50 Things to Put in Apothecary Jars | Maggie Rose

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Decorative glass jars: You probably have a pair (or more) of them in your house. If you haven’t, you’ve most likely contemplated buying some. But that nagging question keeps surfacing: What the heck do I put in them?

Apothecary jars, cylindrical glass, clear glass vases… you see them in shops, in catalogs, in magazines. But when it comes down to it, I know I (and many others) have been stumped as to what to do with them next. So I started brainstorming and came up with this list. Some I’ve seen in action, some I think would look cool. As a gentle rule, smaller items should go in smaller vases. You don’t want the items to be overwhelmed.

1. Ribbon

2. Pinecones

3. Lemons or other fruit (fake lasts longest, of course)

4. Nuts in their shells

5. Letterpress machine letters

6. Nautical knots of rope

7. Shells

8. Vintage tree ornaments

9. Wrapped candy canes (unwrapped will leave a sticky mess)

10. Handfuls of sparkly costume jewelry

11. Postcards from friends (or from your own vacations)

12. School photos (include mom and dad’s old ones too)

13. Bingo balls

14. Spools of thread or twine

15. Dried corn husks

16. Shiny Christmas balls

18. Miniature pumpkins

19. Vintage wooden rulers

20. Collection of vintage watches

21. Old typewriter keys

22. Rattan balls, woven balls, stick balls

23. Cinnamon sticks

24. Love letters from your honey (with discretion!)

25. Antique silverware

26. Arrowheads

27. Pages from vintage books (some are already falling apart at many used book stores)

28. Origami cranes or other small scale origami

29. Vintage toy cars, trains, or airplanes

30. Jingle bells

31. Feathers (bigger graphic ones like peacock or turkey look best)

32. Shafts of wheat

33. Pretty soaps (wrapped or not)

34. Sand (top should not be level)

35. Polish hand-painted eggs

36. Concert stubs

37. Pencils

38. Evergreen branches (fake or real)

39. Sticks and moss

40. Paper or silk fans (try Chinatown)

41. Scraps of vintage lace

42. Fur (if you’re into that, but I’d advise vintage only)

43. Wine corks

44. Your grandma’s old glove collection

45. “Memory Jars” for each child – small momentos and polaroids

46. Sprigs of holly or mistletoe

47. Old clothespins

48. Dry autumn leaves

49. River rocks or lava rocks

50. Cocktail umbrellas

Enjoy! Send me pictures of your own creative mix and maybe I’ll feature it on the blog!

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PS~Erin says: July 28, 2009 • 05:56:58 I love it… Great list of ideas!! I think it looks so pretty with different, colorful candy in several. Of course, we could never have that around our house. They’d be empty! Reply

I love it… Great list of ideas!! I think it looks so pretty with different, colorful candy in several. Of course, we could never have that around our house. They’d be empty!

Anne @ The City Sage says: July 28, 2009 • 07:13:27 Oh no! I just gave away the 8 huge apothecary jars that I had left over from the candy buffet at my wedding because I had no idea what to do with them. wish I’d had this list a week ago! guess i’d better forward it to the lucky co-workers who snapped up my jars Reply

Oh no! I just gave away the 8 huge apothecary jars that I had left over from the candy buffet at my wedding because I had no idea what to do with them. wish I’d had this list a week ago! guess i’d better forward it to the lucky co-workers who snapped up my jars

Jackie says: July 29, 2009 • 13:21:03 Great list! I have a couple glass jars I was wondering what to do with. I saw recently on you are my fave ones that were filled with colorful paper cranes. Need to bust mine out and fill em up with something from this list! Reply

Great list! I have a couple glass jars I was wondering what to do with. I saw recently on you are my fave ones that were filled with colorful paper cranes. Need to bust mine out and fill em up with something from this list!

Kotori says: July 29, 2009 • 13:36:48 For some reason, I love rubber bands in jars – I think it just the way the tumble together… this is a great list. Reply

For some reason, I love rubber bands in jars – I think it just the way the tumble together… this is a great list.

Sherry @ Young House Love says: July 29, 2009 • 13:46:15 You’re right, I do like this post! You’ve put together quite a fabulous list. I especially love letterpress letters, spools of thread, and nuts in their shells. Awesome. xoxo, s Reply

You’re right, I do like this post! You’ve put together quite a fabulous list. I especially love letterpress letters, spools of thread, and nuts in their shells. Awesome.

xoxo, s

Melanie says: July 29, 2009 • 17:51:21 Great list. I can’t believe you came up with 50! I especially love the paper cranes, of course. Reply

Great list. I can’t believe you came up with 50! I especially love the paper cranes, of course.

the lil bee says: July 29, 2009 • 21:00:07 Decidedly adorable;) Reply

Decidedly adorable;)

evelyn says: December 28, 2010 • 19:22:15 Thank you, Maggie! I love these ideas. I used to put naturally colorful bulk food (beans, rice, raisins, granola) but now where I live the glass canisters would be in direct sunlight, so — not good. I may try the rubber bands, and walnuts w/ shells. Too bad sunlight fades things. Thanks again. Reply

Thank you, Maggie! I love these ideas.

I used to put naturally colorful bulk food (beans, rice, raisins, granola) but now where I live the glass canisters would be in direct sunlight, so — not good.

I may try the rubber bands, and walnuts w/ shells. Too bad sunlight fades things. Thanks again.

Kelly Bonanno (@Savvysuburban_) says: January 11, 2013 • 10:22:49 Such clever ideas, thank you! I’m mad about shells, will do that when it’s beach weather, for right now, love the pine cone idea! ~Kelly Reply

Such clever ideas, thank you! I’m mad about shells, will do that when it’s beach weather, for right now, love the pine cone idea! ~Kelly

Janice says: August 28, 2013 • 06:48:30 Happy meal toys or legos would be fun too. great list. Reply

Happy meal toys or legos would be fun too. great list.

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