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Monday, December 7, 2015

Jars, jars and more jars

I've stumbled upon and reclaimed/repurposed a bunch of nice jars, lately.


A while back, I mentioned the small square jar that I snagged out of the recycle bin at a charity tea I was working. Well, very recently, I got another 2 of those jars, plus these 2 larger square jars, also from a recycling bin.


In addition, when I was checking Goodwill for goblets, I came across 4 of these jars, for 20 cents each.

I already have plans for some of these jars. The small round jars are lovely when filled with jelly or jam. I have juice and fruit in the freezer, for jam-making this month. I would like to make a batch of jam or jelly to give as gifts this Christmas.

And for those square jars, I'll be filling a couple of them with loose tea, for Christmas and hostess gifts.


I seem to have an attraction to glassware of all sorts. We opened 2 large and 2 small bottles of sparkling cider for Thanksgiving dinner. Those small ones are so cute. I can't bear to part with them. I was thinking that they would make nice votive holders for the patio, if cut them off just below the neck. I may give glass-cutting a try with a few of my saved bottles, this spring.

25 comments:

  1. Oh, I love the little jars that you got for 20 cents each! They will look lovely with jam and jelly for Christmas gifts.

    I have the same love of glassware! I love mason jars (both new and vintage) and little jelly jars.

    My newest joy is searching for antique milk bottles at antique and thrift stores. I have a small collection that is growing. I've cleaned them all up and am displaying them in my kitchen.

    I'm currently keeping my eyes open for antique glass vinegar bottles. They are so pretty! I've seen a few in antique stores, but the price hasn't been right yet. I know if I keep looking, I'll find a couple in the right price range.

    My sons got me an apple cider jar candle for Christmas last year. The jar is beautiful: red glass with a large gold stripe painted around the bottom, and below the threads it's wrapped and tied with some twine. I finished burning the candle at the end of winter, but saved the jar in a kitchen cabinet. I hadn't thought of it last week. I cleaned the wax out of it and now I'm putting tealights in it. Very Christmas-y and beautiful!

    Have a wonderful day!
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I meant to type that I hadn't thought of it until last week.

      Angie

      Delete
    2. Hi Angie,
      Oh I agree, I love those round little jelly jars. They are some of my favorite for canning and then giving away. The Goodwill's in our area have all canning jars priced at 20 cents everyday. SO I always check the jars when Im there.

      Your antique milk bottle collection sounds beautiful. I like that you have them on display. And great idea to clean out your candle jar from last year, and put tea lights in it. A nice way to extend the life of the wintry/Christmasy candle. It probably makes your sons glad to see that you enjoy it so much, too.

      Have a great day!

      Delete
  2. I'm right with you in your love of glass jars. there are so many different shapes, sizes and colours. I also have a couple of small unique shaped green glass vases that belonged to my mother and I use them and some of the smaller jars as little vases for single buds, or when I'm trimming a bouquet of flowers. I also enjoy the miniature old fashioned coke and ginger ale pop bottles. Glad to hear that you were able to find some additional "special" jars in the recycle bin. Wishing you continued good luck in finding other unique jars.

    Jayne

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jayne,
      Your green glass vases sound lovely, and very special, as they were your mother's. Every time you use them, I'm sure you think of her. A nice remembrance.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Delete
  3. Oh I love those square jars! They look like ones you sometimes see in stores filled with goodies. They will be great to fill for hostess gifts.
    Rhonda

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rhonda,
      I love those square jars, too. They have a more "gourmet" look to them than regular jelly jars, and I think they will make nice containers for gifts.

      Delete
  4. When I read this post I realized that also like jars. I like the jam jars I get when I buy jam at an Amish store but they have sticky labels on them that is very difficult to get off. Any ideas?
    Alice

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    Replies
    1. Alice,

      It can be tedious work to remove the labels. Maybe someone else will share an easier method, but this is mine.

      First, I try peeling the label with my fingers...just to see if I get lucky.

      Next, I soak the jar in a sink with some warm soapy water. Usually, after a good soaking I scan scrub the label off with a scrub sponge, or scratch most of it off with my finger nails.

      Any sticky residue that is left on the jar, I wipe with a rag dipped in a little rubbing alcohol.

      That method always works for me!

      Angie

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    2. Hi Alice,
      Angie has some good suggestions for getting that sticky residue off. I also will try vegetable oil, rubbed into the sticker glue, then washed with liquid dish detergent to break it all down. If the surface is flat, like with these square jars, you can try a paint scraper like what you use to clean up splatter of paint on window glass. Otherwise, you could also still use the jars, but make a personalized paper label to go over the sticky residue.

      Good luck.

      Delete
    3. Goo Gone is a spray-on product which works like magic!! Yes, it is an investment to buy it for the first time, but it lasts a really long time and is a life saver when buying garage sale/thrift items. It is easy for those pesky stickers to ruin a great find.

      Delete
    4. Thanks for the tip, Valarie!

      Delete
    5. I have found little bottles of Goo Gone at the Dollar Tree in the past. A little bottle lasts a long time, so I haven't looked for it lately there, but they might still carry it. I do use it to remove labels and stickers that hot water and soap won't get off.
      Mary

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    6. Thanks, Mary. I'll check our Dollar Tree next time I'm there.

      Delete
  5. I like those square and little round jars too! Jars are such nice vessels for holding all kinds of things. I have a collection of royal blue and turquoise blue glass items in my kitchen window. Most of it I have found at thrift stores and rummage sales, so while little money was spent there, it brings me so much joy to look at.
    Mary

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mary,
      I love the turquoise blue antique glass. My grandmother had a few pieces of it, and when I see some, it always reminds me of her. (her button jar was turquoise glass). You're right, it does bring a lot of joy for so little money!

      Delete
  6. I like interesting jars also. But unlike you, I don't think I would use them much, so they just stay where ever I find. Recycling bins is a great place to look for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi live and learn,
      I tend to accumulate things like this, with hopes of finding a purpose for them. When I have too much, that's when it starts going out the door, for gift containers, or given to a lady I know who also collects these for gifts. There are so many nice jars for just regular grocery stuff, nowadays. I was looking in my pantry earlier and discovered that some store-bought pickled red peppers came in a nice jar. I'm looking forward to using those now, so I can have the jar.

      Have a nice evening!

      Delete
  7. I love jars and save everyone. I bought some Kalamata olives back in the fall and they came in these sort of tall jars that are almost like big spice jars. I have saved all of those, 4 in all I think, and will be using them for spices to be sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Belinda,
      Those sound like wonderful jars for spices. I like the idea of spices being in glass jars instead of plastic. I'll have to keep my eyes open for tall, narrow glass jars!

      Delete
    2. Definitely, Lili. I much prefer glass jars over plastic ones. :)

      Delete
  8. Oh... be careful with this. I have a bit of a jar obsession and trust me, when taken too far it can lead to bad things - like a basement full of jars that you can't seem to part with! :-) Here's hoping you're stronger than I am in this regard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cat,
      Will it work in my favor that I don't have a basement to fill up? I'll heed your warning, though, and watch my accumulation! Maybe sell my excess at garage sales?

      Delete
    2. Ha! The mixed blessing of lots of storage space...

      I think you'll probably do better than me simply because you're better about using that sort of thing for gifts etc. Plus, you're not totally crazy like I am. Seriously, I look at things like jars and bottles, and my brain suddenly drifts into the movie "The Gods Must be Crazy" and I can't help but see it as a priceless object! :-)

      Delete
    3. Cat, that's a great movie! Hmm, I'll take care with collecting!

      Delete

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