If you’ve never seen the Bonne Maman mini jam jars, you’re missing out! The Bonne Maman advent calendar was a great way to sample a variety of jam flavors, but the best part was the mini jars! Now it’s time to reuse those jars for some fun crafts!
Empty jars can be used in so many different ways! Some of the most simple ideas include:
- craft storage – you can store buttons, embellishments, tools and so much more,
- plant propagation – give your plant cuttings a place to grow roots,
- coin storage – save up coins to cash in for a rainy day.
Mini Jam Jar Craft Ideas
Repurposing these mini jam jars into salt and pepper shakers and little Valentines were fun and easy crafts!
Tips for Removing Labels from Mini Jam Jars
The first step in creating crafts with jars is removing the labels. This can be tricky and sticky! After some trial and error, the best way to remove the labels from mini Bonne Maman jars is to soak them in hot water with a few drops of dish soap! The labels just slid right off the jars!
Salt & Pepper Shakers
Mini salt and pepper shakers are perfect for picnics or meals on your patio. They are also great if you are having a party and need to spread salt and pepper shakers around for your guests.
Supplies needed:
- at least 2 mini jars ,
- a nail,
- a hammer.

Steps to create your salt and pepper shakers:
- select a lid,
- decide how many holes you will make (see below for salt and pepper shaker hole etiquette). You can place tape on your lid to draw a design if you’d like.
- place your nail where you want your hole and hammer it through the lid,
- repeat the above step as many times as desired and remove your tape if you used some to create your design.

Mini jam jars can hold a variety of spices! How cute would it look to display these jars on your countertop? This also has the added benefit of putting your spices right at your fingertips.
Did you know there is such a thing as salt and pepper shaker etiquette? Pepper is supposed to go into the shaker with more holes! If research hadn’t been done for this project, these salt and pepper shakers would have had the wrong lids!
Mini Valentines
Giving little valentine jars instead of a card is a unique way to express your love! Your recipient then gets a cute little jar to reuse however they would like!
Supplies needed:
- mini glass jars with lids,
- mini Valentine’s Day stencils (retired Chalk Couture stencils were used for this project). Learn more about stencils with the Chalk Couture Stencil Guide.
- Chalkology Paste in your desire colors (Bright White and Candy Apple were used for this project), but you can use any paint you’d like,
- a squeegee,
- construction paper if you want to place notes inside your jars,
- candy of your choice if you want to include candy.

Steps to create the Mini Valentines:
- decide which stencils you want to use on lids and the jars themselves. Mini hearts were used on the lids and a combination of mini hearts and lips were used on the sides of these jars.
- chalk your designs onto your lids and jars,
- chalk a design or write a note on a piece of construction paper,
- insert notes and candy into the jars.

Thank you to Bonne Maman for providing inspiration for all kinds of diy projects on your blog. These projects were adapted from those ideas, and hopefully, you’ve been inspired to reuse and upcycle jars you have in your craft room!
Sustainably yours,
Luana

Thank you for your idea. I will use your suggestions.
You’re welcome! I’m glad these ideas were useful!