50 Jar Gifts: idea #34 – sourdough starter

Posted on October 7, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

This post marks my 1000th post since I started blogging. Wow, that kind of blows my mind. Thanks to all my loyal regulars. I really appreciate your hanging in there with me as I figure out just what this blog is all about.

image from tipnut.com

Is someone in your family famous for their sourdough bread and/or pancakes? Wouldn’t it be a great gift to share a start from that family sourdough to other family members? You’d want to include the recipe and instructions for caring for the start of course. What a great opportunity to share a family legacy to the next generation along with stories and memories of good food and company.

While my family has no such tradition that I know of my husband loves sourdough bread. I tried sourdough started a couple of years ago but didn’t keep it up well and finally let it go. I still have some of the original dry started that I order off the internet so I might start it up again sometime. But several months ago a neighbor taught a class on natural yeast, similar to sourdough but you keep it in the fridge. Natural yeast has a rich pioneer heritage and keeping it in the fridge makes it much more forgiving to neglect. I’ve made pancakes, muffins and pizza dough with good success. My first attempt at bread wasn’t good so I’ll have to try that again.

But either sourdough or natural yeast are great for sharing in a jar. You can do it straight or dry out some starter and create a starter kit with the jar included for reconstituting your start. If you don’t have a starter of your own and can’t find a friend with an active starter you can get a dried starter from various sources on the internet or follow the directions to make your own.

image from armommy.com

natural yeast image from foodstoragemoms.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #33 – hot drinks

Posted on October 2, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

80+ drink mix recipes from Budget101.com

It sure felt cold here today. Summer is a thing of the past (and the distant future) and cold weather has me longing for something warm to drink. I have memories of hot chocolate with graham crackers, hot lemon and honey (for colds). I also remember my Grandma liking Postum. I didn’t think too much of that but it reminds me of her. My Dad likes the hot cider mixes. As an adult I’ve done all kinds of hot concoctions to try to warm myself up. Today I did a lime and honey drink. What memories do you have of warm drinks on cold days? Here are a few ideas for packaging hot drink mixes.

from TheFrugalGirls.com

Homemade Cider Mix from The Blessed Hearth

peppermint hot chocolate mix from dailyleisure.com

salted caramel hot chocolate mix from seededatthetable.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #32 – pretty storage jars

Posted on September 30, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

pretty storage jars from decoart.com

When I saw these pretty storage jars, I thought it would be a great way to share the knobs from an old family kitchen when it is time to remodel. What a great way to reminded us of happy times in grandma’s kitchen. The jars could also be from someones old collection. An old piece of furniture that has seen better days might also be a good source for the knobs and the memories. Use your imagination there are probably some other places you could get old knobs. Maybe even something from that wasn’t even knobs would work, machinery parts come to mind. These would make a priceless gift. Click on the photo below for a tutorial.

pretty storage jars from decoart.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #31 – slime

Posted on September 25, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

glitter slime monsters from the36thavenue.com

When my nieces where growing up we had a tradition of getting together for a Halloween party each year. This was partly motivated by one of my sister’s wish to greatly limit the amount of candy her girls ate. But it was lots of fun. I know they would have loved these cute glitter slime monsters. Even though they are grown-up now they might still have fun with them. A family party with a Halloween theme is a great time to share childhood memories of Halloween.

I spent most of my growing-up years in Rexburg where it wasn’t uncommon to have snow for Halloween. You had to plan your costume for warmth as well as looks. The last few years we have done costumes for our puppies in training. We have a Guide Dogs for the Blind Halloween party that includes a costume contest. The best costume we have done so far was the three of us dressed up as M&M. Still have to figure out what we will do for this year with Fable.

glow-in-the-dark slime by apumpkinandaprincess.com

There are lots more slime recipes out there. All would be great with the monster packaging above or just straight in the bottles. The edible slimes sound especially interesting. I hope I find some time to try this out. Click on the image below for a great guide to everything slime.

