Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway- Crafting With Mason Jars book

by

Screen Shot 2016-05-04 at 7.37.14 AM

Giveaway- Crafting With Mason Jars and other Glass Containers: Over 35 simple and beautiful upcycling projects

Leave a comment in today’s post by May 12th, 2016 and you are in the running for this pretty book filled with great ideas and tutorials on how to transform jars into all sorts of great things.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

“Upcycle your glass jars and other vessels into useful and lovely objects. Follow Hester van Overbeek’s easy steps to make a fresh flower-decorated tea-light votive for a garden party, store all your grains and pasta in large jars with vibrantly painted lids, or why not surprise a friend with the colorful “birthday in a jar”? There are lots of quick ideas that take no time at all, such as vacation memories in a jar, the table-setting jars, or the floral centerpiece that will charm all your guests. Some are elegant, some are homespun, but all make use of natural materials such as wood, shells, flowers, and leather–to give an original but sophisticated feel to your home and garden. Once you are confident in making the simpler crafts, there are more intricate projects to try, using basic DIY techniques: make a fabulous drink dispenser, a desk lamp, or a rustic vase display by attaching jars to a weathered piece of wood. All the projects have clear step-by-step instructions and hand-drawn illustrations to guide you, so all you need to do is pick the project you want to make first!”

 

Related Posts:

Comments

  8. This is the book I need and want most of all! I have been collecting jars for a year plus my mason jars…??

  9. I would love to create Mason Jar crafts, thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book!!

  12. I absolutely love to use jars for gift giving and I’m always looking for new ideas for Christmas gifts. Sounds like an amazing find! I’d love to win. Thanks for the chance.

  20. I love decorating with glass…this book is awesome! Thanks for the chance to win

  29. What a WAY fun giveaway! Who doesn’t love the all-American quintessential vessel? One of my fave things I’ve seen done is to color them w/ the Mod Podge/food col. mixture, to achieve sheer tinted colored jars. Thanks for the chance to win & Happy Mothers Day to all moms. 🙂

  31. Yes, I have a collection of mason jars. They make handy vessels for gift giving.

  34. I love all the crafts you can make with a Mason Jars. These are cool ideas

  35. There are purple Mason jars too! What a great book to add to our public library collection and maybe do a jar recycling program. Mahalo for the op to win.

  36. I have been checking out all the suggestions on mason jars and would love to have the bookyou are offering. Thanks for the chance for me to win it.

  39. I’ve been hoarding Mason Jars for years … with this book, I’m sure I can recycle/upcycle tons of them! SO excited about this book and would LOVE to own it. Thanks so much for the chance to win it, CraftGossip!

  40. I love mason jars and love to use them for everything I can think of. I would love this book for more ideas. Thanks so much for the opportunity and chance to win. I love craftgossip. Thank You!

  42. I find mason jars so useful! This book looks like it’s filled with inspiration!!

  43. I have been collecting old mason jars for years and need some ideas on what to do with them besides store beans and herbs.

  44. Mason jars are so handy! There is so much you can do with them. I use them all the time!

  45. Mason jars definitely have new ways of being used. They are still the go to for canning, but golly, so many other artistic uses.

  46. I’ve been recycling and upcycling household items long before it was chic or had a name. Jars and bottles of all sizes and shapes fill a cabinet waiting for a new purpose. This book could help clear a shelf! Thanks for offering this giveaway!

  47. I love recycling old jars so this book is right up my alley. Thanks for the chance to win.

  50. I have so many of these jars and absolutely no idea what to do with them but this may be the answer. Thanks!

Have you read?

Why Do Your Kids Play with the Box? An Interview with Child Psychologist Dr. Lucy Harper

I was at a recent blogger’s meetup—chatting, sipping lukewarm coffee, and exchanging parenting war stories—when the conversation turned to toys. More specifically, the boxes toys come in.

