I need some ideas of what to do with these...(reusing glass bottles)

[SheThrowsDown]

Hey everyone! I'm trying to work on living a more minimalist lifestyle (as much as I can with 2 small kids lol) and part of it is getting rid of things I can't use. So far I've freecycled a LOT of stuff and sold some as well, also donated some lol.

Anyhow I have a few things i'd like to use and can't come up with more ideas.

First I have a green glass bottle, really funky looking, no cork. What could I put in this? I had two corked bottles that I now use to keep dishwashing liquid next to my sink.

Next, I have glass and plastic jars/bottles. Most glass bottles from things like peanut butter, coffee drinks and juices. I was thinking of using the peanut butter one for getting fresh ground peanut butter at the healthfood store...but no clue for the rest of it.


I have more but can't think of them right now. Any ideas?

[hoodedclawjen]

are you artistic? if so, if you can borrow a glass cutting tool, you could cut the tops off your glass bottles and jars, and make vases, tea-light lanterns, cool drinking glasses, etc.

[a7dk]

The various glass & plastic bottles can be used as tupperware, to put leftover vinagrettes or sauces in, or you can take them to the local food co-op or wherever there's a store with bulk bins. You can put oats, bulgar, quinoa, or anything else in there.

As for the green one, why not use it for a flower vase?

[mazikeen]

I reuse all my jars for storing pantry items. So, if I get grains, beans, seeds in bulk or packaged in a plastic bag, I empty the contents into a jar of appropriate size. My walnuts are in a jar previously used for pasta sauce, and my quinoa in a jar that had tofu ravioli. Using them as tupperware, as a7dk suggested, could also work.

I'm sure you can find stoppers for bottles, so you could reuse your big green bottle to store liquids in. If not, you can use it as a jug to serve water or other beverages at the table.

[Skylark]

My dad uses plastic peanut butter jars (sans the label) to store screws, nails, and other small items in his workshop.

I'm holding on to containers and jars, hoping to find a use for them in my life, too.

[shortygurls18]

My sister and I use to take glass jars (that can fit a candle into. weather it's a tea light or a candle stick or a big candle) then we would flip them over so there bottom is facing up. Then we would heat up crayons with a match or lighter or a candle and melt the crayon wax onto the jars to make a cool look. Then we would turn them normal and use them for candle holders or decortive peices in your home. If you get really good at it you may be able to sell them at a craft fair or something like that.

[jenni-anti-fur]

Thats what I do too...save my jars for rice..beans...pasta...chips...ect...
My Fiance does that PBJ jar thing too for all his screws..nails...ect....

I am trying not to throw anything away and wash and re-use...cause I know if i do throw it out I will need it.

[singing hinnie]

For the bottles how about homebrew, you can buy capping kits at a small cost and re-use the bottles again and again. It doesn't have to be alcahol either. You could try making cordial, Lemonade or ginerbeer.

For the glass jars heres' some of the things I use them for making Bramble Jelly, storing bulk bought spices, corn flower, arowroot ect and keeping my daughters realy small craft stuff in buttons, shells and ribons. We also have a couple with holls in the top to which everyone adds all their small change to. My mum also does this and has saved enought to pay fo a weeks shopping. Aroud £70 over the last year.

[flvegnewbie]

You can reuse some of the larger glass containers (from food) to store leftovers in, or even your staples likes sugar, flour, oatmeal, beans, flax seeds, dried fruit, etc.

I don't know if you have a Foodsaver, but they actually have a way that you can place a glass jar inside one of their containers and reseal the glass jar.
Obviously this would be for short-term storage, such as storing the above items, but it makes the glass containers completely air tight.

[Shamandura]

I have a couple green grolsch beer bottles I filled with water and plant food and placed peace lillys in. It's very cool because you can see the roots down inside the bottle. I also keep old pickle and peanut butter jars for storing bulk foods, like nuts and rice in my pantry. I paint the lids so they dont all say vlassic and such. Painting the outside of glass jars or bottles w/dark paint is good for storing herbs, it keeps them fresh longer.

[animallover7249]

You can buy a bag of different sized corks at the craft store for the bottles that don't have one.

[hollywoodveg]

moonshine :beatnik:

[cstadt]

I like to keep bath bubble soap in corked bottles. Somebody mentioned candles but you can put a skinny one in long-necked bottles to get that cool drippy look

I save jars and things for tupperware and if they're big enough, for transporting dog/cat food when going on trips. You can keep dog/cat treats in jars too-- I do that.

[SheThrowsDown]

Thanks everyone! I ended up using the ones that I have right now for storing bulk stuff from the grocery store. I also had a beer bottle I forgot to include in the picture below, that I put flaxseed in. I didn't have a cork so I actually makeshifted one by wrapping a folded papertowel around the end of a clothespin and taping it. It actually looks kind of cool lol.

But here's what I did:

The first two are the ones I mentioned earlier that I put dishwashing liquid in.
Then I have a starbucks (my husbands) bottle with "real salt" in it, that's what it was called in the bulk bins lol.
I found that huge cabbage patch jar at gdubb for 50 cents, it has barley in it.
the thing on it used to be a candle holder, now has quinoa.
then there is a peanut butter jar with wehani rice, on top of it is a jam container that has sweet brown rice.
then another starbucks with red quinoa and an olive jar with amaranth lol

[sally429]

I have a few bottles kinda like the first two. I like to put mine in windows where the sun hits. I just like the color reflections all over the room.

I remeber when I was little my friend and I made candle holders out of glass jars. We tore multi-colored wrapping tissue paper in to small peices and then used a glue/water mix to paint them on. Like paper mache. If you get too many, that might be a fun craft for your kids.

Although, if you are trying to be minimalist then these ideas probably would just create more clutter...:p

[MZCsmpsns]

Depending on the size of the neck of the bottles, I've found them useful to organize garage junk (nails, screws, etc...)

As others have said, and as you've done, they work great for bulk foods/spices, or things that come in packages that you just want to stay fresher (cereal, chips, cookies-or healthier things). We use them for animal treats, candle holders, we have an old Crystal Light container as a pen/pencil holder on the desk, and a couple in the medicine cabinet for toothbrushes. I used old small spice containers for paperclips/thumbtacks/pushpins and they fit perfectly in the smaller desk drawers. I don't know how old your kids are, but if they're old enough you could make an art project where you all could decorate them and use them for whatever or just for display.

I like the idea of moonshine, though.

[hollywoodveg]

^^^^^ Hee!!!!!!:rockon:


Another thing you could use them for is infused oil.

[Shamandura]

Omg, you have a Cabbage Patch Kid Jar!?! That's awesome, I want one! I'm sure if I searched for one of those on eBay, they would want quite a small fortune for it!

[SheThrowsDown]

Omg, you have a Cabbage Patch Kid Jar!?! That's awesome, I want one! I'm sure if I searched for one of those on eBay, they would want quite a small fortune for it!

I think I found one on Ebay for .99 but it was like $8 shipping!