Free and almost free quality gift giving.: Freebies

Some useful items we throw out, or recycle. How to make the most of these with simple habit changes.

Step 1: Collection (the easy part.)

Baby jars are great, know someone with any to spare? If not asking around at local daycare's, preschools, community boards, second hand stores, will get you plenty. Coffee Jars, bed and breakfast businesses, offices, large households, community boards, second hand stores. Pasta jars/ jam jars etc the list of possibilities is almost endless.

Step 2: Ready and waiting (get organised. This is the important part, you want to be able to grab them and use them without stuffing around.)

Removing the labels How to remove labels from jars guide here. I would add that unlike the picture you should wear pants or use a towel to protect yourself from getting burnt when using the hairdryer method. Personally if it's taking ages, stubborn and I don't totally LOVE the jar then I put it (clean) in the recycling bin.

Two storage boxes are useful here, one for clean, waiting to remove label jars, one for "blank canvas" ready to use jars. A third with make ahead, when you are in a crafty mood jars is also handy. These store well in sheds etc. Keeping lids off jars, in an upcycled ice cream/ takeaway etc container prevents mold in moist jars. (A quick side not on allergies, if you know someone with peanut butter allergies then keep this in mind and avoid cross contamination.)

Step 3: Use them, if the collection is getting too big consider gifting them to a local charity second hand store, a local school (often used by schools for craft items) or community group or church. Or even selling them at your next garage sale. (Great around harvest season as everyone is on the lookout, de-labelled and clean jars are prized.)

Looking for ideas?