“You know,” I laughed, “my kid unwrapped a fancy, interactive toy last Christmas, and five minutes later, the box had become a spaceship… the toy? Completely abandoned.”

That’s when Dr. Lucy Harper, a warm and wise child psychologist with a mischievous grin, chimed in: “Oh, the box wins every time. And there’s a very good reason for that.”

Naturally, I had to ask her more. What followed was one of the most fascinating, reassuring conversations I’ve had as a parent.

Me: So, Lucy—why do kids love playing with the box more than the actual toy?

Dr. Harper: Honestly, it’s one of the most developmentally beautiful things kids can do. When a child chooses the box, they’re choosing imagination over instruction. A toy often has one purpose—it sings, it moves, it lights up. But a box? A box can be anything. Kids see endless potential in something we adults might just toss in the recycling.

Me: So you’re saying it’s not just them being weird or ungrateful?

Dr. Harper: [Laughs] Not at all. It’s actually a wonderful sign of creativity and cognitive flexibility. Think of it like this—boxes offer what we call “open-ended play.” There’s no one way to use a box. That freedom gives children the chance to invent, experiment, and take charge of their own playtime. It helps their brains build problem-solving skills, storytelling ability, spatial reasoning… the list goes on.

Me: Okay, but does it really help with development? Or are we just romanticizing cardboard?

Dr. Harper: Oh, it absolutely helps. When your child turns a box into a rocket or a cave, they’re engaging multiple areas of their brain. They’re building narratives (language skills), exploring size and shape (early math concepts), using fine and gross motor skills (tape, scissors, crawling inside), and even practicing emotional regulation. That “I made this myself” feeling is powerful for confidence.

Me: You mentioned emotional regulation—how does box play support that?

Dr. Harper: Great question. Sometimes, boxes become cozy hideaways—reading nooks, forts, quiet spots. For many kids, that’s self-soothing. It’s their way of saying, “I need a break from all the noise.” And giving them space to retreat into a world they’ve created can be incredibly comforting.

Me: I’ve definitely seen that. So how can parents support more of this kind of play?

Dr. Harper: Start saving boxes! Seriously. Don’t rush to recycle them. Offer markers, tape, scissors, scrap paper, fabric—just let kids take the lead. You’d be amazed what they come up with. And here’s the secret: you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect play setup. The messier and more imaginative, the better.

Dr. Harper’s Favorite “Box Play” Ideas
Before we wrapped up (pun intended), I asked Lucy for some of her go-to box play setups that parents can try at home. Here’s what she shared:

The Spaceship Command Center
“Flip a large box over, cut a few windows, and hand over some foil and paper plates for the ‘control panels.’ Bonus points if your child names the spaceship and creates a mission.”

The DIY Café or Bakery
“Boxes make great shop counters. Set one up with play food or paper treats, and let your child take orders and serve customers. This builds storytelling and social skills.”

Wearable Cardboard Costumes
“Kids love making robot bodies, animal masks, or even cardboard wings. It blends creative expression with physical movement.”

The Crawl Tunnel or Maze
“Especially fun for toddlers—just tape boxes together to make a crawling path. It feels like a mini adventure.”

The Giant Art Canvas
“Flatten a box and let them draw a city, a racetrack, a jungle… whatever they dream up. Then use toy figures or cars to play out scenes.”

Me: Last question—what would you say to the parent who feels bad that their expensive toy got ignored?

Dr. Harper: I’d say: it’s okay. Your child didn’t reject your gift—they just found a different way to explore joy. Playing with the box isn’t a failure of the toy—it’s a success of their imagination.

And sometimes, the best toy is the one that didn’t cost a thing.

So next time your child dives headfirst into a cardboard box, don’t worry—embrace it. You might just be watching their creativity take flight.

Want to turn this into a printable resource or social media share? I can help with that too!

Modern patterned recycled cardboard and TP tube sculptures

How to make a recycled cardboard easel

Recycled cardboard tube microphone

How to make a recycled cardboard knight costume