How can I repurpose pickle jars?

If the lid been off and the smell is gone. You can store bean, sugars, rice, dry pasta, things like that in them. Tell you fine another use for them.

I painted the lids with acrylic paint and stenciled sunflowers on them and I use them for 5lb bags of flour and sugar. I love them. I decorate a lot of jars like that to hold all types of pantry items like brown sugar,confectioners sugar. Anything that you wouldn't want moisture to get into. The possibilities are endless !

Make lamps out of them. Put memories in the jar such as pics or sea shells from a beach trip or even children's memories they have outgrown such as a small stuffed animal etc. get a lamp kit and a lamp shade and you are set. I have made several of these. They are great

I painted the lids black with spray paint and then added metal black signs hanging with jute. Use white chalkboard markers to label your jars. I made one for flour, sugar, and cornmeal. I have had so many compliments on them. They really have that farmhouse look that is so popular.

I use them for to make sun tea.

Drill a hole in the top and attach a drawer pull. Paint the lid. And bam you have a pertty container.

Just a thought. My Grandfather used them in the basement to store nails, screws, washers, nuts, bolts and etc. He also attached the covers (with jars) to the floor joist in the basement to keep the work counter from being cluttered.

Paint the lid a seasonal color and nail it jar side up onto a craft store wooden plaque. Take the jar itself to a glass cutter and have the bottom cut out and beveled to eliminate any sharp edges. Screw the jar back onto the lid and you have a naked candle holder to decorate with silk flowers, ribbons, foliage and one of those huge candles. Your imagination is unlimited for decorations and/or etching or whatever.

I made a Squirrel Feeder using one. If you're DIY Handy, here's a link that I used for instructions. http://www.birdsandblooms.com/backyard-projects/diy-garden-projects/diy-squirrel-feeder/

I've used these for terrariums, also a biosphere project, even an aquarium for a Beta fish.

A Life-time ago, we used something like that for a "swear jar", then used the money for vacation.

LUMINARIES - Remove top & set aside. Print a pretty picture you can draw. Roll it up & let it expand inside the jar. Tape it down with tiny pieces of tape on the corners so that you can easily remove the pic when you're done. Get some GLASS PAINTS from Walmart or your craft store. Using the black outline, draw your picture on the outside of the jar. Let dry completely. Fill in with the colors & remove the picture from inside the jar. Let dry overnight. Place a battery operated tea light candle inside & watch it light up. Most of the time, you can see your picture on the walls. GOOD LUCK! :)

Fill one with buttons, zippers, sewing supplies. Fill another with leftovers like homemade soup for storage in your fridge. Dog treats. Cat treats or food. Extra pens and envelopes or scratch paper for grocery lists. Think storage!

I saved everything I ever found in my son's pockets when I was doing laundry. I mean everything. I put it all in a large jar and made a lamp and gave it to him as a wedding present. He loved it.

I use them to store legumes, rice, popcorn etc. I save all my popcorn containers so I have built up uniform set of clear containers.

I used old jars to make these painted candles!

They are BEAUTIFUL! What kind of paint did you use?

I rent some of mine every year to some people who make homemade wine! I live in the country and found mice can chew thru plastic totes! Now my sewing supplies are sorted and stored where I can see them. Our flour, sugar, noodles, extra sauce and seasoning packets, cereals, everything in wide mouth jars on an open gallery shelf above the cabinets. Labels soaked off and replaced with cute chalkboard shapes, lids painted, a glass drawer pull knob added. Sometimes I use packing tape tp fix the labels /info to the INSIDE of the jar, so they don't get torn off. I would be happy to trade for them, and always need new lids, too.

Fill them with pot pourri, small pine cones & a white Christmas light string, leaving the plug end out the top. Cut a round piece of lace for the top, & tie a ribbon, or twine around it to hold it on. Makes an aromatic nitelight for a powder room, or just decorate a dim corner or shelf.

I would use them for Pickled egg jars. If you only have 3, not to worry, find something to fill them with. Set them on a shelf in your pantry and you will easily find what you are lookin' for. I love ALL shapes of jars. They need not be decorated. They are good storage. In the deep South, (I lived in Mississippi), roaches can be found.....they can't get through glass!! I had to keep some of my dry spices and etc. in the frig. One roach means more!!

