Accessorizing Your Gifts in a Jar

There really is no end to the ideas a person can come up with, let your creativity flow and think also about who the gift is for to really make it especially for them. Jar gifts are a wonderful, creative yet inexpensive ways to give gifts to family, friends and teachers.

You can use beautiful already decorative type jars, or simple standard canning type jars. Check the recipes first to see what sized jar they recommend for that recipe. Have several on hand if the recipe doesn't state that information and experiment to see what size the ingredients fit in. The most common sizes are the pint and quart sized jars, but baby jars are also great for smaller portion drink or spice type mix gifts.

One common way to decorate a jar is take some fabric and cut a circle, square or heart shape out of the fabric that is 6 - 8 inches across. You can use pinking shears or other decorative type scissors to edge the fabric. Lace can also be sewn as a trim to the fabric. Place the inner round section of the jar's lid on the jar and center the fabric on that. Screw the other section of the lid in place to hold the fabric. Fluff out the fabric where it comes out from under the lid.

One common way to decorate a jar is take some fabric and cut a circle, square or heart shape out of the fabric that is 6 - 8 inches across. You can use pinking shears or other decorative type scissors to edge the fabric. Lace can also be sewn as a trim to the fabric. Place the inner round section of the jar's lid on the jar and center the fabric on that. Screw the other section of the lid in place to hold the fabric. Fluff out the fabric where it comes out from under the lid.

Get creative also in the recipe instructions. Hang tags can be made either by hand, computer graphics or a label glued to the jar itself, but these can be customized to a central theme if desired. However you choose to do this, they will need the recipe?s final instructions.

There are many wonderful recipes that can be made specifically designed for jars. These include soup mixes, spice mixes, cookie and other baked goods recipes, coffee and creamer recipes and so many more. These can be quite easy to make ahead of time, so you always have a gift you can grab whenever you need one, especially great for those last minute gift needs, or for the person who seems to have everything and is difficult to buy for.

You can paint the jar before filling it. Buy paint that is specially designed for glass and follow the specific directions. Can't paint? Try finding a card or picture or something you'd like to put on the jar, and get it on paper. Place the paper inside the jar, and then simply let your painting basically be tracing the design and adding your own personal touches to it. Again, this can really be used for a theme and the jar itself will remain a keepsake long after the recipe has been used.

Layer the ingredients for a beautiful presentation. Put at the bottom layers the softest ingredients, like flour but be sure to mix in the baking sodas, salt, etc that's called for in the recipes. If the flour dusts the rest of the jar, let it settle then carefully wipe the jar with a paper towel before adding the rest of the ingredients. Brown sugar can be packed down to save a bit of space.

You can accessorize your jar gifts by either gluing dried flowers, pinecones or whatever to the top of the jars as well. Or tie small items with ribbon or raffia to the jars. Common items that work well are measuring spoons, tiny whisks, cookie cutter, little garden tools, cinnamon bark, vanilla beans or any other small whimsical item you may find.

There are many amazing ribbons out there plus many different types of ways that bows can be tied to give unique looks. Lace can also be hot glued around the rim of the jar.

For a Victorian themed jar try a luscious tea mix or scone or other bakery recipe, gluing some lace around the rim of the jar, some small dried flowers on top or a tassel. Create a label or hang tag that looks like tea stained paper. For a western theme, try perhaps a bean soup recipe, wrap your jar in a bandanna, or use the bandanna itself as tied around the lid. Perhaps you can find a cowboy boot or hat graphic to decoupage on the jar itself, or paint one on.

What about the tea lover you know? Try some small baby jars filled with different flavored teas, cocoas and coffee mixes and put in a basket with a coffee mug and muffin or scone. Paint the jar lids coordinating colors to match the mug. Perhaps adding some gourmet tea bags and cinnamon sticks would be a nice touch as well. Let your creativity guide your senses.

Let your thoughts flow, there really is no telling what you can come up with for a beautiful gift to someone you care about that communicates that you really put forth some heart into this.