Old Spaghetti Jars

I got this great idea last month to transform throw away glass jars back into treasures. I kept my husband from throwing away these spaghetti jars. He thought I was a crazy, and maybe I am a little bit, but at least I get results :) Here's what they ended up looking like:


Here they are with their former-counterparts-soon-to-be-transformed-to-coconut-and-sugar-holders-after-tomorrows-dinner:


The thing what took the longest was to get the glue from the label off. I scrubbed at it with Goo-be-Gone, then I spraypainted the lids brown and hot glued some ribbon around the jar. I used my cricut to cut some tags, added a little flower and hot glued the tag to the ribbon. I think this took me about 5 minutes to do (not including the label, that took so long I lost track, I recommend using the Prego spaghetti jars if you want to do this project, that label is a cinch to get off). I am too impatient to print the tag, instead I just scrawled it down by hand (this probably saved me like half an hour considering my printer is nowhere accessible).
I like it so much, I think all my spices, flours, sugars, and oils (yes, even oils) in my cabinet need to watch out. I am a little crazy and I may just go overboard :)

I didn't have a problem with the smell from the spaghetti  sauce, but if you do have a problem, just put some newspaper in the jar for a little bit. This works with my tupperware; you'll probably get the same results with the jars :)

39 comments

  1. That is so very cute! I definitely need some cuteness to my pantry:)

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  2. That is adorable!! I see some other cute ideas on your blog, too....thank you for stopping by my blog. I love the people I find through DIY day!

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  3. so cute! my spaghetti jars are boring! maybe I need to change brands! hahah
    gail

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  4. These are waaay cool and a great way to recycle glass jars! www.satisfiedsole.com

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  5. wow! this is such a great idea and basically FREE!! i love the way beans & rice look in jars! fantastic job.

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  6. Love this idea! I don't even know thru who I found you, but that's what happens when you go blog surfing right? I have plenty of baby jars + your ispiration= pretty organized spices. When you get a minute check out my blog at 2browneyedbeauties, maybe I can return the favor. (wink)

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  7. Very cute, I love the ribbon! I, too, use spaghetti jars for storage, my kids have started pointing out the best jars when we're at the grocery. :) Who really cares what the sauce tastes like anyway?

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  8. Oh, those are too cute. I'll have to try that one day.

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  9. Very cute idea. Also as a side note, the best thing I have found to get glue off is Avon's Skin so Soft bath oil. It works like a dream on any thing I have tried it on and it is cheaper than Goo Gone.

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  10. I love this. I have been using my spagetti jars, pickle jars (and others too) to hold my ribbon pieces that aren't on a spool. I've been saying I was going to cover the lids somehow but what you've done with the ribbon is adorable. I think I'm not only going to dress up my craft jars but my pantry's getting a new makeover too.
    Thanks...Tracy :)

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  11. very cute!! They look totally adorable!!

    Shellagh

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  12. OMG! I just stumbled onto your page from Pinterest. What caught my eye was that I use those same jars to store/organize my dried beans. I love the jars shape.
    The easiest way I've found to get those labels off is to leave them soaking in the sink with hot water and dish soap. Soak them for about 15-20 minutes, and they should just peel off. If there is any glue residue left, just use the scrubby side of a sponge, comes right off.

    Great minds think a like!

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  13. Thank you for telling me pregu is the easiest to get off! I stopped using Ragu which I love because the labels won't come off!

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  14. I save almost all jars to use for some purpose or other. I like the idea of spray painting the lids if they are used for decorative purposes. Jelly jars tend to have labels that come off easily. Peanut butter not so much. I imagine the spaghetti sauce jars are the same. The trick for me is to soak in hot soapy water. Peel off all the paper and then rub with olive oil to dissolve the goo. Finally scour with a scrubby pad and soap and then run through the dishwasher. For the jars like jelly that only have a strip of glue to hold the label on, I fill the jar with really hot water--it softens the glue. Then peel the paper off--the outside of the jar should be dry. Then take a paper towel doused with a little olive oil and rub the glue away. Again, then run through the dishwasher. :)

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  15. Ok, so I have seen that others commented on your fight with the label....in the crafting that I do I found a product called "Un-do" Adhesive remover. You can find it at most crafts stores. Buy some and be happy!!