I use mine as small greenhouses. Just punch some holes in the top and cover or paint it. You can use them upright but I prefer them on their sides and I use CD holders my kids made (4 pieces of wood, squares at the ends and then 2 creating a "V" rail to rest the jar) to keep them from rolling. They are also wonderful seed starters. You only need to add water if you don't see any condensation.

Most of the strong jars I save I just drill a hole through the center of the lid and screw the lids to the underneath of one of my shelves in the workshop and put my screws and nails in the jars .. then attach back on the lid ....... I have been using old jars this way for many years ...

I make more pickles out of the brine in them!Pickle veg,eggs,and such!

Either string the necks and use for outdoor citrinella candles, or fill with sweets or cookies for gifts, or make mini kits for first aid/sewing, or make and store spiced fruits, or as a rum toft.

Make homemade sauerkraut. Fine slice a head of cabbage (with core cut out) and sprinkle in a bowl with 1 & 1/2 TBP of kosher salt. Put in clean 2 quart jar with lid on and place in garage (or other cool/no sun space) for 2 - 3 weeks. I also covered jar with plastic wrap then put on lid for first month. Check for sour smell after 3-4 weeks. If you need more liquid, add 1 cup with 1 TBP salt so that cabbage is under water. If you have difficulty keeping cabbage under water, use a freezer bag filled with 1 cup water and 1 TBP salt solution (in case it leaks). Place in refrigerator (I used my garage fridge for this) and leave for 3 - 4 months. I started mine in mid-August, placing on floor of garage for 3 weeks. Added bag of salt water to keep cabbage submerged, then refrigerated until January 1st. Tasted delicious for New Year's dinner. Better than store-bought!

Mary Lou are we adding water to the cabbage in the jar????

My dad took one and made a wooden holder for it and nailed the holder to a tree. He put corn cobs in them for the squirrels and it was sooooo funny to watch them in that jar rolling around with the corncob. He put the neck of the jar close enough to the tree so they couldn't pull it out and carry it away. Hours and hours of entertainment!

I use mine for dry foods like beans and dehydrated veggies.

I use them for kitchen canisters on my counters and keep them filled from my larger stores of staples. Here they are in my old kitchen and my craft room. I use them in my craft room for lace, ribbons, buttons, you name it. I can always find a good use for a jar!

Like you, I hold onto my large jars. I have some large ones that the original owner of my home left and we've benough n here 25 years.

I use them to make homemade vanilla, cordials, vanilla sugar and for use as canisters. There are ways to use them with battery operated candles. I would search hometalk for large jar ideas and I'm sure you would find plenty of ideas.

Not to be alarmist, but having water set aside for emergencies to drink and cook with is best stored in glass. I use litre soda bottles, but reading the latest warnings makes me believe leaching of chemicals from the plastic could be detramental. If you have been at a home improvement store when a boil water alert is broadcast you will appreciate having a supply of water set aside. Don't forget the 30-50 gallons in your hot water heater when this happens. It would be uncontaminated for a time. Storage out of sunlight in glass jars is safest.

Make them Mercury Glass, they will be wonderful!

I fill them with fun things and make lamps out of them. they have lamp kits at most diy store or craft stores

I use them to put the Christmas bows in for use next year. I love bows but always wound up having no where to keep them so they don't get crushed! These jars are perfect. Also, they are perfect for keeping various objects sorted...you can see what you have and don't have to dig for things. My daughters also saves me big plastic jars from work that they get treats in and I wash them up and take off the labels (and glue). I plan on sorting my Christmas objects this year and plan to keep only a few!

You can use them for storing your flour, cornmeal and sugar in. They make great canisters.

I use them for grease. When full pitch them

I take the kids off and paint the exterior only a color that cordinates with what ever room I using them in then drill holes into the center of each lid. Then I purchase small wooden drawer pulls and paint them either the same as the kids or gold or silver. Allow all to dry thoroughly. Then a%ach the knobs to kids with glue or screws. you can also paint stripes around the jars in same color as lids. Then use for storage. They are pretty to look at and functional storage to.

You can buy a water pump and rock pebbles to make a small fountain or use them as flower planters or a center piece of different fruits so many uses, I used mind for xmas fill up with xmas ball or candy for the holidays, good luck.

