Glass jars: 12 smart uses

Are you tired of collecting empty glass jars because “they will be useful somewhere” but in the end they are not used anywhere and they end up just taking up all your free space?

In most kitchens, there are entire cupboards full of empty jars waiting to be used but they never are!

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So the question remains: how can we use the glass jars we have collected or better yet, how can we use the glass jars to create presentations that stand out.

Without any doubt, it is really great to collect the empty glass jars with the intention of reusing them. On the one hand, we strengthen our green initiative and limit our carbon footprint, on the other hand they come with significant advantages:

They are non-porous, so they do not carry food odors
They keep their content safe, without the use of any dangerous substance
They are easy to clean
It is an ecological choice

Why don’t we just go ahead and see 12 creative and clever ways we can use glass jars of all sizes to save space and money!

Glass jars for food storage and meal prep

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Glass is a natural, eco-friendly option to store food, whether it’s solid or liquid. When you want to portion your food but don’t want to use a tupperware, glass jars are the go to alternative.

Bonus tip: If your office has a microwave oven, you can put it right, provided that the glass is microwave resistant. Look for the label that confirms that your jar is microwave oven safe!

Glass jars for foods that have undergone or require some form of fermentation (fermented)

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Glass jars are ideal for creating delicious kefir, plant-based milk or fresh cheese from the comfort of your own kitchen. Ideal for this use are large oval shaped glass jars.

View glass jars for sauce here.

Glass jars for storing any type of pre-fermented dough

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A traditional sourdough can be created in a ceramic bowl but can just as easily be stored in a large jar.

Plus, its so cool to look directly at the air pockets of all pre-ferments!

View glass jars for pre-ferments here.

Glass jars for spices

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You’ve probably seen how much cheaper spices are when sold in bags rather than plastic containers. Save space and money by using small jars for all kinds of spices and organize your kitchen.

View glass jars for spices here.

Glass jars for dried herbs

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To maintain the quality of your dried herbs, you should store them in glass jars that seal securely. Don’t forget to use labels.

This way, you will not only prevent moisture from entering the jars and ruining the herbs, but you will also have an aesthetically pleasing appearance when placed on open shelves. A full shelf of herb jars separates the pros from the newbies!

View glass jars for herbs here.

Glass jars for storing goods in bulk

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Storing your bulk produce in glass jars is a great way to help the environment and reduce your plastic waste. Jars can be used to store legumes, honey, coconut flour, nuts – anything!

View glass jars for bulk produce here.

Glass jars used as salad dressing shakers

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Forget whisking! Simply add all of your homemade vinaigrette ingredients to a jar and shake. Your favorite dressing, directly in its storage container, well mixed and ready to go.

View glass jars for salad dressing here.

Glass jar presentations with cookies / cakes / sweets

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A fantastic way to use glass jars is to create unique dessert presentations. If you want to package sweets with a more homemade aesthetic, then glass jars are a great fit!

View glass jars for homemade presentations here.

Unique, luminous glass jars

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Creating a lamp from a glass jar is a super easy and efficient way to light up your night. With so many different options and ideas out there, you’re sure to find the perfect combination and create the ideal atmosphere in your home. Whether you want something rustic or modern, classic or quirky, warm and welcoming or soft and subtle – the possibilities are endless!

View glass jars for creative decorations here.

Glass jars for candles

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Practical and fashionable jars can be used to create your own candle holders. Make sure the glass is somewhat tempered and it won’t come in direct contact with the flame though.

View glass jars for candles here.

A small garden in your glass jar

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How do terrariums work? They are indoor gardens in a sealed container. The plants and soil in the terrarium release water vapor – essentially recycling the water. The water vapor then gets concentrated on the walls of the container and drips to the ground. It’s a perfectly balanced small ecosystem, right at your fingertips.

And the best thing to consider… You can make them in any size or shape of jar (even a fishbowl!), so if you have a jar that doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest, start a little garden in it!

View glass jars of all sizes here.

Glass jars for DIY Cosmetics

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Looking for a sustainable way to create cosmetics using natural ingredients? Glass jars provide a great, budget friendly solution when storing your homemade beauty products.

With your favorite essential oils and natural ingredients, you can easily make something that suits your skin type!

View glass jars for cosmetics here.

Spring kid-safe decorations DIY

Spring is coming and you are thinking of decorating your balconies with beautiful seasonal plants and at the same time, keep your children busy with something creative and without much expense. We have a practical idea for you !!! With a few jars, empty coffee boxes or medium-sized tapers, you can make the most colorful compositions and other useful items. The only materials you will need are young plants or seeds (herbs, spices, flowers, etc.) dye, a brush, old newspapers and a few small stones.

DIY plant pal

All you have to do is transfer the plant to a mason jar / taper or even a cut bottle that you previously painted outside by first placing a few stones inside for drainage.

DIY Pencil case

Same process as above, just decorate a tall jar or coffee box. If you want you can stick a magnet on the outside to keep your paperclips in order.

