You probably have a pair (or more) of them in your house. If you haven’t, you’ve most likely contemplated buying some. But that nagging question keeps surfacing: What the heck do I put in them?
Apothecary jars, cylindrical glass, clear glass vases… you see them in shops, in catalogs, in magazines. But when it comes down to it, I know I (and many others) have been stumped as to what to do with them next. So I started brainstorming and came up with this list, some I’ve seen, some I think would look cool. As a soft rule, smaller items should go in smaller vases. You don’t want the items to be overwhelmed.
1. Ribbon
2. Pinecones
3. Lemons or other fruit (fake lasts longest, natch)
4. Nuts in their shells
5. Letterpress letters
6. Nautical knots of rope
7. Shells
8. Vintage tree ornaments
9. Wrapped candy canes (unwrapped will leave a sticky mess)
10. Handfuls of sparkly costume jewelry
11. Postcards from friends
12. School photos (include mom and dad’s old ones too)
13. Bingo balls
14. Spools of thread
15. Dried corn husks
16. Shiny Christmas balls
18. Miniature pumpkins
19. Vintage wooden rulers
20. Collection of vintage watches
21. Old typewriter keys
22. Rattan balls, woven balls, stick balls
23. Cinnamon sticks
24. Love letters from your honey (with discretion!)
25. Antique silverware
26. Arrowheads
27. Pages from vintage books (some are already falling apart at many used book stores)
28. Origami cranes or other small scale origami
29. Vintage toy cars, trains, or airplanes
30. Jingle bells
31. Feathers (bigger graphic ones like peacock or turkey look best)
32. Shafts of wheat
33. Pretty soaps (wrapped or not)
34. Sand (top should not be level)
36. Concert stubs
37. Pencils
38. Evergreen branches (fake or real)
39. Sticks and moss
40. Paper or silk fans (try Chinatown)
41. Scraps of vintage lace
42. Fur (if you’re into that, but I’d advise vintage only)
43. Wine corks
44. Your grandma’s old glove collection
45. “Memory Jars” for each child – small momentos and polaroids
46. Sprigs of holly or mistletoe
47. Old clothespins
48. Dry autumn leaves
49. River rocks or lava rocks
50. Cocktail umbrellas
For even more ideas, check out my ebook, “101 Things to Put in Apothecary Jars” for only $5.
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I love it… Great list of ideas!! I think it looks so pretty with different, colorful candy in several. Of course, we could never have that around our house. They’d be empty!
Oh no! I just gave away the 8 huge apothecary jars that I had left over from the candy buffet at my wedding because I had no idea what to do with them. wish I’d had this list a week ago! guess i’d better forward it to the lucky co-workers who snapped up my jars
Great list! I have a couple glass jars I was wondering what to do with. I saw recently on you are my fave ones that were filled with colorful paper cranes. Need to bust mine out and fill em up with something from this list!
For some reason, I love rubber bands in jars – I think it just the way the tumble together… this is a great list.
You’re right, I do like this post! You’ve put together quite a fabulous list. I especially love letterpress letters, spools of thread, and nuts in their shells. Awesome.
xoxo,
s
Great list. I can’t believe you came up with 50! I especially love the paper cranes, of course.
Decidedly adorable;)
Thank you, Maggie! I love these ideas.
I used to put naturally colorful bulk food (beans, rice, raisins, granola) but now where I live the glass canisters would be in direct sunlight, so — not good.
I may try the rubber bands, and walnuts w/ shells. Too bad sunlight fades things. Thanks again.