50 Jar Gifts: idea #40 – Thank You Bank

Posted on October 28, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Thank You Bank from madewithhappy.com

I’ve come across several ideas for using jars to encourage thinking about things we are thankful for, but this one is my favorite. I think I like it so much because it is simple but fully functional and it won’t clutter up your counter, table or desk. This idea could easily be adapted for all kinds of things, but it would be awesome on Thanksgiving day for everyone to put in at least one thing they are thankful for and then read them around the dinner table. It could become a tradition with the tags put into a scrapbook each year. It would make an interesting record over the years as some things we are thankful for change and others stay the same.

Click on the image above for a step by step tutorial.

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 #35 – pancake mix

Posted on October 9, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

image from passionforsavings.com

Jar Gift Idea #34 inspired me to focus on pancakes for idea #35. While not many use sourdough starters in the everyday life, pancakes have a rich tradition in many households. When I think of pancakes, it reminds me of my Dad. I don’t know if he was always the one to cook the pancakes in the morning by the time I was a teenager it had developed into a tradition. Just today when I was talking to my Dad he mentioned needed to go get some more pancake mix. Now days my Dad does all the cooking (my Mom has Parkinson’s) but then it was mostly my Mom other than for pancakes.

image from thepinningmama.com

What are your memories of pancakes and family? Are there some fun stories to share? Stir up a batch of pancake mix and share it along with a memory to someone in your family. Or have a family gathering and serve pancakes (some families eat pancakes for dinner too). Then send each household home with their own jar of pancakes mix. A great way to make new memories and call to mind old ones.

image from cheekykitchen.com

Can’t think of any “pancake” memories? Why not start a new tradition involving pancakes. You can keep it simple or dress it up with fun flavors or fancy toppings. The possibilities are endless.

image from bettycrocker.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 #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 #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 #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 #24 – bird feeder

Posted on August 28, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

from the GardenRoofCoop.com ideas for four different jar bird feeders

Do you have a birdwatcher in your ancestors? A bird feeder would be a great way to share that joy of birdwatching along with stories about that family member. Some of the ideas use old plates or saucers as part of the bird feeder. I can imagine spending a quiet morning watching the birds and sharing family stories. If you have some old plates to use that could make another connection to the past. Here are a few tutorials on how to make bird feeders from jars:

from Old Time Pottery

from RunnerDuck.com

from LittleHouseLiving.com

ideas for several kinds of bird feeders via simply-living-simply.com

from celynnssunflowerpatch.blogspot.de

from q-made.blogspot.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 #23 – hanging vases

Posted on August 26, 2014 by tellingfamilytales

Mason Jar Hanger by Midwest Finds via MasonJarCraftsLove.com

When I think of my Grandma Jenson I often think of flowers too. We had a family reunion recently and when Grandma Jenson came up the conversation also included memories of her lilac bushes and hollyhocks. She was also very proud of her Amaryllis and other houseplants. I great way to share memories of Irene would be to put some lilacs in one of these great hanging jar vases and give them to a family member along with a story about Grandma either verbal or written or both. Tell the story and include a written copy along with the vase. Chances are every time that family member say that vase they would think of Irene. Do you have an ancestor or living relative who loves flowers? Here are several different ideas for hanging vase jars.