Home DIY DIY Gifts in Mason Jars

DIY Gifts in Mason Jars

From yummy candy for the kids to little bottles of cologne for the menfolk, the mason jar provides room for many trinkets, baubles and a whole lot of fun. This low-budget alternative to wrapping paper and gift bags can be customized for that personal and unique touch.

Mason jars are the new craze and these elegant jars are a great way to customize innovative gifts for friends and loved ones.

1. The mason jar photo frame

  • Place the desired photo in the jar, with the picture facing the outside. If the photo does not cover the entire circumference of the jar, add a message best suited to the theme to cover the area that is free.
  • Tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar.

2. Tea light holders

DIY tea light holder.

 Add a tea light/scented candle in a colored mason Jar.

3. Edible gifts in a mason jar

 a. Homemade choco chip cookies dry mix

Cookies dry mix in Mason jar.

  • Add the required dry ingredients in a jar layer by layer. This makes it a lovely gift as well as a treat for the eyes.
  • You can also make the cookies and place them in the jar instead of the DIY dry cookie ingredients.

Ingredients

           Dry

  • Flour – 1 ¾ cup
  • Baking soda – ½ tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp
  • Chocolate chips (dark, milk, white or all three) – 1 ½ cup
  • brown sugar – ½ cup
  • White sugar – ½ cup, powdered/granulated
  • Roasted nuts/cranberries – ½ cup (optional)

           Wet

  • Butter – ¾ cup, melted
  • Egg – 1, lightly beaten
  • Vanilla extract/essence – 1 tsp

Method

  • Before layering, sift the flour together with the baking soda and salt. With a whisk, mix the flour mix.
  • Add flour mix to a 1-liter capacity jar.
  • After the flour mix, add the chocolate chip and nuts, if using, followed by the brown sugar and then the white sugar.
  • If you are using the nuts, you should have 5 distinct layers.
  • To the mason jar, add a card with the recipe below on it.

For the cookie dough

  1. Mix the wet ingredients, melted butter, egg and vanilla, with the dry ingredients.
  2. Mix well.
  3. Add a tablespoon of the dough to a baking parchment on a tray.
  4. In an oven, heated to 190 degrees C, bake for 10-12 minutes till the cookies are golden brown.

Tips

  • The cookies can be the treat in the jars if you do not wish to give just the ingredients in a jar.
  • Make sure the recipe card is small yet legible.

b. Sweet treats

Candies in mason jar.

  • Layer a mason jar with different colored candy like jelly beans, chocolate balls, gummy bears, sugar-coated chocolate, like M&Ms or Gems, and so on.
  • Ensure the layers do not merge and make sure to alternate between dark and brightly colored candy.

c. Trifle pudding jars

Trifle pudding in a jar.

  • For this treat, you will need homemade custard, whipped cream, strawberry jelly, cake crumbs/cubes, nuts and mixed fruit (canned).
  • Start the layering with the cake at the bottom, followed by the mixed fruit and then the custard.
  • Add another even layer of cake crumbs and then add the jelly and the whipped cream individually.
  • Top with toasted nuts.
  • Ensure you inform the person receiving this gift to refrigerate the pudding till ready to consume.

d. Jar full o’ nuts

Jar full of nuts.

  • Add layers of nuts and dry fruits to the jar

4. Beauty in a jar

a. Manicure fun in a jar

 

  • For this fun gift, add manicure tools, like a nail cutter, nail file, etc.
  • Nail polish, nail polish remover swabs, finger/toe separators, fake nails, nail glitter, etc.
  • Try and add colorful items or items in a particular color, like pink and so on.

b. Beauty care kit

 

  • Add items like mini bottles of moisturizers, face scrubs, lip balm/lip gloss and so on. Make sure nothing can spill and make a mess in the jar.
  • To add that special touch, go the extra mile with this ‘Make Your Own Lip Balm’ and ‘Face Scrub’ using the following method.

 

Homemade lip balm:

Recipe for home made lip balm.

Ingredients

  • Olive oil and almond oil/shea butter – 2 tbsp
  • Peppermint oil – 1 drop
  • Lavender il – 1 drop
  • Vitamin E capsule – 1
  • Beeswax (use scrapings from a pure beeswax candle) – 1 tbsp

Method

  • In a heatproof bowl, using the double boiler method, gently melt the beeswax and add the oils and the vitamin E oil from the capsule.
  • Once melted, stir to combine well.
  • Pour the liquid into lip balm or screw-cap containers till ¾ full.
  • Allow to solidify before use.

 

Homemade lavender/peppermint face scrub

Lavender Peppermint Face Scrub

Ingredients

  • Granulated white sugar – 1/3 cup
  • Sea salt – 1/3 cup
  • Coconut oil/olive oil – 1/3 cup
  • Lavender/peppermint essential oil – 20 drops (approximately)

Method

  • Combine the salt, sugar and coconut/olive oil and mix well with a fork.
  • Add the essential oils of your choice.
  • Add dry culinary lavender to the mix for a little color and more aroma.
  • Fill up gift jar till it is ¾ full.

5.DIY make your own fun in a jar

a. DIY bracelets

DIY Bracelets

  • All you need are some assorted beads (glass/metal/plastic/wood etc) and elastic cord spools (specifically for jewelry making).

b. DIY buttons kit

Buttons in a mason jar.

  • Add an assortment of buttons made from stone, wood, plastic, etc. Add these in layers in the jar.

6. Flora in a jar

a. Terrarium

Mason jar terrariums.

  • In a jason jar, plant a cactus or succulent in alternate layers of coco peat and pebbles/glass nuggets.
  • Don’t forget to mention how to care for the plant in a small note.

b. Bouquet

Flowers in a mason jar.

  • Instead of using a vase, present your bouquet of flowers in a mason jar.

c. Seeds

Gift seeds in a jar.

  • Make little bags of assorted seeds for planting and place them in a jar with stickers with the name of the plant on it.
  • Add a card with instructions as a tag on each bag.
  • Add to the mason jar.

7. Messages in a jar
Messages in a jar.

a. Greeting card jars

  • Make numerous little cards/notes with the requisite greeting message in different colors of chart paper and in different shapes. Add glitter and sequins to the jar to ‘bling’ it up.

b. Love letter scrolls

  • Write your romantic messages at the center of the chosen paper. Using a lighter, burn the corners and immediately put the flame out leaving behind a scorched look. Roll the letter up and keep it from unraveling by tying it with ribbon/rope.
  • To the base of the jar, add dry sand followed by seashells.
  • Add the scroll/scrolls last.

c. Funny/naughty/inspirational/romantic quotes

  • Place little cards with jokes/quotes in different colors.
  • Add a pen and note pad that will fit in the jar.