12 DIY Mason Jar Gift Ideas for Any Occasion

mason jar gift ideas


Do you have a birthday or holiday coming up? No matter the occasion, mason jar gifts are my go-to solution. They’re super cool because the person receiving the gift gets two gifts: Whatever’s inside the mason jar, and the mason jar itself. Unlike wrapping paper, they won’t be carelessly tossed out (and create more waste). What could be better (especially for the green-minded)? Here are 12 of my favorite zero waste mason jar gift ideas. These gifts are perfect for any occasion (not just Christmas), so feel free to get inspired!

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1. DIY Succulent Jars
Know any plant lovers? This jar is perfect for them, and really easy to make. Just get your hands on a small mason jar, and a cute succulent. Once you transplant the succulent into the mason jar, you can decorate it any way you like. Maybe tie a little twine bow around the jar. For more information, check out The Summary Umbrella.

2. Stove Top Potpourri jars 

Who doesn’t want their home to smell amazing? With a stove top potpourri jar, it certainly will. There are a bunch of different scent combinations you can make, but cranberry orange is one I recommend. Just fill up the mason jar with some fresh cranberries, rosemary, orange, cinnamon sticks, water, and a dash of nutmeg. All your gift receiver will have to do is pour the contents of the jar into a sauce pan and simmer over low heat: They’ll start smelling the aroma in no time! To learn more, head over to Honey and Lime.

3. Baking Kit Jars

Know someone who loves to bake? Make them a baking kit jar! You can approach this one of two ways: Fill up the jar with baking tools, or baking ingredients. You can give them anything from cupcake cups to actual flour, sugar, and baking soda. It all depends on what you want to do, and what you think they’ll appreciate. Consider making them a mason jar cookie kit: Just layer flour, salt, baking soda, brown sugar, white sugar, and chocolate chips into the jar. You could also try layering a DIY brownie mix or cake mix in the jar. Or, put a bunch of baking tools into the jar like  compostable cupcake cups, stainless steel measuring spoons, and a wooden spoon. Get creative!

4. Pick Me Up Jar

Everyone needs a little pick me up from time to time. Making a pick me up jar is perfect for helping your loved ones get through the day, even when you’re not physically there to comfort them. Out of all the mason jar gift ideas listed, I find this one the most touching. It’s super easy to make too. Just grab some pieces of paper and write down things you love about your loved one on it. For example, “You have a great smile”, “You always try your hardest at everything you do”, and “I love you for being you” all work well. Think of something personal that will touch them and write it down. Then, when you’re done, put all your writings in the jar. You can decorate the jar however you see fit and give it to your loved one. Whenever they’re feeling down, they can reach inside the jar and have a reason to smile.

5. Spa in a Jar

Instead of giving someone a gift card to a spa, why not make the spa come to them? Spa in a jar is a great idea for those you know need a little stress-busting in their life. It’s also a cute idea for teens and children. All you have to do is fill it up with self-papering goodies your loved one will enjoy. Perhaps some (nontoxic) nail polish, a natural face mask, manicure tool set, hand lotion, and a natural lip stain will do. Feel free to get creative and take into consideration what the person likes. Spa in a jar doesn’t have to be confined to just one jar either: You can make several small jars filled with DIY spa-like products (body lotion and body scrub work well).

6. Hot Chocolate Jar

Who doesn’t like hot chocolate this time of year? Similar to the baking kit jar, you can layer hot chocolate ingredients into a mason jar to create this gift. Just layer some cocoa powder, sugar, ground cinnamon and mini marshmallows. Super simple, but super cute. You can make it a tad more healthy by using only organic ingredients in the jar too. To learn more, check out Food Network.

7. Winter Survival Kit Jar

Winter can be a brutal time of year for skin: That’s why this winter survival kit is essential. It’s one of the most helpful mason jar gift ideas! It’s a thoughtful gift that really keeps on giving. To make one, all you need to do is think of the winter essentials your gift receiver would need: Gloves, lip balm, hand lotion, and a hat are good places to start. Want to get even more eco-friendly? Make the lip balm yourself and store it in a tin, rather than a plastic tube. Also, if you are going to include gloves and a hat in the kit, try to buy from someone who hand knitted it themselves. You can find a lot of homemade goods on Etsy. It’s important to support slow fashion, simply because fast fashion is so wasteful and bad for the environment. Plus, the person you purchase that handmade item from is just that: One person, not a huge cooperation. You’re bound to make their day!

8. DIY Candle Jar

Candles are great gifts, but they make even better gifts when you make them yourself! Creating a DIY candle jar is actually pretty easy, and there’s many ways to go about doing it. Here’s a great all-natural candle recipe to check out (it uses beeswax, coconut oil, and natural wicks!). If you don’t prefer using beeswax, here’s a vegan all-natural candle recipe  (these utilize wooden wicks too!) that will work just as good.

9. Manly Man Kit

Struggling to find a good gift for that special man in your life? No worries: Try making him a manly man kit. I know, it sounds funny, but honestly, he’ll love it. Fill it up with all his favorite products: Deodorant, shampoo, razor blades, tickets to a baseball game or a movie, candy, cologne, etc. Fill it with things you know he’ll love (and actually use!). If you really want to go the extra mile, try making him one of the items you put in the jar (DIY shaving cream or shampoo perhaps?). 

10. Dog Treat Jar

Have a dog? Know someone who does? Gift them a dog treat jar. This is perfect for the holidays (or to celebrate a dog’s birthday). Whatever their favorite treat is, be sure to buy it and put it in here. Or, better yet, make them some treats yourself! You can completely control the ingredients this way, making them extra healthy. Here’s some carrot and sweet potato dog treats, pumpkin apple dog treats, and frosty breath dog treats to give your DIY spirit something to work with.

11. Sewing Kit Mason Jar

For that extra special person who just cannot stop sewing, this is for them. A sewing kit mason jar is just adorable, and probably really handy to those who love to sew. All you need to put in it is their favorite sewing materials: Buttons, sewing pins, string, embroidery thread, zipper, and mini scissors. If you want to get really creative, consider making a pin cushion to place on top of the mason jar. To create a mason jar pin cushion, check out The Seasoned Homemaker

12. Date Night Mason Jar

Is it your anniversary? Or maybe you just want to surprise your significant other with something cute? No worries: Give this date night mason jar gift a shot. Out of all the mason jar gift ideas listed, this one is definitely the most romantic. It’s super easy to make too: Just write different date night ideas on pieces of paper and put them in the jar. Every weekend, grab a random one and vow to carry it through, no matter what it says. Some good date night ideas include “dinner and a movie”, “picnic under the stars”, and “visit to an amusement park”. Think of everything from at home dates to out on the town dates. For some cute date ideas, check out Cosmopolitan

By Ariana Storniolo (Palmieri)

Ariana Storniolo is the founder of Greenify-Me, a blog dedicated to zero waste and sustainability. Her work has also been featured on Going Zero Waste, Green Matters, Mother Earth Living and several other online publications.

0 comments

  1. Indeed these were the best ideas that one can come up with and be sure to make a proper gift out of a mason jar. It would be highly appreciated if you can share the pics.

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