I love Ball mason jars and have used them for everything other than canning for years. My mom was born and raised in Muncie, Ind., home of the Ball family, so I watched my grandmother use them all over her home. Over the years I have inherited several beautiful jars, and place them around my apartment. Small disclaimer however: there are several blogs and Pinterest pins on listing ways — 100 to be exact — “to repurpose mason jars” into candles, pieces of art, or tree-hanging lights by capturing a thousand fireflies and unicorn tears (okay, maybe I made that last one up). This is not that article. This is  a practical, everyone can grab a jar and do this kind of article. Enjoy!

10 ways to use mason jars

1. Brush holders: Paint brushes, my toothbrush, and my makeup brushes fit easily into these clear glass jars. It’s practical, clean and adds a bit of vintage character to an otherwise ordinary task of “holding things”.

2. Bathroom organization: Along the same lines and brushes, I use jars in my bathroom to organize my small makeup containers, lipstick and even hair ties and pins.

3. Office supplies: I use a small bar area as my dedicated work space at home. By placing my pens, pencils, paperclips and scissors in a ball mason jar, I’m able to access exactly what I’m looking for quickly.

4. Coffee grounds: I keep coffee grounds for my Café Latte Facial Scrub in a jar in the fridge. After reading Bargain Babe’s 21 uses for coffee grounds, you too can have a full jar of grounds!

5. Loose change: Everyone has a place in their home where pennies, quarters and other random items collect. Now you can look a little bit like you have your stuff together by keeping them in an adorable jar with a lid on the counter.

6. Flowers: My favorite way to use mason jars is with flowers. Fill a large jar with tall sunflowers in the middle of a table for a simple centerpiece, or hang small Gerber daisies on the back of white chairs for gorgeous mason jar wedding décor.

7. Party favors and gifts: A couple of years ago, my family hosted a celebration at our lake house. We made homemade mints, filled small jars with the colorful treat and attached the recipe to the neck with some twine and an index card. The favors were easy to carry and store for the drive home. Memory jars are also a great gift for Mother’s Day, anniversaries or birthdays.

8. Leftovers: I am a huge fan of living a green lifestyle, so I rarely use plasticware to store food. Using washable, reusable glass jars to store leftovers and freeze food is better for the environment and easy to label with a wax crayon or piece of tape. Also, because the jars are clear, identifying food is a snap!

9. Drinks: Serving drinks in mason jars puts a fun spin on any gathering. Wine, beer, soda and punch look and taste great in these easy to hold glasses. Tie raffia around the neck for a rustic look, throw a striped straw in a blue jar for a vintage vibe or wrap in colorful ribbon and place sliced fruit around the rom for a fresh, modern feel.

10. Jar salads: There is nothing easier to make, transport or eat than a mason jar salad. Stack your favorite ingredients and twist the lid for an instant to-go meal.

 

How do you use mason jars?