4 Mason Jar Crafts for Those Old Canning Jars

Mason Jars are great for canning. They save your fruits, veggies, jellies, and jams for entire seasons after they would normally expire. However, when a Mason Jar or lid finally quits on you, you don’t need to throw it out. There are tons of other uses for Mason Jars that you might find interesting. Check out my list of Mason Jar crafts for the garden, meal-prep, baking, and decor!

Top 4 Mason Jar Crafts You’ll Need This Canning Season!

 

1. Mason Jar Food Crafts

MASON JAR CHICKEN POT PIES

These little pot pies are perfect if you’re having guests or on chilly nights. Feel free to add in more veggies for a perfect, heart-healthy dinner.

Ingredients:

pot pies made in mason jars on a hot summer day.

  • 2 Boxes of Refrigerated Pie Crusts
  • 3 Cups Cooked Chicken (Shredded)
  • 1 3/4 Cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
  • 1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Carrots and Peas)
  • 1/3 Cup Onion (Chopped)
  • 1/3 Cup Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 1/3 Cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 tsp Salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 425 F. While it’s heating up, wash and dry your short Mason Jars.
  2. Cut each pie crust into quarters. Press each quarter into a jar. Be sure the crust covers the jar completely.
  3. Add onions to a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the onions for about two minutes, and stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  4. Add the broth and milk to the mixture gradually, stirring continuously until thick.
  5. Add your frozen veggies and cook for a few more minutes. Continue stirring the mixture as you add more ingredients. Then, add your shredded chicken.
  6. Once the mixture is thick and fully mixed, spoon the mixture in the pie jars, filling to the brim.
  7. Top your pot pies with the remaining pie crust quarters. Use a jar lid to cut out the perfect circle or cut strips to make a lattice pattern for a classy touch.
  8. Bake these for about 15 minutes (the crust should be starting to turn that light, golden-brown color). Cover the jars with foil and bake them for another 15-20 minutes.

2. Gardening with Canning Jars and Lids

MASON JAR HERB GARDEN

Three herb plants in mason jars on kitchen windowsill Mason Jar gardening

I’m sure you’ve seen these on our Pinterest Page. That’s because I absolutely love them.

I’ve recently started my own canning jar herb garden next to the window in my kitchen. If you’ve tried this before, send us pictures or let me know your experience in the comment section below.

Tips!

Use large jars! Give your plants plenty of space. If it is really tough to get the roots in the jar, you’ll have to split the plant up or use a larger container.

Don’t just spritz with water. Plants are used to getting their water only when it rains. If you just spray each time you walk by, your plants will either get too much or not enough. Try watering once early in the morning to prepare those little herbs for the rest of the day.

Drying Your Herbsdrying herbs from a Mason Jar herb garden

  1. Air Drying – Bundle your herbs in three to six branches, and secure them using string, yarn, or rubber bands. Hang the bundles in a dark, dry area, like a basement or attic. Your herbs should be read in about a week or less. For seasoning, you want your herbs to be brittle. For crafts, you’ll have better results with herbs that are still a little moist.
  2. Microwave Oven Drying – Not my favorite method, but if you need to use your herbs the same day you harvest you’ll be better off with this method. Lay your herbs on a paper plate and cook for one-minute intervals, allowing some time between cooking times.

3. Mason Jar Outdoor Lighting

Mason jars with solar power panels powering an LED light under the lid in closeup

Mason Jars give a very rustic feel to your garden and your home. Of course, they’re also perfect for the backyard! These solar Mason Jar lights are perfect for lining walkways or lighting up a campsite.

Supplies:

  • Solar Lights
  • Mason Jars with Lids
  • Drill

Directions:

  1. Remove the solar power panel and light from the outdoor solar light. Be careful! Make sure you don’t remove any connective pieces that allow the light to pull energy from the solar cells.
  2. Drill a hole through the top of the jar lid. Be sure this hole is large enough for the small light to hang through.
  3. To make our jar light look complete, you’ll want to spray paint the solar piece and the lid. Mask the solar panel with painters tape or something similar and spray paint those pieces any color you want. Allow those pieces time to dry, then remove the tape from the solar panel.
  4. Screw the lid back on the jar. Add a bit of super glue to the bottom of the solar light, stick the light through the drilled hole, and attach it to the top of the Mason Jar lid.
  5. Once the glue has dried, your solar light is complete. You can have a sitting lantern or make a hanger using some wire.

4. Mason Jar Lid Wreaths

You can have a wreath for every season and ever holiday with Mason Jar Lid wreaths. They are super easy to make and look so cute! Give one a try for your newest holiday decoration!many empty jars for home-made preserves

Supplies:

  • About 25 Mason Jar Lids (depending on the size of your wreath)
  • Twine
  • Ribbon
  • Washi Tape (optional)

Directions:

Begin by decorating your lids. Using Washi Tape is a quick way to make each lid cute and unique. Simply wrap Washi Tape around each of the lids. You can ensure they are secure by adding a dab of hot glue to the ends of the tape to hold them in place. You’ll want to have a good mix of designs so your wreath really pops!

Once your lids are decorated, tie the lids together with twine. You should just have to pull it tight to get the shape to come together.

Embellish your wreath with a ribbon that fits the season or holiday you’re going for. Now, you have a unique wreath for any occasion.

Mason Jar Canning Tips

Jars with marinated food and raw vegetables on cutting board.

You can’t have a Mason Jar post without mentioning canning. Canning is a lifesaver if you have any kind of garden or if you make your own jams, jellies, or honey.

If you would like to learn how to get started canning and saving money throughout the year, check out our canning blog post. It will give you step by step instructions on how to can all kinds of food that you can enjoy all year long.

We Love Mason Jars!

Canning is a must if you’re a homesteader, but don’t stop there. Once those Mason Jars are no good for canning your veggies, they can still be useful for so many things.

If you’ve ever turned your canning jars or lids into something new, let me know in the comment section below. I’m excited to hear what crafts you’ve come up with for me to try next!

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