DIY Candlestick lantern

Truly one of the most exotic outdoor decorations are the transparent lanterns. If they are painted in vibrant colors they emit colorful pastel lighting.
You will need transparent jars (whatever sizes you have), a few pieces of newspaper, stones and tealights.
You can also hang them with string on the railings of your balcony.
Place pieces of newspaper at the base of the inside of the jar and wet them lightly to stick them (so that the stones do not slip). Throw a few stones on top and the tealight or large candles on top.

You will find all kinds of jars, vases, ribbons and other decorative elements at vaza.gr

DIY autumn decoration ideas

Autumn decoration ideas with natural resources

October has arrived and autumn has made its appearance. So, since the landscape has now taken on the colours of the autumn palette, it is time to add a warm touch to the decoration of our house! Of course, since a seasonal decoration won’t stay in our space for a long time, it is not worth wasting a lot of energy and money for it. For this reason, in this article, we will present some ideas for a quick and handmade autumn decoration.

Autumn leaves
To begin with, a trademark of autumn is the yellow-orange leaves, which of course cannot be missing from our decor. These autumn leaves can be used in countless ways to upgrade the decoration of a space. So, a very simple way to decorate the living room or kitchen table, if they have removable glass, is to place dry leaves under it.

Autumn composition with candles
Also, for the decoration of the living room or any other surface is to make various small compositions with a natural object. For example, we can put some jars of candles between dry leaves. Another beautiful idea that reminds us of autumn, is a composition with dried fruits. The process is simple. We will need some fruits of our choice, such as apples, bananas or oranges. After cutting them into thin slices and soaking them in lemon juice, we need to leave them for an hour in the oven at 100 degrees. After removing the fruits from the oven, we can place them on a tray along with a few cinnamon sticks, a ribbon, and candles in earthy colours.

Jar with pinecones
As we said, it is not worth wasting much time and money on a seasonal decoration. In any case, sometimes the simplest ideas can prove to be the most impressive. So, the next idea that we propose, is a very simple composition with pinecones. To implement this idea, we will need a vase, pinecones (depending on the size of the jar) and a set of fairy lights. So, in this simple way, a characteristic piece of autumn becomes part of the decoration of our house.

All these very simple materials can create many more decorative details if we just use our imagination.

The magical world of essential oils

Essential oils are made from leaves, flowers, fruits, trees, bark or tree roots. They are used for perfumes, for natural soaps, salts, lotions and other face and body care preparations. The type of essential oil is selected according to purpose. The ether is mixed with oil or water, you need to keep it away from light, in bottle of glass, as dark as possible, to protect the oil from the adverse effects of the sun’s rays.
Continue reading The magical world of essential oils

Reducing the use of plastic products.

How to adopt environmental habits and lifestyle

We begin the year in an eco-friendly mood, and we show you how to reduce the use of plastic bags and packaging. It is true that it’s difficult to change habits, but if you think of a positive environmental impact, I believe it will not be difficult for you to change a few little things every day, with the result adopting new habits.
Continue reading Reducing the use of plastic products.

The importance of the right packaging in food products!

The packaging of food products has a main part throughout the process, from production to consumer. Packages assure the preservation of the good quality, the protection from germs, as well as the decrease in the use of preservatives. Continue reading The importance of the right packaging in food products!

Cosmetics and allergic reactions

In our everyday life, we use a lot of cosmetics on both our face and body. Bottles and jars for creams, shampoos, deodorants, makeup and perfumes have become a part of our every day life. Perfumes, colors and conservatives often contain substances, which can cause an allergic reaction to our skin.

In cosmetics, what can cause an allergic reaction?
1. The chemical derivatives of the product may injure the outer layer of the skin and cause external dermatitis or
2. The immune system may react in a specific substance (cosmetic allergen) and cause an allergic dermatitis.

The time of development of the symptoms may vary. In cosmetics, fragrances are powerful substances and can cause a reaction within minutes, although soap is a lighter substance, which may cause a reaction after a few days or a week.
So if you have a sensitivity or you just want to be precautious, follow the advice bellow.

Did you have an allergic reaction?
Find out what you applied on your body or face in the last 24 hours. Don’t use any of these products until the symptoms have passed. You may reuse the products, one at a time, so that you can discover the product that caused the allergic reaction.
If the symptoms don’t pass after you have stopped using them, you should consult a doctor.

How to cure the allergic reactions caused by cosmetics?
• Avoid the specific product
• With a doctor’s recipe:
1. With creams or cortisone ointments, which help to control hives, rushes and swelling.
2. With a use of an antibiotic, pill or cream, in case of an infection.

