Five Fun Ways to Upcycle your Bonne Maman Mini Jars

Hope you enjoyed your Bonne Maman Advent Calendar as much as I did – I confess that I am still enjoying it!! 24 days of yummy jams and spreads – that’s a lot of jam!!Did you have a favourite flavour this year? Or were you surprised, like I was, at how good a concoction ended up being? The Fig with Cardamom Spread was my surprise for the Season – I didn’t think I’d like oit but it ended up being one of my faves!

So now it’s January and we’re all left with a bunch of cute little jars. So here are a few ideas of what to do with them! I’d love to hear how you upcycle your Bonne Maman Mini Jars!

Valentine Gifts for the Whole Class or Office

This is especially timely what with Valentine’s Day coming up soon. Create super cute little Valentines for your kid to share with classmates or for you to share with work colleagues.
Supplies:

• Empty, Clean and Dry Bonne Maman Mini Jars
• Paper Gift Tags
• Pink & Red Ribbon
• Small Candies – you could get some from the dollar store
• Small Valentine’s Day themed stickers

Directions:

• Fill the jar with candies
• Apply your Valentine stickers to each jar
• Write the recipient’s name on the paper tag
• String the tag onto a piece of ribbon and tie the ribbon to the jar with the name facing outward.

Note that jars in the photo use the above listed supplies, but you can be as creative as you want with what you put into the jars and how you decorate. Other decoration ideas include: glitter, rhinestones, multicolored string, scrapbook charms, or drawing on them with paint pens. Make your own tags with a heart-shaped paper punch.

Natural Lip Balm in a Tiny Jar
Easy-to-make natural lip balm in a little glass jar for you to keep in your purse, briefcase or car and to share with friends as lovely handmade gifts. Use your favorite essential oils to create different blends—the only limit is your imagination!
Ingredients & Supplies:

• 8 x Empty Bonne Maman mini jars – clean and dry
• ¼ Cup Cocoa butter wafers
• ¼ Cup Beeswax
• ½ Cup Coconut oil
• Essential Oils of your choice (lavender, peppermint, orange or strawberry)
• Optional for color: Beet root powder

Instructions:

• In a double-boiler, combine and slowly melt cocoa butter wafers, beeswax, and coconut oil. 
• Next, add your preferred essential oil about 10 drops at a time until desired scent is achieved. 
• If tinted lip balm is desired, whisk in ¼ teaspoon of beet root powder for light pink color.
• Put the liquid in a container with a spout, carefully fill your mini jars and let cool until solid.
• If you’re giving the Lip Balm Jars as a gift add some ribbon and a gift tag or pop it into one of those tiny gift bags you can find at the dollar store!

Mini Salt and Pepper Shakers

I love how easy this option is – plus it let’s you burn off some new year stress by banging some holes through the lids!!! Salt and pepper are the obvious choices for these little shakers but you could also use one for cinnamon (or better yet Lebkuchen spices) to sprinkle on your oatmeal or toast. Or put flavoured seasoning in the jar to kick up a bowl of popcorn.

Supplies:

• Empty and clean mini Bonne Maman jars
• Permanent marker
• Small wood backing for lid
• 1/16" hole-making tool (drill or rotary tool with bit, punch & hammer)
• Rubbing alcohol

Instructions:

First, decide which seasonings you’d like to make shakers for and gather your chosen amount of clean mini jars. Using a permanent marker, use dots to mark your lid with the pattern of your choice. (Ex. “S” for salt; “P” for pepper; “C”: for cinnamon).
Put a small piece of wood up against the bottom of the lid to help protect the surface you’re working on and keep the shape of the lid. With either a metal punch, drill, or rotary tool, make several 1/16″ holes along the letter or pattern you’ve marked.

When you’re happy with the number of holes and their placement, use a paper towel or cotton swab with rubbing alcohol to wipe away any permanent marker.
Fill the jars with your seasonings, screw the lids on tight, and start shaking!

Pencil Sharpener that doesn’t “Spread” a Mess!

There’s certainly nothing dull about this mini Bonne Maman jar that’s been upcycled into the cutest little pencil sharpener. Craft one using the instructions below.

Supplies:

• A Drill with drill bit the size of the pencil sharpener opening
• Glue – something really tacky like gorilla glue
• Small Pencil Sharpener
• Empty and cleaned Bonne Maman Mini Jar

Instructions:

With the lid attached to the jar drill a hole through the centre of the mini jar lid
Remove the lid and glue small pencil sharpener to the inside of the jar’s lid
Screw the lid back on and try it out!

Mini Storage for the Kitchen, Laundry Room or Garage

There are at least two ways of utilizing the mini jars for tiny storage spaces: you could glue the lid to the underside of a shelf or you could glue a magnet to the inside of the lid. I personally like the first option – it’s easier and I don’t have to go looking for magnets!

Simply attach Bonne Maman lids to the underside of a shelf using screws or even nails. Fill the jars and screw ‘upwards’ into the lid. Space the jars evening under the shelf for an eye-catching and easy-to-use feature.

In the kitchen or pantry the jars could be used for small amounts of spices. In the workshop or garage they would be perfect for the smallest screws, nails and washers that tend to get lost among larger objects.

We’d love to hear how you enjoyed the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar and how you use the little jars once the jams and spreads are consumed. Email us at info@gingerbread-world.com – and include pictures…we love pictures!

 

The ideas in this article are inspired by blogs created by Bonne Maman