| Presentation is everything! Making gifts in a jar are | | | | or picture or something you'd like to put on the |
| a wonderful, personal yet inexpensive way to | | | | jar, and get it on paper. Place the paper inside the |
| show someone you care. There really is no end | | | | jar, and then simply let your painting basically be |
| to the ideas a person can come up with, let your | | | | tracing the design and adding your own personal |
| creativity flow and think also about who the gift is | | | | touches to it. Again, this can really be used for a |
| for to really make it especially for them. Jar gifts | | | | theme and the jar itself will remain a keepsake |
| are a wonderful, creative yet inexpensive ways | | | | long after the recipe has been used. |
| to give gifts to family, friends and teachers and | | | | Layer the ingredients for a beautiful effect. Put at |
| other loved ones. | | | | the bottom layers the finest ingredients, like flour |
| Are you helping a child to make the gift? If the | | | | but be sure to mix in the baking sodas, salt, etc |
| gift is from a child for a grandparent, parent or | | | | that's called for in the recipes. You can use a |
| teacher, decoupage the child's photo on the | | | | funnel to help keep things orderly. If the flour |
| outside of the jar, then trim the edges of the | | | | dusts the rest of the jar, let it settle a while then |
| photo with lace or some other finishing type of | | | | gently wipe the jar with a paper towel before |
| ribbon. The child could even paint a little something | | | | adding the rest of the layers. Brown sugar can be |
| on the opposite side of the jar or his or her little | | | | packed down to save a bit of space. |
| handprint with paint. | | | | You can accessorize your jar gifts by either gluing |
| One common way to decorate a jar is take | | | | dried flowers, pinecones, beads, shells or |
| some fabric and cut a circle, square or heart | | | | whatever to the top of the jars as well. Or tie |
| shape out of the fabric that is 6 - 8 inches across. | | | | small items with ribbon or raffia to the jars. |
| You can use pinking shears or other decorative | | | | Common items that work well are measuring |
| type scissors to edge the fabric. Lace can also be | | | | spoons, tiny whisks, cookie cutter, ornaments, |
| sewn as a trim to the fabric. Place the inner round | | | | cinnamon bark, vanilla beans or any other small |
| section of the jar's lid on the jar and center the | | | | whimsical item you may find. |
| fabric on that. Screw the other section of the lid | | | | There are many beautiful ribbons out there and |
| in place to hold the fabric. Fluff out the fabric | | | | different styles and sizes of bows can be made |
| where it comes out from under the lid. | | | | and simply glued on to the lid. Lace can also be |
| You can use already decorated type jars, or | | | | hot glued around the rim of the jar. |
| standard canning jars. The most common sizes | | | | For a holiday themed jar try a luscious hot cocoa |
| are the pint and quart sized jars, but baby jars | | | | mix or other goodie recipe, gluing some wrapping |
| are also great for smaller portion drink or spice | | | | paper decor around various sides of the jar, or |
| type mix gifts. | | | | you can use some glitter paint for a snow type |
| Hang tags can be made either by hand, computer | | | | theme. For a Wild West theme, try perhaps a |
| graphics or a label glued to the jar itself, but these | | | | bean soup recipe, wrap your jar in a bandanna, or |
| can be customized to a central theme if desired. | | | | use the bandanna itself as tied around the lid. |
| However you choose to do this, they will need | | | | Perhaps you can find a cowboy boot or hat |
| the recipe's final instructions. Try your hand at | | | | graphic to decoupage on the jar itself, or paint |
| calligraphy! | | | | one on. |
| There are many wonderful recipes that can be | | | | Get creative in how you want to present your jar |
| made specifically designed for jars. These include | | | | gift. This might mean a gift basket filled with |
| soup mixes, spice mixes, cookie and other baked | | | | several jar gifts, or simply one with other |
| goods recipes, coffee and creamer recipes and so | | | | components making up the whole gift basket |
| many more. These can be quite easy to make | | | | What about the tea lover you know? Try some |
| ahead of time, so you always have a gift you can | | | | small baby jars filled with different flavored teas, |
| grab whenever you need one, especially great for | | | | cocoas and coffee mixes and put in a basket with |
| those last minute gift needs, or for the person | | | | a coffee mug and muffin or scone. Paint the jar |
| who seems to have everything and is difficult to | | | | lids coordinating colors to match the mug. Perhaps |
| buy for. | | | | adding some gourmet tea bags and cinnamon |
| You can paint the jar before filling it. Buy paint | | | | sticks would be a nice touch as well. Let your |
| that is specially designed for glass and follow the | | | | creativity guide your senses. |
| specific directions. Can't paint? Try finding a card | | | | |