Fill with reusable cleaning wipes (wash cloths in a cleaning solution). After using the cloths, wash them and put them back in the jar.

Here in Arizona we use them to make sun tea. 4 to 6 teabags in a large jar with filtered water placed in the sun makes wonderful tea by supper time.

If you'd like to use them "creatively" try turning them into candle holders, or votive holders. Mix white glue with a small amount of water (just enough for it to spread like paint). Choose colored tissue paper that works for you, and tear it into irregular small-ish pieces, cover the outside of the jar with glue (work in small sections) and press the tissue paper on. Brush over the tissue paper so that it has a decoupage effect, depending on the paper, sometimes the colors bleed, which I think is pretty. White glue is not wateroof (can't leave them out in the rain) but it is nonflammable. You can use a few battery votive candles , or even solar fairy string lights (amazon) inside would give a nice glow without being too bright.

I use mine for either soups that I make in the winter to storing extra food in the freezer or like the other lady said pour used grease or juice from cooking, then just pitch in the trash.

I buy loose tea in bulk and I use my jars to store them. I love having them for storing since I don't like to store in plastic. Spices anything really. If I don't save them I recycle them in the waste bin. I also juice and store it in freezer and jars work perfect for this.

I have two oversized straight sided vases I use (one each) for my toilet brush holder and bath brush scrubber under my sink. I'd probably toss the metal lids since they're likely to rust or ...

you might consider painting the metal lids bright colors and using the jars for storage of items -- limiting the stored items to those unlikely to break the jars :

For the kitchen/dining area: consider items such as pasta or tea bags or a selection of snacks; alternately lightweight tools such as smaller plastic measuring tools or funnels or corn cob holders or chip clips.

For the laundry or storage closet or home office or craft corner: perhaps lightweight wood or plastic clothes pins or rubber bands or pencils or pens or crayons or buttons or sewing items such as nearly empty spools of thread w/o enough left for the machine or business cards or arts/craft items such as spare suction cups for the sun-catchers -- lots of potential.

I save the large plastic wide mouth peanut butter jars with plastic lids and the larger and more square sided plastic party peanut jars with wide mouth for storage jars -- batteries and metal document clips used for holding picnic table cover and nuts and bolts and screws and nails of different sizes and -- even extension cords (one/jar) -- anything that fits in them -- to keep each kind of item both visible and stored separately and untangled from anything else and easily portable from cabinet or even basement to where needed.

Spray Paint the bottom half of the bottle and lid, rose gold in colour. Drill a hole on the top of the lid large enough to hold a light fitting (bulb), buy an amazing shade and create a mod lampshade.

If you don't want to paint can create a more natural look, half fill with sea shells, small pebbles, pieces of drift wood, etc

I loved pickle jars when I lived in a farm/ country Area I used them for food storage and critters cant get in lol. A few drops of vanilla on a paper towel stored with lid on tight gets rid of pickle scent. So I stired bulk cereal in them. Snacks like chips and crackers. I would use black chalk board paint to replace labels then you csn change up what is stored lined up on cabinet shelf or counter they look much nicer than a bunch of bags and boxes .

I've made "sea shell/sewing items" lamps with the help of a cheap glass drill (at bottom for electrical cord) and a light kit from local home store. Added a cheap shade and gave as gifts and were well received. Also, terrariums were good. Different size tie-wraps storage. Parts storage. Yep sun-tea too.

I use mine for dried beans,grains,dehydrated foods. Also paint,circles,flowers,etc on them but on the grits,had to write girls raised in the south.. then on the flour. I might put SR then paint a flower. I never toss out a usable jar.

We always have leftover paints and stains, etc. A big glass jar works!! You can see what shade you're lookin' for when redoing another project......

Pickle jar lids often retain the pickle/vinegar odor so don't use for food storage or it will make your food smell & taste like pickles.

I've used dozens of these jars in my pantry....after getting rid of the pickle odor. Spray paint the lids, add a chalkboard label if you like. I've got rice, noodles, flour, nuts, chocolate chips, cookies, dried beans, etc. in them. I can see at a glance how much of anything I have and when I need to restock. Makes my pantry look nice too as everything is uniform and neat.