The Ultimate Guide to Slimes by funathomewithkids.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #30 – firefly lantern

Posted on September 23, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

firefly lantern by Ashley Hackshaw at Lil Blue Boo

This idea brought back memories of longing to catch fireflies as a child. I don’t remember ever living where fireflies were common and feeling like I was missing out on something really magical. If you have memories of catching fireflies, these lanterns would be a fun way to share those stories with your family and give them something to remind them of your fireflies. If you are lucky enough to live where there are fireflies it would be so much fun to have a firefly catching outing and then follow it up with a lantern to take home and remind them of that special night. Another option for those with families with lots of firefly catching experiences would be to dim the lights at a family gathering and give everyone a chance to share their stories by the light of these “firefly” lanterns. Make an audio recording to help capture the memories and then share those stories in written form with your family.

firefly lantern tutorial

Click on either of the photos for a detailed tutorial on making the firefly lanterns. If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too. I think I need to put catching fireflies on my bucket list.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #29 – soup mix

Posted on September 18, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Love Soup Mix in a Jar from allrecipes.com

I like soup year round but maybe your thoughts turn to a big pot of soup simmering on the stove as the weather starts to cool. Do you have memories of eating warm and comforting soup, stew or chowder? How about sharing those stories with your extended family along with the fixings for soup all packaged up neatly in a jar. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Painted Desert Chili Mix in a jar from Food.com – photo by PaulaG

minestrone soup in a jar from Prep Ahead and Dine In

Mulitgrain Chicken Soup from ourbower.blogspot.com

Potato Soup Mix from Inner Child Fun

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #28 – autumn leaf candle holders

Posted on September 16, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

autumn leaf mason jar candle holder by sparkandchemistry.com

While the leaves in the valley are still green, the trees in the mountains are starting to change colors. The weather can’t make up its mind yet weather it is summer or fall, but I’m sure that autumn colors are just a few more weeks away. Does your family have a special tree? One with a tree house or just a favorite spot it sit in the shade and enjoy the summer? This idea would be a great way to share the memories and stories of a tree with special significance in your life. If you have a tree like that, how about gathering some leaves from it this fall and make a batch of these beautiful candle holders. I can imagine a family gathering (large or small), have a bunch of these candle holders gathered on a table or scattered around the room or even on a deck or patio. Light them and then turn out the lights. What a great atmosphere to share a family story with a connection to that tree or let others share their memories connected to that special tree. It would be a memorable event. Then let everyone take home one of the candle holders.

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #27 – Apples

Posted on September 9, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Caramel Apple Kit from thegunnysack.com

We have a pear tree in our back yard and I’ve been dealing with too many pears for several weeks. One night Emma even helped out by helping herself to several while she was home alone. She also loves to pick up the windfall ones off the ground and run around with them. She is getting pretty good at bringing them to me. I think pears will always remind me of Emma.

Did your family have a fruit tree growing up? What memories do you have of apples or pears or other fruit, maybe at your grandma’s house. Here are some really fun ideas for jar gifts to do with apples. Some of them are easily adapted to other fruits. They would make a great jumping off point for sharing a memory of fall fruit harvests or other traditions centered around apples etc.

Apple Butter found on indulgy.com via Pinterest

homemade apple cider mix from The Blessed Hearth

Simmering Spices from ladybehindthecurtain.com

pie in a jar from ourbestbites.com

apple with caramel cream cheese dip by Jo and Sue

apple pie filling in a jar from mommyskitchen.net

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #26 – Football Season

Posted on September 4, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

jar project from JoAnn Fabric and Crafts

Many families have a rich tradition for football season. There are bound to be some great stories centered around the game. Maybe one of these sports themed jar ideas would help to start the story telling process during the next half-time or drive to or from the game. My sister and I both played volleyball in college and our parents came to almost every home game and many of the away games. It would be interesting to know what their favorite memories are of that season of our lives. Maybe I should take the football theme and tweak it for volleyball and find an occasion to use it as a bridge to learning their memories of BYU volleyball. How about your family? Do they have a strong sports tradition?

Mason Jar Football Brownie Treats By Courtney Whitmore, on eHow.com

from Kasey Kilpatrick via pinterest put a team scarf and nail polish in the school colors in a jar

Football Cozy via blovelyevents.com

sports shaped cookies in a jar from the decorated cookie

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #25 – Jack-O-Lantern Jar

Posted on September 2, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

jar-o-lanters from Southern Living

With September here and summer officially over with the passing of Labor Day, I’m sure that Halloween will be just around the corner. I so want to make some of these Jack-O-Lantern jars. They would look great on my front porch to welcome trick or treators. The jars could also create a great opportunity to share stories of your own childhood Halloween traditions or a fun Halloween story from an ancestor. These are simple enough to make that you could gather some of the younger family members and have some fun making them together. Start saving empty jars and try this out. Click the image above for directions. Here are a few more Halloween inspired jar ideas.