Show of hands: Who's going through a ton of baby food jars and feeling like they could have a purpose beyond just heading to the recycling center? Us too! The good news is that there are some amazing ideas for holding on to baby food jars and putting them to good use. Some of these baby food jar crafts are easy and perfect to do with kids, and some are more sophisticated and better done by an adult. All of them are clever and inspiring — and they show the possibilities are endless!
Start by cleaning out those baby food jars and removing their labels to get them prepped for crafting. Kids can create so many things using simple paint, fabric, and glue. They make a most excellent rainy day project. Beyond that, baby food jars make perfect tabletop containers, helping create organization for small objects like pencils and Legos. Plus, there are some more stylish uses for these little jars. As it turns out, they can be quite spectacular when transformed into candleholders, plant pots, snow globes, party favors, night-lights, and even rustic chandeliers. Moms might want to get crafting with these versatile vessels even if the baby isn't old enough to get involved just yet.
Ready to pull some tiny jars out of the recycling bin and get crafting? Check out all the incredibly clever ways baby food jars can be used.
Colorful succulent planters
Turning baby food jars into colorful planters is a really lovely way to create a personalized gift. Just a bit of jute rope or raffia wrapped around a hand-painted jar is something a kid of nearly any age can make.
Flower basket jars
Take rope or twine to create a basket-like handle for painted baby food jars. They're perfect for planting flowers.
Candy jar baby shower favors
It's simple to create baby shower favors out of baby food jars. Paint and decorate the jars' lids and then fill them with candy. Perfect? We think so.
Baby food jar pumpkin candle
For anyone looking for a substitute to pumpkin carving, this spectacular Halloween time candle is more treat than tricky.
Lego baby food jar craft
It's really hard to handle the cuteness here. Not only are these Lego-themed baby food jars adorable, but they're also absolutely perfect containers for the tiniest Lego bricks!
DIY pencil holder
Making crafts is fun, but when a crafty item is made to have great function, that's even better. Meet pencil holder bear! This former baby food jar is a whimsical vessel for kids' pens and pencils.
Spice jars
Creating a spice blend ensures recipes get a customized dose of flavor. And sharing a favorite homemade spice blend with others makes for a low-cost and much-appreciated gift. Pour the spices into baby food jars, create labels, and make insta gifts!
Pig-themed jars
These cute pigs made out of baby food jars hold some sweet treats and make adorable party favors.
DIY jar candles
Collect baby food jars, and add wax and wicks to create candles, perfectly scented for each season.
Lighted critter houses
Using polymer clay and paint, these adorable mushroom-shaped critter houses started out as baby food jars. Add tiny battery-powered lights for extra glow.
Mermaid lantern jar
Make some magic in a jar by creating a mermaid lantern. Adorn the lid with gorgeous shells.
Colorful succulent pots
Here's another way to decorate baby food jars to hold plants. We love the mixed use of paint and fabrics.
Mini sewing kit in a jar
This genius sewing kit is everything. We love that the lid is a pin cushion and how tiny spools of thread and needles fit perfectly inside the baby food jar.
Bud vase
The pinks! The greens! We love this tiny jar for flowers. It's perfect for tiny buds or for taller blooms with strong stems.
Cookie bouquet holder
Decorate a mini jar to hold delicious cake pops and cookies.
Mini bank
All that tooth fairy money will be saved with pride in the mini bank that's been crafted with care using a former baby food jar.
Toothpick holder
Created with polymer clay, paint, and a lot of creativity, these baby food jars have been transformed into super useful toothpick holders.
Makeup brush holder
This is the ultimate no-frills way to reuse baby food jars. They are perfect for holding makeup brushes — no need to do a thing to them!
Baby food jar garden
Here, seedlings get a cozy home in baby food jars. We love how they are attached to pallets to create easy and rustic decor.
Bath salt container
With a simple wrap of crochet fabric and string, this baby food jar is adorably transformed to a bath salt holder.
Hanging lanterns
Collect many baby food jars and create a gorgeous outdoor "chandelier" of sorts with tied jute rope and tea lights inside.
Pastel butterfly-themed lanterns
Use matte pastel paint — and a butterfly-shaped cutout — to decorate baby food jars to look like lanterns that are so darling.
Hardware storage in mini jars
This clever use of baby food jars makes finding nails and screws a lot easier. Use the same idea for tacks and pins as well.
ABC flashcards made of jar lids
Creating durable ABCs "cards" is a great idea — baby can't destroy these like he can with cardboard. Simply upcycle baby food jar lids by adding stickers with the letters of the alphabet on them. Store them in an old wipe container, of course.
Baby food jar Christmas tree
This may be one of the brightest Christmas decoration ideas there is. A few baby food jars, some lights, and voilà! It's a tree. So clever, so cool, so DIY perfect.
Photo snow globe
Place an adorable photo inside a baby food jar, and with some sweet decorations, a snow globe is born.
Straw cups for a kids' party
At a party, mason jars are for the adults. Kids can get straw cups made out of their former baby food jars. Love!
Mini cupcake holder
A brilliant way to give mini cupcakes as gifts is to store each one in an upside-down baby food jar. Genius!
DIY shark-themed snow globes
Mini toy sharks have a new home within baby food jars. This makes a really cool take on a snow globe.
Thankful jar
Here's a fun way to teach kids to give thanks. Fill a baby food jar with some sweet treats, then have the kids write what they are thankful for onto paper feather cutouts. Glue it all up with some googly eyes and a beak to make a pretty sweet Thanksgiving turkey.
Crafty owl jar
This adorable owl is perfect for craft time at a kid's birthday party. It makes an excellent keepsake.
Chick candy holder
Everyone loves candy, but when it's delivered in the cutest chick jar ever, it tastes even better!
Popcorn kernel favor jars
Baby food jars are great holders for the smallest items, like party favors. For a party, fill them with popcorn kernels and add rustic decorations that tell guests "Thanks for popping by!"
Baby food jar slime monsters
Making these glitter slime monsters out of baby food jars is the ultimate rainy day activity.
Bird in a jar
We're in awe of this pretty craft. Who wouldn't love to have a tiny bird in a jar like this one?
Etched glass jar
Use etching cream to beautifully decorate baby food jars. An etched glass jar can beautifully hold anything from candy to pins.
Hummingbird feeder
Attract some lovely hummingbirds with this DIY feeder. Get the kids involved in this fun craft — and create some for the neighbors, too.
Knit-covered baby food jars
For those that knit, decorating baby food jars with lovely yarn designs makes them look extra darling.
DIY ghost night-light
Could this be the cutest night-light ever? And it's made with a baby food jar! For kids who may be afraid of the dark, make the face less ghostly and more silly.
Bunny jar lids
Take any mini figure, paint it, and glue it on top of a baby food jar. This is a sweet yet simple way to spruce up the jars and give them a bit of an enchanting feel. Plus, bunny-themed jars make excellent little additions to kids' Easter baskets.
