Thanksgiving Jar Place Cards

If you missed the fun jar ideas I shared yesterday be sure and check out more jar ideas here.

One of the ideas I shared at the class makes cute and easy Thanksgiving table decor.  You can also use the idea to make place cards for everyone at the table.  I am listening to the book House at Riverton on CD and got a kick out of this statement about placement at the dinner table:

“The importance of placement, Nancy advised, could not be overestimated.  Indeed, according to her, the success or failure of a dinner party hinged entirely on the seating arrangement.  Evidently Lady Violet’s reputation as a “perfect hostess”, rather than merely a “good one,” resulted from her ability to first invite the right people and then to seat them prudently, peppering the witty and entertaining amongst the dull but important.”

Hopefully we are all one of the witty and entertaining!!

I used baby food jars (thanks to my friend Paige for supplying them) for my placecards.

I used a paint pen to write the names on the outside of the jar and then filled them with things from my pantry – popcorn and wheat!  A touch of ribbon and a candle and they are ready for the Thanksgiving table.  Because real candles aren’t allowed in the church where I taught the class I used the battery operated ones from the Dollar Store.

I also made some centerpiece jars using the bigger size jars.  This one is filled with yellow split peas from the bulk section of the grocery store!

Since I don’t have such pretty handwriting I picked some pretty fonts on my computer and printed out the words which I then taped to the inside of the jar.

Using some paint pens I picked up at Michael I just drew over the letters onto the glass.

So easy!

Then just fill your jar with whatever you want.

Another fun idea for placecards at a table is to paint a mini chalkboard onto a jar.

You can leave the jars empty or fill them with something fun.  If you didn’t add the ribbon you could use them to serve your beverage. The great thing about this one is that it is totally reuseable – just erase the name and you are ready to go for the next party.

I used my Cricut to cut out a label shape.  I used the negative image, what was left when I removed the label.

I cut the label out of white contact paper so then I just removed the back of the negative image and attached it to the jar, being sure to rub the edges down nice and tight.

I then gave it about 3 coats of chalkboard paint (the brush on kind, not the spray paint version)  I bought mine at Home Depot.

After it dries for a while CAREFULLY remove the contact paper.  If any paint has seeped underneath the paper, just use an exacto knife or your fingernail to scrap it off.  I added some ribbon and twine and a name!

Next up – some fun treat ideas to fill your jars with!

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Things to do with Jars!

Saturday was our yearly Super Saturday at church.  It is a once a year activity where we all get together and “get crafty!”

This year I taught a class on jars – all kinds of ideas using jars.  We also had a hands on activity where we made these cute little jar canisters.

Let’s just say it took a few trips to Goodwill to round up enough candlesticks.  Good thing I have 3 different Goodwills within a decent distance from my home.  We painted them with black spray paint and then used some Amazing E6000 glue to glue the candlestick to the jar.  We also painted the lids with the spray paint.  A fun and easy decoration.  Just fill it with your candy of choice and add a ribbon bow.

I then did a demonstration on lots of fun ideas to do with jars.  The ideas include decor ideas and ideas to use for giving gifts.

These fun jars would look cute on a mantel or as table decor for the holidays. I first used my hot glue gun to write the words but found it was easier to use puff paint as I didn’t get all those bothersome hot glue tails.

I used spray paint on the outside of the jars.  Just choose words and then paint!  There are so many fun colors of spray paint to choose from.

The original idea came from here.

On the next jars I used tissue paper and mod podge.  You can mod podge just about anything onto a jar.

I used my Cricut to cut out the snowflakes from scrapbook paper.  I also made a Halloween set last year using the idea from this blog.

I’ve got a couple more fun jar ideas to use for your Thanksgiving table which I’ll share on another post.

Jars also make great containers for gift giving.  Fill them with your favorite treat.  I told the class you could even just pour a boxed brownie mix into one of these cute jars and the recipient would love it because the jar was so cute.  It’s all in the presentation.  If you need some ideas for treats to put in jars check out my recipe index under Candy and Treats – there is lots!  I’ll also have a few new ones for you later this week.

For all of these jars I just used stuff that was already laying around my house (O.K., so I have a lot of stuff laying around my house)  But get creative, use your imagination and just look around and see what you already have that you can use.

Here I used mod podge to attach a doily onto a jar. I think this would be beautiful for a wedding or a baby shower.

And since I had the mod podge out I covered these baby food jars in mod podge and then rolled them in epsom salts. I love the look!  They look like little glowing snowballs.

You can also tint the Epsom salts with food coloring for a very cool look.  Check out the idea on this blog.

For these I just pulled out some of my scrapbooking paper and ribbon.  A cupcake liner makes a cute cover for a jar lid.  I also had an old Scrabble game I picked up at Goodwill and those tiles come in handy to jazz up a jar quick and easy.  I just hot glued the letters on.

I used one of my paper punches to punch out the scalloped circle.

Just in case you have an old sweater laying around the house that doesn’t fit anymore …just cut off the ribbing and use it to dress up jar!

I ran a gathering stitch along the bottom and pulled it up to hug the jar.  Another cupcake liner for the lid and a piece of ribbon.

Most of my jars are from my stash from my previous canning days, ones I pick up at Goodwill like this great jumbo size jar or they are jars from food we have eaten.  What a great way to repurpose and recycle.  Or you could just go to the Dollar Store, buy a few jars of pickles and use those jars too!

You can also just get into your fabric stash (or borrow some from a friend).  I love burlap and the way it looks with just a little ribbon and twine wrapped around it.  Just attach a tag!

There were a few other ideas but thought you might be jarred out by now!  I’ll have a few more fun jar ideas tomorrow you can use for your Thanksgiving dinner table!

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Birthday Box

Send a birthday box to your favorite college student or friend or family member who is away from home.

Today is this beautiful girl’s birthday.

Twenty two years ago she arrived in our family.  After two boys we were so excited to have our girl.  She was arriving a little early so the delivery room was full of people.  We didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl.  I haven’t known what any of my babies were before they were born.  I’m one of those that likes to be surprised.  Everyone in the room knew we had two boys so they were all hoping for a girl too!  There was lots of cheering in the room when the doctor announced “It’s a Girl!”    It was like one big party.  It has kind of been like that with Cali ever since – one big party!

She was a little girl too – 5 lbs. 4 oz. when we brought her home but she has always been big in spirit and energy.  She has filled our life with love, joy, laughs and lots of fun.  She has overcome health issues and learning disabilities.  There was a time, when as her mother, I worried that she would be able to survive college.  She is now a college senior who is  not only surviving but thriving in college.  She has discovered her passion in life and is pursuing it.  We love you Cali!

Since I won’t be with her on her birthday I sent her a birthday box.

The box contains everything she needs to celebrate – a cake mix (gluten free of course!), frosting, sprinkles, cute cupcake wrappers, birthday streamers and candles.  I’m hoping her roommates or sister will bake the cupcakes for her.

I also included some birthday decor.  A birthday banner made out of scrapbook paper and rick rack.  I just hot glued the rick rack on.

From the scraps of paper I made some little paper flags to put in the cupcakes.

I packaged them up in a little white bag and used one of the flags to close it up.

It all went in the box and was shipped off to my college girl!

Happy Birthday Cali.  There are a few other surprises in the mail too!

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