go, Cheerio!
My little guy loves to take the lids off and put the lids on things. He also loves Cheerios. So, if we are in an environment where he can't break a glass jar (playtime on the carpet, watching educational TV or in the car) I give him a small half pint jar of Cheerios. Make sure that the jar is very clean and very dry, and then just add your little ones favorite cereal. Screw on the lid and now you have the ultimate item. A two in one; toy and healthful snack.
Piggy Bank
One of the things that parents need to do more is teach our children to save money. A very good way to do this is to have a piggy bank. When we go on our walks, once in a while my little guy will find a coin. Sometimes, he'll pick up a coin that his mother or I have left lying around. He's too little to play with them, so what is a parent to do? Well, take your jelly jar, clean it out thoroughly and cut a slot in the lid. Hey, presto, instant piggy bank. Now, you must use caution when cutting the slot in the lid and you also should be very careful to make sure that the lid can't come off. I have had a great deal of success with hot gluing the threads on the jar right before I put on the lid. It's strong enough to keep my son out of the bank, but not so strong that I can't break the glue later.
Candle Jar
This isn't a particularly original idea, to put a candle in a jar, but I believe this is a fairly original application. My wife loves candles. But, after a time the candles just don't work right. The wick has burned down too far or the wax isn't in a good configuration for melting or some other thing. We used to just throw them out. But, that was before I came up with melting them all together and putting them in a used jelly jar.
Clean out the jar and set it aside to dry. You can buy wicks in a hobby store or you can make them yourself, but I would suggest buying them. Melt the wax in an old pot that you have specifically for this purpose. I bought one at a garage sale. Suspend the wick over the lip of the jar. Tie it to whatever you use (I use a pencil with hexagonal sides) directly in the center of the jar. Pour the melted wax (very carefully) into the jar. Be very careful at this point because it is possible that the glass will break. I've only had it happen once, but it is best if the glass is slightly warm as well. Set it aside to cool, trim the wick about a half inch above the level of the wax and you have a brand new candle.
Salt and Pepper, Anyone?
Another good use is to poke several holes in the lids of the jars and use them as salt and pepper shakers. Because the glass is clear it is easy to see what you're getting, salt or pepper. I like to use different colors of pepper corns and grind my own pepper which gives the pepper a little character. Why spend $3 to $5 dollars on a salt and pepper shaker when you have them already? They work great for camping trips (have a couple of spare lids on hand without holes and now you're ready to travel), outside events and anywhere else you need salt and pepper on the go.
I hope that you find this useful and try your best to reuse and recycle. The more things we can keep out of the landfills the better.
