Wise - Gifts in jars: homemade cookie mixes, soup mixes, candles, lotions, teas, and more!

Copyright 2016 by Natalie Wise All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Cover design by Abigail Gehring Cover photos by Natalie Wise Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1974-3 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1975-0 Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS Introduction I love giving gifts. I love crafting, creating, and offering presents made with my time and creativity. It fills a need deep in my own soul and hopefully fills a space in the heart of the receiver, too.

Gifts let us celebrate the big and small accomplishments of life: graduating college, having a baby, or simply Thursday. Thursdays are my favorite. Creating gifts by hand means investing your life in someone else. You trade your time, which is in essence your life, for something you think will make that someone happy. What a wonderful exchange for happy hearts. I love it.

Gifts are great, but what makes gifts in jars special? First of all, jars are often at hand and easily accessible, making crafting homemade gifts a snap. Secondly, they offer a different take on wrapping things by making the presentation part of the gift. The self-contained nature of gifts in jars is exciting and different. Not to mention theyre cute, and a ribbon tied around the top makes them even cuter. Im excited to share more than fifty ideas for gifts in (and made from) jars, both new and vintage. The jars come in all shapes and sizes, and the gift ideas are for everyone in your life.

Lets take a closer look at jars, and then get crafting! All About Jars Jars are such a prevalent commodity in our ordinary lives that we often overlook their aesthetics in the name of practicality. They are workhorses, they serve a function, and they serve it well: jars hold things. Yes, they hold things, from home-canned pantry staples to marbles, pennies, and buttons. There is a sense of nostalgia in a row of jars, solid and sturdy should anything happen to next years crop or should we need an extra button for mending. Jars also hold unlimited opportunity for creativity. They can hold things, become things, be passed on or passed around, and be enjoyed again and again.

Jars are beautiful as well. Their simplicity belies their beauty, keeping it hidden until we decide to see it. Why, yes, a jar looks absolutely lovely filled with fresh flowers. How charming she looks with a little necklace of twine and gingham. How punchy on a desk, topped with citrus colors and holding desk supplies. How retro in a childs room, brightly colored and neatly organized.

The abundance of jars in our daily lives makes them ideal for gift giving because they are easy to find when crafting inspiration strikes or we need a last-minute present. I keep a stash of unique jars on a small shelf under my kitchen sink for just this purpose. I collect spice jars, old candle jars, jars from specialty foods, and antique jars, too. Jar History Mason jars, the classic canning jar we use today, was invented in 1858. The name Mason comes from its inventor, John Landis Mason. Screw-top jars are the most popular for food preservation.

Lightning jars, invented by Henry William Putnam, brought the glass-top and wire-bale closure system into use in 1882, and it was popular for a few centuries. Many other companies copied his technique. Antique Lightning brand jars come in various shades of blue, green, and yellow. Mason jars are also called Ball jars, named after the glass manufacturer the Ball Corporation, which was founded in 1880. Anatomy of a Jar Mason Jar Mason Jar Regular Mouth vs. Wide Mouth: Regular mouth jars have a narrower opening with an outer diameter of 2 inches.

Wide mouth jars have a wider opening with an outer diameter of 3 inches. Which you choose depends on use and aesthetics. Some people prefer the more jar-like shape of the regular mouth, while others prefer the easier access of a wide mouth jar. Two-piece lids: Two-piece screw-on lids include a flat top lid with a ring of rubber on the inside to help the seal and a separate band to secure the lid while canning. Antique zinc lids use a rubber ring as the seal inside the lid. Lightning Jar Lightning Jar: This jar has a separate glass lid held in place by a two-piece wire bale. Swing-Top Bale Jar Swing-Top Bale Jar: The swing-top jar has become popular recently because it combines the easy-to-open qualities of the lightning jar with the security of a two-piece lid. Swing-Top Bale Jar Swing-Top Bale Jar: The swing-top jar has become popular recently because it combines the easy-to-open qualities of the lightning jar with the security of a two-piece lid.

The bale (two-piece wire closure) is attached to the other side of the jar by a small hinge. These lids may or may not have a rubber seal around the inside to provide an airtight seal. New Jars Brand new jars are preferable for any recipes for food or drink use. They are sturdy, wont have any nicks or cracks, and come in every shape and size. Reusing Jars Jars from food items are great to reuse for gift jars. Baby food jars are great for small projects, and jam jars are perfectly sized for little hands to hold.

Take a stroll down the food aisles and look at all of the different jars available: rounded, straight-sided, and of every size imaginable. Olive jars are tall and narrow, ideal for some projects, and salsa jars are squat, which works best for other projects. Of course, be sure all jars are fully cleaned and sanitized before reusing. Antique Jars Antique canning and pickling jars are no longer suitable for actual canning and pickling, but they make fantastic gift jars. The blue glass jars from Lightning, Hazel Atlas, and Ball are particularly sought-after by collectors for their distinctive hue. Many antique jars are missing their glass lids that were held on by the bale (the two-piece metal hinge), but that wont matter for many gift jars.