Collegiate Times

For some reason, summertime and mason jars seem to strike a chord with crafters everywhere.  Commonly used for moonshine, or all-in-one cookie recipes, mason jars tend to be  overlooked.  Here are 5 summer-time uses for your average mason jar. - ally hammond, features editor

1) Party Favors

For summer parties or birthdays, scoop your favorite cake into a mason jar, and bake as directed.  When it is cool, dollop some frosting on the top, and decorate with sprinkles.  Tie a bow, and secure with hot glue around the lid, and you have personal party cakes.

2) Candle-Holders

For some tinted ambient lighting, grab your favorite color (or coordinating colors) of tissue paper.  Rip into abstract shapes, or cut into circles, and stick to the outside of the jar with Mod-Podge.  Glaze the finished product with an extra layer of Mod-Podge to secure your tissue paper.  Set a candle on the inside, and cast a colorful and fun glow over any table.

3) Storage Unit

If shelves on your wall are starting to fill up, try utilizing the under-side of them.  By hot-gluing or nailing the lids of mason jars to the under-side of the shelf, trinkets can be stored in the jar.  Just unscrew, fill, and re-screw the jar into the lid, and extra storage space has instantly been added.

4) Soap Dispenser

For the summer, home decorating magazines are filled with glass jars in the bathroom—so why not add a mason jar?  By buying a soap pump, and drilling a hole in the lid of the mason jar, you’ve just made a super quick and stylish soap dispenser.  Fill it with a colorful liquid soap, and complete your bathroom decorating.

5) A Vase

Though this may seem obvious, mason jars make rustic and charming vases. Try taking a bunch of hydrangeas, and wrapping the stems in a color fabric. To secure the fabric, use a twine to wrap and tie a bow, or a thin, white, satin ribbon for a less-rustic look.

A version of this article appeared in the Jun 16 issue of the Collegiate Times.