Finally, let’s see how we can be protected, when it comes to the use of cosmetics and personal hygiene products in order to avoid allergic reactions.
• Prefer soaps and cosmetic products based on simple or totally natural ingredients. If a product has a lot of substances, there is a bigger risk of an allergic reaction.
• Always read the ingredients on the labels of the products, so that you can avoid a substance that has caused you an allergic reaction in the past.
• If you choose a new product, apply a small amount in the inner side of your elbow or your wriest and wait for 24 hours before using the product.
• Spray a little of your perfume on your clothes and not directly at your skin and let it evaporate before putting them on.
• Choose hypoallergenic products, with no parabens, no fragrances and non-comedogenic. Although there is a chance that hypoallergenic products can also cause an allergic reaction.
• Do not use cosmetics after their expiration date, even the most natural products. Stop using the product if their color or smell has changed, even before their expiration. Most of cosmetics expire after 12 months.
• Do not lend your cosmetics to other people and do not borrow any, as well. There is a big chance of transmitting skin diseases.

Infuse your honey!

Honey is a super-food that has been researched and presented in various ways for its important health benefits. It has a lot of qualities and has drawn the interest of nutrition, pharmaceutics and cosmetics scientific fields.
Usually a jar of honey exists in every home, as both adults and kids prefer it as a treat or an important part of their nutrition.
Flavoured honey can take its taste to another level. Either simple eating it or using it in a recipe, flavoured honey impresses with its use. If your honey jar has been opened for a long time and has lost its initial scent, you don’t have to worry about it. You can easily flavor it with the scent of your favorite fruit, herb or spice!
Pick one of the ingredients below and make the first step to your new honey edition!
• lemon or/and orange zest
• lavender purple flowers
• fresh mint, spearmint or basil leaves
• cinnamon stick, clove and orange zest
• orange zest with ginger
• rosemary
• sage
• rose petals
• chamomile
• verbena and pine needles

There are so many choices and combinations of flavors and scents, that you will find yours for sure. The easiest way to flavour your honey with your favourite ingredient is to put the herb/fruit zest/spice of your choice in a dry, clean and sterilized glass jar and then pour the honey. The proportion is about one tablespoon of herb for one cup of honey.
Let it finely closed for 5 days, in the meantime turn it over frequently so they will mix on their own. After that, you strain it in to another sterilized glass jar and your new flavoured honey is ready! For a stronger scent and flavour, leave it for 10 days with your favourite ingredient.
There are also recipes with boiling honey along with the herbs. Don’t forget to keep the honey jar in a dry and cool place.

You can use flavoured honey in your hot beverages, homemade pastry recipes, even in salad dressings and meat marinades for extra flavor and scent. Its uses are countless! So, include honey in your nutrition and see the benefits in your health.

Make your own lip gloss!

Summer has passed and we all are looking for new colors of make up to be glamorous and beautiful all day long. But it is kind of difficult to have everything we want in a variety of colors for every season. Lets see how we can make our own beautiful, colorful and shiny lip gloss at home fast and easily!
You will need:
• Eye shadows or blush in the desired color
• Petroleum jelly
• Essential oil, for example coconut, lavender, rose, almond (ATTENTION! when choosing an essential oil for allergies. Before using it test it on your wrist and check it some minutes later. If everything is ok, you can use it for your lips.)
• A glass or acrylic jar with cap
• A bowl to make the product

Instructions:
In a bowl put a small amount of petroleum jelly, for example half a teaspoon and add a bit of shadow, a small amount at a time, mixing it well until it reaches the desired shade. As you are adding color, it becomes more intense, so be careful with the quantity of the shadow that you put. When you reach the desired outcome, add 2 drops of the essential oil and continue mixing. When it’s ready, put it in the package with the cap and it is ready to use it.

Handmade lip gloss is a very unique gift for our female friends as well. We choose the color and scent that fits to each one, we wrap it up and we make our friends happy!
So make you own handmade lip gloss and you’ll never return to the old ones!

DIY: Old jars and bottles gain value again!

If you are a fan of DIY (do it yourself) the summer is the better season to work with your own crafts. The glass jars and bottles of every kind can be your best ally in this try. Except for bottles or jars, you will need various other objects which can be used for completing the craft. Simple or colored sand, pebbles, white or colorful gravels, candle, shells that you picked from the beach in your vacation, colors and paint brushes, glue, thin rope or fishing line or any other material you like.
Use old or new jars/bottles that contained preserves, jam, honey, wine, juice or compote and you can make useful utensils. You will use these utensils as decoration with summer themes for your balcony or for preserving food, homemade sweets and jam, spices etc.
After you choose what you want to do, search for the right size of the jar or bottle. If you want to make bottles for water or refreshments you will search for narrow and tall shapes. You can color them with a spray or you can paint them with your own drawings to give them a personal touch.

You can also decorate the balcony or a shelf with bottles. Fill them with colored or simple sand, pebbles, gravels or anything else you like. Choosing jars, you can use the same painting techniques or leave them without painting and decorate them with pebbles, gravels, shells, sand, candles or paint summer themes on them, to decorate the balcony or the garden. You can also use them as a flower vase or to store little things at the bathroom.
Be sure to use little jars if you have to decorate an internal space or to put them on furniture or bigger if they will decorate the floor, the garden or the balcony. You can also fill the jars with jam or sweet that you made, for personal use or gift. Such an idea will surely impress for its double use and your personal touch!
So try to make your own decorative jars and bottles and make a difference!