In the past I even repurposed one into a small animal cage for isolating a sick mouse from the rest of my pets. Now it serves as a humane mouse trap.

i saved them, washed them out, took the lid and spray painted it red, stuck a 1.00 hardware store drawer pull on it, wrapped it in holiday tissue after filling it with individually wrapped candies. I set them in various places around the office. in another instance i saved a dozen jars of various sizes, cleaned them, stuffed them with candies of different types, painted the lids, put on a cheap glass or metal drawer pull, and had a drawing at different times during a day long meeting. There was much envy, bartering, begging and chatter each time we had a drawing for another jar. What was going to the recycle bin became someone's holiday treasure!

Piggy banks

I washed mine, filled them with my husbands old marble selection, also washed and sorted by color. ( I filled by color, creating a pattern) Then I painted the top beige and glued a burlap flower on top. We use them as book ends in the den. My husband is happy because his beloved marbles are displayed. I am happy because the marble jars look great and the marbles are no longer part of his junk pile in the barn.

I love the ideas presented here. One that seems to be missing though is: Have you thought about using them to make your OWN pickles? Many people do now. If the jars don't get repurposed by you how about offering them to someone else who can use them? Also, you know all of those sauces we get from fast food restaurants? Keep them in there. ( Mc Donalds keeps me stocked up with condiments.) What about all of that plastic silverware? Yep, put them in the jar. Another thing I use jars for is grease. I put leftover grease or used cooking oil in them then throw them out with the trash.

Thank you, I have several more but that one as seen was ready to gift to my friend on her birthday.

mom was a jar saver, every thing went into them from small tool pieces to beans, speg, care packages. so many things to many to mention. she made use of all sizes, when we could not find a carrier for our items she would say 'to many jars hu

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if you dump some baking soda in and allow it to sit for a few days with the lid on, the pickle odor will go away. I use these jars to hold pasta, rice, flour, sugar etc. I have painted them, decoupaged them, covered with collages, etc. They make great coin banks, can store just about anything and can even be used for terrariums! The possibilities are endless.

I use them to make pickled beets and onions. I've also used them to store my doll eyes and joints after getting rid of the smell. Dawn works pretty good at getting rid of the smell. I also use them to store the homemade jerky that I make because they are pretty air tight and again once you remove the pickled smell it doesn't affect the jerky.

Spray paint them, and hand paint them use for storag.

You can turn them upside down, glue a stone of your choice on the top and use them to make a cloche.

Use them for cuttings off fruit trees or roses you plant with hormone rooting powder, you can put the cuttings in a hole made in some potatoes and then bury and cover with jars making sure the rim is secured into the ground, as a cold frame to protect them till spring while they root, then store away till next fall for more new cuttings, great way to make plants to resell.

This hometalker does some really neat things with jars also. You can visit his project at http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/glass-jar-makeover-19997152. You can also visit his hometalk page for tons of great jar ideas! http://www.hometalk.com/markmontano/posts

use 1 as a button jar or some other crafty item, doorknobs, cupboard door & drawer pulls.

IF you do cuttings make sure the cutting is a branch with a Y. Make your Y cuttings 45% so as the water will run off the cut on the mother bush, make sure the base stem of the Y cutting {HAS to be} is at least six inches long for the root system to make on, and the two branches off the Y are not wider than your jar is, but at least able to be gentle with to fit it in the jar without breaking the cutting. Dip cutting in root hormone powder, take a large potato[water reservoir for cutting] make a hole in it that cutting will fit in at least inch, to inch and half and then bury in the early fall. You can put it into a garden till it gets big enough to transplant. I would only do this in the fall, make sure it is in full sun. Dig hole and plant deep enough that the potato and the six inches are in ground, the base of the Y where the branches look like a V level on the ground then secure Jar over the V and pull some up around it to make sure it don't move. Come spring keep watch on it, when it starts to grow and looks like it is doing well remove jar. the jar works like a cold frame over winter and protects it. A very elder woman taught me this she have roses everywhere, fall there were rows and rows of cuttings, they grew into bushes, she sold them, great way to make money huh!

