25 Days Of Giving: Gifts In Jars

Holiday shopping season is upon us as people search retail stores and online websites for deals on this year's "must-have" gift. Instead of wasting hours in line at the department store, gift loved ones with a thoughtful, homemade memento this holiday season.

To help inspire your own holiday creativity, below are a few easy gift-in-jar ideas:

Layering your favorite recipe mix in a quart-sized Ball jar is a simple yet personal gift idea. It's also perfect for kids to make as teacher gifts; simply layer recipe ingredients and tie with decorative ribbon. You can even add a customized recipe card as a gift tag.

Source: FreshPreserving.com

Give the gift of New Year's wishes. Fill four eight-ounce Ball jars with everything one would need for a healthy, happy holiday and stack in a clear bag with a gift tag. This idea from The Country Chic Cottage is filled with wishes for health and pampering!

Source: The Country Chic Cottage

Use extra pine leaves from your holiday tree this year to fill beautifully wrapped mason jars. With white paint, plaid fabric, and gold wire, you can create a festive centerpiece or mantelpiece that's the perfect gift to give to your holiday host.

Source: @CherishedBliss
 

Apple pie is a holiday classic, beloved for its sweet and seasonal flavors. Spice up this traditional pie by making bourbon vanilla bean apple filling. Freshly preserved in a wide-mouth quart jar, this adult treat is thoughtful and tasty when given as a gift along with the perfect pie plate!

Source: Back to Her Roots
 

Regardless of your abilities in crafting or cooking, Jarden Home Brands, makers of the Ball brand home canning products, is inspiring all people to "Make and Give" this winter with their 25 Days of Making and Giving Promotion. Now until December 22, 2014, you can enter to win daily prizes from the Ball brand and are also encouraged to share your own homemade gift in a jar by posting a photo on Twitter or Instagram, tagging @BallCanning, and using the hashtag #MadeFromHere. Your creation will then be featured in a live stream on FreshPreserving.com!

What will you be making and sharing this holiday season? For more inspirational ideas, visit our Pinterest page!