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  16. I use the Classico Brand Tomato and Basil is my and hubbies fav. Which is awesome because they use Atlas Mason jars. I do what Desi said and soak them overnight, peel the label off and scrub off the rest of the residue. It works really well. You made them look so cute I will have to steal your idea for my pantry. :)

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  17. How do you get rid of the spaghetti sauce smell?? I wanted to repurpose sauce jars but even washing multiple times (including in the dishwasher) they still smelled like sauce??!

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  18. LOVE this idea!! so cute :) thanks for the inspiration

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  19. Newest follower here. I thought about doing this but couldn't really see it. Yours are adorable. I think I will do it after seeing yours.
    Stop by my blog and follow, link up, leave a button, or just look around.

    Thanks.
    Jacque
    http://www.hopesanddreamsstudio.blogspot.com/

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  20. Just found you through Pinterest & love the blog already! I used to work in a winery and (like several folks have mentioned already), the best way we found to remove old labels completely was to soak bottles in a sink (or tub) of scalding hot water. By the time the water reaches room temp, the labels slide right off. Of course, this does vary depending on the type of glue used...so knowing which brands are best is still helpful! But I'd go for cool-looking jars over easy-to-remove labels ANY day. :)

    Also, to remove the smell, try filling the jar with a good 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and hot water; let sit for half an hour or so, then run through the dishwasher. Should help kill the odor. Or hot water & lemons, perhaps.

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  21. Please go on Facebook. That way we will see a post when you add a new post.

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  22. Don't do this to someone with OCD!!!! My counters are lined wih half gallon Ball jars full of things like oats, raisins, dried onions, sugar, and so on. Looking at them after reading this, I can see myself measuring and cutting to have ribbons perfectly aligned and tags at identical angles. Starting tomorrow !!!!!

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  23. I find it's not the jars that are smelly, it's the lids. The easiest way to remove odours from the lids is to handwash sauce off, then run through dishwasher, then when clean, and if smell remains is to lay them facing up on windowsill for a few days. Sun seems to make smell go away.

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  24. Because you already have the Goo Gone it works best if you spray it on (make sure all the glue is coated) and let it sit for up to 15 min. Then use a piece of softer plastic (like a spatula/turner) to scrape the residue and Goo Gone off together. Spray it down with window cleaner to get the greasy film off before you wash it and you are golden.
    I worked in a college bookstore for 3 years and this is the method we used to get the old "Used" stickers off the books.

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  25. usually if you just fill it and run it under hot water the labels will come off fine

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  26. Use a template in the shape of your favorite label. Spray or paint your own chalkboard paint on the jar and you can then change the name of the contents with a swipe of a cloth and 5 seconds to chalk on the new contents!

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  27. Cute idea! The easiest way I know to get labels off glass jars is to keep the jar and label dry then fill with boiling water. As long as the label stays dry it should lift off in just a few minutes.

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  28. These are so adorable ..love it and here's a tip WD40 Gets the glue and lable off. Just spray it on a paper towel and rub ..glue comes off easy. Hope this helps with your project.

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  29. You can use rubbing alcohol to get the sticky stuff off.

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  30. I found some really cute jars that mandarin oranges came in, but lost interest in doing a project because they had so much adhesive to hold the label on. I might try 100% acetone or my new favorite use it for everything coconut oil.

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  31. Another way to get the glue off: peel the paper off, then spray with WD-40. Let it sit for a while then you can just rub the glue off with a paper towel. Wash with soap and water and you're ready to go.

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  32. I LOVE this! I will be making some today as a matter of fact :) What an easy and creative way to store just about anything in your kitchen! I am also going to be doing this for the craft/sewing room! I featured this on my blog this morning www.amamablogger.blogspot.com :) Thank you again for this incredible craft!

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  33. These would be really cute done up with Christmas themes and filled with homemade hot chocolate or tea mixes to give a little teacher, etc gifts!!! :D

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  34. I fought with Goo Gone, and various chemicals... then it dawned on me; steel wool (not the kind with detergent in it.) I put the jars (labels and all) in a sink of warm/hot water - just to get the heavy label off. Then, I just scrub the rest of the label / glue off with steel wool. That part took like 2 seconds - and no chemicals needed!

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  35. A half cup of Oxyclean in a sink of hot water has taken off every label I've tried! Soak for about two hours.No scrubbing.

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  36. WD-40 gets label goo off in a jiffy! No soaking; just spray a little on the jar and use a scrubby. Just make sure you wash with soap and water. Takes like 30 seconds

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  37. Can you wash the spray painted lids? Are they sealed?

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happy DIYing! Alicia