You can etch them, as well as cut them with glass cutter if your creative. But etching is easy and a large cork can be added to change the look after. Or you can add led lites inside after etching. There are good videos to show you how. e6000 glue clear is great to add things to fronts of glass. Its good for many things. You could add colored glass with e6000 , mosaic and found objects or old jewelry for nice touch. Always draw out your idea before hand add a couple different ideas. Use color pencils so you can see what the colors will look like together. Then pic your fav and got to town. You can also look up fused glass it may give you a good idea that isn't thought of. I use mine for dog food. But I may do something cool after seeing your question. Good luck have fun. Etching kits can be gotten from Hobby Lobby, Micheals for not much. They are easy to use. I also saw where after etching a person put a cut out of a fairy inside glued to the glass and added led lights. It was very nice for an outdoor light.

Thanks for all the great ideas Carologwin0

Use them for sun tea.

Make sun tea.

Lay it on its side and Create a terrarium. Overflow from large package of stuff that may go stale otherwise. (Costco buy)

I spray painted the lids black. The I glued red painted wood knobs to the lids. Now I have clear canisters for my sugar and flour. I did the same with a shorter ones and put tea bags in one and dog treats in the other one.

I use them to store rice, dried beans, and lots of other things.

As they do not often come my way; I buy a box of gallon jars for

storage too. I put large quantities of nuts, dried fruits, etc. as

we both bake with them and have them for snacks. Half my

garage has been turned into my pantry as my kitchen is the

smallest I have ever seen.

Lots of great ideas above. I love my jars (borderline hoarder ...NOT) I cook my own dog food every 2 weeks (my guys hate commercial dog food) and in the cooking of the meats I generate "broth". I give away a lot, but I also make some type of soup every 2 week or more using the broth. And this is what I use a lot of my jar for. I fill the jars and everyone who is hungry can grab one, heat it up and enjoy. I freeze some, if I need to, and I use a lot of them for gifts. Everyone loves a good soup. My soups are never the same, chicken broth, maybe some chicken maybe not, lots of potatoes, carrots and other veggies, shreded cabbage, some garlic and onion, tomato sauce and/or stewed tomatos, maybe some rice or small pasta. It varies everytime I make it. A lot of left-overs get thrown in. It is one of my favorite creations. Total I'm having chicken broth, potato soup and I think I added some rice....

You could add some sand, a candle and/or shells.

I nail the lids to the underside of shelves and use them for storage. You can put literally anything in them. I use smaller ones in the basement for nails, screws etc.

Keeps stuff off the work bench or the counters. Anything for additonal storage in my late '40s kitchen.

I also store beans, rice, etc in them. I make lamps out of them as well. There are lamp sockets where the cord exits on the side of the socket, so the only drilling would be the jar lid. If you have a bottle cutter and a diamond bit (Amazon), you can make a pendant lamp, really, don't even need to cut the jar. I also store a lot of my craft supplies in them, and start cuttings in them, as well as use them for terrariums.

I have a HUGE collection of buttons and they come in handy for storage. It's great because I can see them, which is helpful when I want to sell some. And they look pretty.

If you are into craft, you can get acrylic paints from Dollarama, color inside each jar with different color, add decorative beads (also from any dollar store) to decorate the top of the jar with gloo, then use them as candle holders. They look very soothing and beautiful even with the wind Outside on my deck.

Staples,sells Martha Stewart chalk labels that are removable to write what is in them and it sure gives them an upgraded look!

Use to store cereal and snacks?

With any pickle jar, you can ONLY use these jars for pickling. Do not use these for reg. canning, and storing, or putting slips of flowers in them. The vinegar in the jar, will kill the new slip of a plant that you are trying to root. You can always use this for more canning, and for items that you want to keep vinegar in, and store. If you want to keep artificial flowers in these, then you can tint the water as green, and use the jar this way. Best wishes.

What ever I have planted, or tried to root in these jars, that were pickle jars, all died. I have a great amount of plants, and I have been active in planting for many years, so I cannot reuse these jars. I did wash and clean these jars, very well, and all the lids were clean. Best wishes, for your adventure.

I save nearly every bottle or had to repurpose at a later time. Soy sauce bottles make great simple syrup bottles to share with friends, better than bullion jars are perfect for cookie decorations, nearly anything you can think of you can repurpose your jars and bottles for. My only problem is jars from pickles and garlic hold the smell of what was in them, how do you get rid of those smells?