Presentation is everything! Making gifts in a jar are a wonderful, personal yet inexpensive way to show someone you care. 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,…
by Rachel Rae
Presentation is everything! Making gifts in a jar are a wonderful, personal yet inexpensive way to show someone you care. 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 and other loved ones.
Think also who the gift is from. If the gift is from a child for a grandparent, parent or teacher, decoupage the child’s photo on the outside of the jar, then trim the edges of the photo with lace or some other finishing type of ribbon. The child could even paint a little something on the opposite side of the jar or his or her little handprint with paint.
Get creative in how you want to present your jar gift. This might mean a gift basket filled with several jar gifts, or simply one with other components making up the whole gift basket. Presentation is everything and shows the heart and thought put into your gift for the giver, the most personal it is, the more it will mean to the recipient.
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.
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. Try your hand at calligraphy!
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.
If the gift is from a child for a grandparent, parent or teacher, decoupage the child’s photo on the outside of the jar, then trim the edges of the photo with lace or some other finishing type of ribbon. The child could even paint a little something on the opposite side of the jar.
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 give accessories to your jar gifts by either gluing dried flowers, pinecones, beads, shells or whatever to the top or sides of the jars. Tie small items with ribbon or raffia to the jars. Common items that work great are measuring spoons, small whisks, cookie cutters, Christmas ornaments, cinnamon bark, vanilla beans or any other small item of interest you may discover.
There are many beautiful ribbons and lace out that can be used in a variety of ways to be glued to the jar. Experiment with different textures, colors and ways of tying those to create fresh unique looks.
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 person who loves coffee that you know? Try some baby jars filled with different flavored creamers, cocoas and coffee mixes and place in a basket with a coffee mug and scone or other treat. Paint the baby jar lids matching colors to coordinate with the coffee mug. Perhaps a great book would be a great way to finish the basket and of course a touch of raffia or ribbon to top it off.
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.
