Creative Crafts with Canning Jars

Pincushion

This clever pincushion not only provides a safe place to keep pins, the jar is a great place to keep other small items that might otherwise be lost. Start by buying canning jars, fabric scrap, stuffing material, glue, and cardstock.

Help your child to use the jar lid to draw a circle on the fabric scrap with a radius about an inch bigger than that of the lid. Let him cut this out. He can then trace the jar lid on the piece of card stock and cut out this circle. Let your child take a handful of stuffing, place this on the jar lid, and then the fabric over the stuffing like a sandwich. Place the band over this and press the lid firmly through to form the pincushion. Help your child glue the edges of the fabric around the bottom of the lid. Then glue the cardstock to the underside of the lid. Remove the band from the pincushion. Let your child lightly line the inside of the band with glue and press the pincushion back into the band. Let all the glue dry. Then screw the lid on the jar, which can be used to hold buttons, scraps of ribbon, or other treasures.

Stained-Glass Votive Holder

Colored tissue paper creates a stained-glass effect that is truly magical when this candleholder is light from within. Buy canning jars, tissue paper, decoupage glue such as mod podge, foam brush, and a tea-light or other votive candle.

Let your child tear strips of different colors of tissue paper. For best results let her pick a few colors that won't overlap to make brown. For example work with shades of blue and green or pink, orange, and yellow, but avoid combining purple and yellow or orange and blue. Help her apply a layer of glue to the outside of the jar and let her stick strips of tissue paper to the jar however she likes. She need not cover all the empty space on the jar. Then apply another layer of glue and more tissue paper, overlapping this second layer of tissue paper with some of the pieces from the first layer. Continue to do this until the entire jar is covered. She should then apply one final coat of glue and let the candleholder dry. When dry, put a tea-light inside. Your child will be delighted and amazed at the beauty of this glowing light.

Potpourri

Colorful and fragrant, potpourri makes a great gift. Or your child can make several jars, some for gifts and some to keep, filling the home with a lovely scent. Buy canning jars and bands, scraps of fabric, dried flowers such as lavender or rosebuds, fragrant leaves like bay leaves, small pine cones or dried citrus peel, and two tablespoons of orris root to every four cups dried flowers, essential oil.

In a medium bowl, let your child mix together your preferred blend of dried flowers, leaves, and citrus peel or pine cones. Numerous potpourri recipes are available to give some inspiration and guidance as to what scents mix well together. Help him measure out the orris root and add to the flower mixture. Add several drops of essential oils. Put the potpourri in an airtight container and let your child shake to distribute the fixative. Store the container away from direct sunlight for six weeks, shaking every few days. When the six weeks is up, scoop the potpourri into canning jars. Cut out circles of fabric about an inch bigger in radius than the lid of the canning jar. Put over the mouth of the jar and screw on the band. The porous fabric will allow the scent to diffuse.