10 Gifts in a Jar

Whether you need a hostess gift in a pinch or an easy DIY party favor idea, homemade gift ideas are always a great way to cut down on cost while showing the recipient how much you care. The best DIY gifts are ones that don’t take long to make but look chic and are easy to wrap and present to the recipient. That’s why gifts in glass jars are so perfect; they look great and don’t need wrapping. Gifts in a jar can be anything from food to spa products, but are all perfectly portable.

Try out these ideas for presents in a jar:

Bath Salts: Use your favorite herbs and package them up in a glass jar with a ribbon and a homemade tag. Try this recipe:

• 1 ½ cups Epsom salts
• ¾ cup baking soda
• ¾ cup dried herbs (finely ground)

Dinner Rolls in a Jar: This gift in a jar is easy as can be! Just separate your favorite store bought (or homemade) dinner roll dough and press each into a miniature jam-sized jars. Bring them to a friend’s house with the lids on for easy traveling, have them bake them without the lids and serve at each place setting for a cute presentation.

Jar Place Cards: These jars do double duty as party favors and place cards. Fill miniature jam jars or baby food jars with candy or loose leaf tea and paste cards with your guests names on the top. Place these on their plates before dinner.

Hot Cocoa: Layer these ingredients in a jar without mixing to make a striped look. Attach a tag with instructions to mix 1/3 of the jar’s contents with 1 cup of boiling water for one serving.

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup powdered milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup miniature chocolate chips
• ½ cup miniature marshmallows

Joy Jar: Fill a jar with inspirational quotes or complements for the recipient to read when they’re having a bad day. Cover the lid with paper and write the word “Joy” with any design you choose.

Candle in a Jar: Make your own candles with a wax kit you can buy online or at your local craft store. Follow the wax melting instructions, personalize with color and scents, and pour into a glass jar with a wick secured to the bottom. Decorate the lid or attach a ribbon and a note to the top.

Sewing Kit in a Jar: Make a pincushion on top of a jar and fill it with sewing supplies. To make the pincushion, pop out the top insert, sandwich a small amount of polyester stuffing between a piece of fabric and a round piece of cardboard, then put the metal top insert on the cardboard and glue the fabric to the bottom of it.  Replace the insert with the pincushion on top.

Homemade Jam: Make your own jam with your favorite fresh fruit and package in cute jars to give as gifts. Decorate with a ribbon and a cute tag with the recipe so your friends can try making their own.

Homemade Salsa: Make a simple salsa by dicing tomatoes, onions, garlic, and corn, and adding chopped cilantro, a little bit of lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Package in jars and decorate with ribbons or gift tags. Keep the jars in your refrigerator for a day before giving them as gifts to let the flavors blend together.

Crafting Jar: For a friend who loves crafting, or just one who wants to get into it, a craft jar is a great idea. Gather matching craft supplies like ribbon, yarn, glitter, fabric, and other smalls things you can find at a craft store. Put them all in a jar and decorate the lid with some of the ribbon or fabric you put in the jar. Another great idea is to find easy instructions for a craft and put it in the jar with some of the supplies needed for the craft.

These easy gift ideas are perfect for a thoughtful, easy, and inexpensive homemade gift. Your friends will love these presents in a jar! Need to invite family to your Christmas gift swap this year? Try one of our free Christmas invitations!