Filed under: Projects, Crafts & Projects
Rely on this retro glass vessel for more than homemade pickles and jams.
When used to make a wedding table chandelier (left) or as part of a home display (right), the result is always dramatic and polished. Photo: Erin Ever After, The Print Lover
John Mason designed the revolutionary shoulder-seal jar with a screw cap in 1858, but his patent on the design expired twenty years later, opening the market to competition. Shortly after, the Ball Brothers -- Frank, Edmund, George, Lucius and William -- began manufacturing Mason jars through the Ball Brothers Glass Company, calling them "Ball jars." (The Ball Company's epic history includes debuting the first primer on home canning, Ball Blue Book, in 1909, bragging rights for not laying off a single employee during 1933's Great Depression, and, more recently, celebrating their 125th anniversary in 2009.)
Throughout their history, these jars have been used for everything from pickle canning to homespun mousetraps to grenade warfare, but here are a few unique ways to apply the old world ingenuity of Mason jars to stylish modern living.
1. Create stunning lighting sources
Few things feel turn-of-the-century chic like using generation-old materials to create modern lighting solutions. Pottery Barn's Exeter Pendant keeps the look classic while Anthropologie and Design*Sponge play with Mason jar lighting display on levels big and small. For a new approach, update the look with more energy efficient CFLs and enhance lighting effects by using aqua, amber or other colored jar options. You can also DIY your own lighting with this neat tea light chandelier or these quick and easy garden lights.
The perfect place for a miniature world. Photo: Craftzine
The desire to create miniature worlds doesn't have to end with childhood. Terrariums are the latest home trend. A Mason jar is the perfect vessel for creating one; it gives those throwback trinkets a space to shine. Check out this project on Craftzine for inspiration.
Photos: Brides.com, Teeny Blessings
Trust me on this: Beverages straight from Mason jars just taste better. Serve lemonade in them, as shown here at Brides.com, or leave the tops off, fill them with ice and pour in some fresh-brewed iced tea. Another brilliant idea: gifting limeade mix in mason jars as a sweet summer soiree treat.
Photo: Apartment Therapy
Drill a hole in a Mason jar lid and secure a reusable soap pump to make an enviable, refillable soap dispenser for under $3. Check out this great DIY project at Apartment Therapy.
Photos: Weeping Cherries, Etsy
Whether mounted on a wall or placed on a shelf, Mason jars can add uniformity and structure to any mound of clutter. A few can-do ideas:
-Show off your silverware by dividing each type of utensil into separate jars.
-Store your sewing supplies, as seen in this idea at Martha Stewart Living.
-Use different sized jars to sort your work space -- pens and pencils in one, scissors and letter openers in another.
-Take snacks out of their bags and use Mason jars as tight-sealed containers.
Photos: Lisa Light, LTD., The Inspired Room
Used as single-stem vases or centerpieces, Mason jars can make the most basic candle or bunch of flowers look tabletop-ready.
Ready to get your fill? Kmart offers 12 authentic Ball Mason jars for under $12, as do most hardware stores and container depots. You might consider scouring vintage booths and antique bins to rediscover firsthand both the jars' timeless aesthetics and that childlike feeling of capturing something really, really great in your two hands.
And if you're feeling inspired about reinventing household items, check out our gallery with several other fun ideas.
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