DIY: 5 Creative + Easy Last Minute Jar Gift Ideas

By Lifestyle Contributor Jen Vertz

Oh, mason jar gifts. Mason jar crafts were so cute when the fad first came around, but they're admittedly a little tired now. I'm here to tell you though that they're not quite over yet, as long as you can come up with something unique. Here are a few last minute gift in a jar ideas that haven't been done yet! They're fast and cheap, yet still creative enough to impress your friends and family.


3 MOVIES IN A JAR

The Big Lebowski in a Jar: This is going to be an easy one for anyone to guess! I made the Dude's robe pockets to hold airplane bottles of Kahlúa and vodka, to add to the half filled mason jar of Half & Half so the receiver can make a White Russian (or a Caucasian as the Dude sometimes calls it). The other side perfectly held bowling pins that I found at a party shop for a dollar. All in all it cost under $10, and the sewing, which was well worth the effort, barely took any time at all.

Goonies in a Jar: This is another easy guess for most people (or at least we children of the '80s!), and sums up the entire movie in one simple mason jar. It's full of gold coins, most of which are edible chocolate, and of course a few Baby Ruth candy bars. The pirate hat and Superman fabric hanging off helps really give it that Goonies vibe. Other things I considered adding to this jar but didn't find were some of Chunk's Hawaiian shirt material, a small sword, and/or something that would remind me of Data (like the teeth that saved him from falling to his death that he called his Pinchers of Peril). Ultimately it turned out great just the way it is. This would also work great for a kids' party.

Princess Bride in a Jar: Fortunately, the princess tiara and bridal veil are really all you need to instantly know what movie correlates with this particular jar. The malt balls are representative of Miracle Max's Miracle Pill that brought Wesley back to life, and the peanuts are in reference to when Vizzini yelled "no more rhymes now, I mean it!" and Fezzik so hilariously responded "anybody want a peanut?" I really wanted a sword for this set, but had a hard time finding a small one,. I was also very temped to make a tiny Mutton ham, lettuce and tomato to sit on top (because it's the only thing in the world that may be better than true love, especially when the mutton is nice and lean, and the tomatoes are ripe). Another idea for this movie would be to find two small goblets to set on top, a small bottle of wine and some Iocane powder so that you could have a Battle of Wits! If you make one of these and add the extras or find a way to incorporate an R.O.U.S. (Rodents Of Unusual Size), I will be inconceivably impressed!


2 BOOZY JAR GIFTS

Candy Cane Infused Vodka in a Jar: For this project, you just need a bottle of vodka, some candy canes, and a decorate accessory or two. And since you're infusing you can go with a less expensive bottle of vodka (since it won't taste the same in the end anyway). I broke up a bunch of candy canes and soaked them in the jar, and they quickly dissolved and turned the vodka a festive shade of red. I happened to find this tiny martini glass which I dipped in honey, then lined the rim with shattered candy canes and added Santa's belt for fun. There is a tag on the side that reads: "He sees you when you're drinking." So fun.

Beer in a Jar: This is so funny to me, because it's just beer. That's it. Just pour your favorite beer in a jar and close tightly (it should stay carbonated as long as the lid is well sealed). I wrote "it's the most wonderful time of the year for a beer" on it by printing out the text, then copying through the glass so it would be nice and even. But the really lazy way to do this would be to write that on a tag and hang it from the side! This makes a great gag gift, and is perfect for parties in which you are supposed to bring a fun gift that is under $5.

I can't wait to give some of these as my Secret Santa gifts this holiday. Use these ideas or let them inspire you to create your own! Do you have another movie idea that you can make in a jar? Share it in the comments below. I can't wait to see what you come up with! Thanks for reading guys. Happy Holidays! xoxo, Jen

I have about a zillion mason jars left over from our wedding (which was 4.5 years ago!), so I'm all sorts of excited about this post and the fact that I can now whip together some really great gifts over the next week. In addition to sharing her DIY, design, and food posts here on Bubby and Bean, Jen is a talented designer (for some pretty impressive companies like Whole Foods) and social marketer. You can read more about her here, and also find her on her website, Instagram, and Twitter.   

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