I’m finding it hard to believe that this is the last Tuesday in February. Did that sneak up on you, too? The All Things Creative Team and I are back with this month’s roundup, and our theme this month is All Things Mason Jars!
First, a little Mason jar history!
Have you ever wondered why the jars are called Mason jars when many of them have the word “Ball” on the front? Well, me, too, so I did a bit of googling and here’s your history lesson for today.
Although people had been preserving food in glass jars rather ineffectively for a long while, it was in 1858 when John Landis Mason patented his threaded zinc screw cap that created a tight seal on the jars. When his patent expired, other companies began producing their own version of canning jars with the major competitor being the Ball Corporation causing the name Ball to become synonymous with Mason jars. Other companies such as Kerr and Atlas, along with Ball, began mass producing the canning jars.
During World War II, there was an increased demand for Mason jars when the United States government urged citizens to grow their own food. After the war, tin cans and refrigerators replaced the widespread use of jars to preserve food.
It was during the late 1960s when a lot of people were returning to a more natural way of life (think hippies) that another resurgence occurred. That’s about the same time I watched my grandmother canning in her kitchen, but calling her a “hippie” would be a far stretch!
Now, Mason jars are once again having a big moment. The rise in the popularity of Pinterest has spread the creative uses of Mason jars. I started making a list of all the uses but that list started growing too long to even put here. All you have to do is click on some of the links below to see all the ideas that our All Things Creative team has come up with for using those ubiquitous jars.
Hope you’re able to visit all the ladies from the team today. They are, from left to right:Ann from On Sutton Place, Julie from Redhead Can Decorate, Debbie from Debbiedoo’s, Jacque from The DIY Village, Dawn from Creative Cain Cabin, Maryann from Domestically Speaking, Claire from A Little Claireification, Melissa from The Happier Homemaker, me, and Vanessa from Tried & True.
As for me, I mostly use the jars to preserve food. As many of you know, we have a large garden. If we can’t eat it all, the excess goes in jars. I probably have hundreds of jars, and in the summer, I fill a lot of them with this.
Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce
To find more of my canning recipes, just click on the word “Recipes” on the menu bar at the top of this page and you’ll find them! Sometimes I put dessert in jars because you can store and serve it in the jars.
I love to use the new green and blue jars in decorating. Here’s an easy way to create a centerpiece for upcoming St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Easy Spring Centerpiece using Green Ball Jars
I can’t wait to get more ideas for using Mason jars by clicking on the links below, can you? If you don’t have much time right now, don’t forget to
I hope that this isn’t wrong to comment about a different post on your jar post. I love jars, but I just found your plans for building an obelisk and I am so excited. Thank you so much . . . I love these and I have seen them for sell for around $100 each, way above my retirement budget. I know that I said that I was excited, but that is an understatement . . . Thank you for your amazing and easy to follow plans.
Your blogging sister,
Connie 🙂
I love me some Ball jars Jane! Thanks for the round-up! Your No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake looks tempting for breakfast 🙂
Jane I love the history of the mason jar! It is hard to believe just how old it is. The poor creator never saw a dime of his invention lol. Love all these fabulous ideas, in one place. We rock!:)
Thank~you for the History Lesson and all the wonderful ideas!!
I almost ran out of battery on my tablet looking at all the ideas and I am not finished looking.
I loved this post today.
Thank you
Great post. i love all the ways they are used and the history lesson.
So, there is a difference!!! I knew it!!
Love the little history lesson Jane 🙂
So much jar love Jane, thank you!
Love it! I read somewhere that Mason jars are old news in decor and I absolutely do not agree. When we had a baby shower here a few weeks ago we talked about vases for the flowers but all agreed that jars are much more fun. The uses are endless and they add a little character. 🙂
Wow so many creative ideas for the use of these jars! My grandmother did her own canning and my mom had a collection of her old jars but I’m not sure where they are now. Dan’s mom always did up a lot of jars of tomato sauce and pickles. I like the new green color- cute for things like flowers like you showed!