I have a habit slight obsession of collecting empty jars and containers. I'm not quite sure if it qualifies as collecting or hoarding though...where do you draw the line? Anyway, I find myself keeping lots and lots of empty peanut butter jars {they are perfect for gifting cookies in}, empty pasta sauce jars {there are so many mason jar type crafts out there that I want to try}, and empty trail mix containers {because we might make our own trail mix one day}.
They usually sit by the sink for a few days until I decide to finally wash them. Getting the labels off some of the containers is difficult sometimes so I procrastinate cleaning them until I get a small collection going:)
I had been storing my collection in one of our kitchen cabinets, but it started taking over a little bit {I think this may be where my collection is borderline hoarding}. We are in the process of moving Eli out of the nursery, which will be turned into my craft room...so I moved my collection into one of the emptied-out drawers in the nursery/craft room. They are out of the way for now which makes me feel like less of a hoarder:)
The point of this post isn't to embarrass myself with pictures of my jar collection, but to share the awesomeness that can be made with said collection! This is the happy that I sent to school with Grant today for his assistant teacher's birthday. Sorry for the not so great pics, but I forgot to snap a shot before we left home so these are iPhone pics {with Instagram which I LOVE} that I took in my car when we pulled up in the school parking lot.
This was a trail mix container {probably from Target because we love their Monster Trail Mix} that I cleaned up, added some polka dot paper over the stickiness from removing the label, added a tulle bow, and a chalkboard label to the top with a little happy birthday note. And it turned out really cute. It is the perfect way to gift some yummy goodness like homemade peanut butter cookies {which is why we have so many empty peanut butter jars}.
Please tell me I'm not the only one who collects random thing that other people throw away!?! What kind of collections do you have at your house?!?
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27 comments:
Hoarding? No.
Brilliant? Yes.
Im not even going to lie, Im a little sad that I recently threw away a decently good jar, now seeing that you can do something awesome with them. And with the rate we go through peanut butter.
Me, I dont collect anything. Not really. Wait, shoes. I collect shoes (ha!)
threeloudkids.com
I'm totally a hoarder too. I hoard empty glass jars as well, for storing spices, pasta, rice, nuts, you name it. Toilet paper rolls for kid crafts. Lids from all kinds of bottles, to add foam piece to and turn into "stamps" for the kids. Tissue boxes for "skates" on the hardwood floor.
Yes, I drive my husband batty with it.
I have a all bunch of empty frappuccino bottles in a cupboard ready (eventually) to be altered or reused!!
This is a great way to use jars! You absolutely make this gift so cute and personal. Perhaps I need to start a collection :)
I sympathize! For practically a year I hoarded frappucino bottles with the intent of using them...for what I don't know. I ended up throwing them away. All that hoarding for nothing. ;) At least you use your collection!!
I collect all kinds of containers..peanut butter jars, pickle jars, frap bottles etc...
I now have a 4 shelf system in the garage to hold 'most' of them :)
You never know when you'll need one!!!
Now this is a great idea. I always throw my containers away, but I think I am going to change my ways. Thanks for the tip.
I have a ton of Frappacino bottles and have started hoarding bread tags recently but luckily they don't take up much space. Now you also have me considering collecting my peanut butter jars lol
My grandmother saved everything and I have a bit of that trait, too. Being a teacher, I'm also constantly thinking of a way I could use something in the classroom.
I think you are smart to reuse things!
I am most interested in how you clean empty PB jars, I NEVER can get them clean enough inside to reuse. Is there some super secret method??
I save everything. I've got tons of empty TP rolls that I keep telling myself I'm going to use to make one of the million crafty projects I've seen on Pinterest with them, but for now they're just filling a box in the corner of the laundry room.
I also keep any glass jars and a lot of plastic ones as well. I love Simply Orange bottles and have a few of those saved, but they take up more room, so unless I can think of something to do with them I try not to save many more.
I love jars too. I try to save them and Chris throws them away. It breaks my heart every time.
I keep jars but only plastic ones. I cleaned up way too much glass when I kept our glass formula jars! To get the labels off, use Goo Gone. I love that stuff, and it's at Dollar Tree. Someone else asked about peanut butter jars. I always fill them with soapy water and close the lid then leave them for a few days. Shake, empty and then fill it again. After that they are very easy to clean. Love your blog! Thanks for the great ideas.
I think you are smart for doing that. So many fun things can be made from recycled materials. Love that. CUTE!
My cabinets are full of glass jars (applesauce, jelly, salsa, etc). It's a collection! Who knows what pretty thing they may become someday. Plus they are useful, I buy large cans of diced tomatoes, make large batches of pizza sauce, cook dried beans...the jars make for great storage. I hadn't thought of keeping the peanut butter jars...now I may have a new problem.
I just finally broke down and recycled some of my collection today...*sigh* I had to finally face the fact that I will probably never use the amount that I have saved....oh well, but I did keep a few lol
:) i don't have anything like that, that i keep/hoard. but i have a lot of "stuff" to get rid of. and that is way different. it wasn't hoarding at all, but just too much stuff that i keep for emotional reasons. jars are not kept for that reason, you HAVE a reason to keep them. and as long as you're not tripping over them, you're fine. :)
Ummm... you win. I'm still officially classified as a hoarder because the empty jam jars are on my counter.
BUT I do get extra credit for using the empty pickle jars as vases for the paper Valetines flowers for Itty Bit's class. Right? :)
Love how your project turned out - so cute!
at least you have a plan for your jars. I have a shelf of jars just in case I think of what to do with them, but it seems a waste to put them out in recycling when I might need them. but I also have cabinets and baskets full of yarn and a closet of scrabookng supplies.
(also just read your "crafting slacker" post - nice to be in good company!
Hi. Stopping in from the Weekend Bloggy Reading. I can definitely identify with your collection of empty containers. I always figure I'll fill them or use them in a kids craft. I have learned though, that our local food bank loves to receive empty containers, so that might be my calling for these containers :)
I'm right there with you sister!! Love me some jars AND bottles! I use a lot in my craft room for storage.
i'm just the same
Natasha xx
www.serenityyou.blogspot.com
I hord the heck out some green glass Pellegrino bottles!!
You have such a great blog:) Glad I found it.
http://shabbysweettea.com
I say it's not hoarding if 1) you have the organized space for it and 2) if you find uses for said trash, I mean, collection! :)
I'm a little jealous of your craft room.
I keep as many containers as my cupboard could hold - I'm glad you meet people with my same love for "collecting" containers :)
Love for you to share it at my “Made by ME” Linky Party Wednesdays :)
http://www.jaqsstudio.com/2012/02/made-by-me-20-linky-party.html
OMGosh - Are you really me?? I am the same way - my hubby gets mad when I have all these jars on the counter (cause I hold til I have a few to clean as well) and says "Really?!?! You still need more??". Of course I do - they may eventually stop making them right!?!? Besides, one day I will make something with them... LOL
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