Don't Toss Old Mason Jar Lids When You Could Reuse Them For Cute Garden Decor

Mason jar lids may have a short life in the pantry, but that doesn't mean they're destined for the trash. While the flat metal tops aren't recommended for repeated home canning, they're surprisingly useful for crafts — and one of the sweetest ways to give them a second life is by turning them into cute garden decor, such as a whimsical garden wind chime. Personalizing the metal discs to hang as a mobile or wind chime can be a fun family activity with young kids, since they can be covered with their drawings. Or, you could simply paint them to match your garden's color scheme and to add a touch of charm to your outdoor space.

In addition to your mason jar lids, gather some string or ribbon and something to hang them from, like a wooden dowel. Anything from a stick or dowel to an old embroidery hoop should work well. You'll also want paint, waterproof markers, and glitter glue for embellishments. Because you'll need to make a hole in each lid, have a drill or hammer and nail handy. A small piece of sandpaper or a metal file can also help smooth any sharp edges around the holes.

Begin by drilling a hole in each of your lids. Keep them positioned similarly so the finished chime hangs evenly. If necessary, you can then use sandpaper or a file to deburr any rough edges around the openings. Now you're ready to decorate your lids. You can use anything from outdoor paint to waterproof markers for this, depending on what kind of design you're going for. One creative approach used by the YouTuber EasyMeWorld is to have family or friends help with the decorating. Using this idea, you'll have a charming keepsake of your time spent with loved ones. If your wind chime will be exposed to the elements, consider adding a coat of clear, outdoor-use enamel to each lid. This is also the perfect time to paint your embroidery hoop or dowel.

Once everything is completely dry, tie pieces of sturdy cord through the holes and attach the lids to your chosen frame. Make sure the lids have enough space between them to chime against each other when the wind blows. Finally, tie a loop of string to your dowel so you can hang it. For some fun extra touches, you could add beads, bells, shells, and broken costume jewelry at this stage. You could even tie some old keys to your wind chime. There's no need for your wind chime to look perfect. A few mismatched lids and handmade decorations can give it exactly the cheerful, collected-over-time character