How to Reuse Your Old Candle Jars

At Frostbeard, we’re proud to say that our candles are soy, made from natural and renewable resources, and the containers are 100% recyclable. Even though it’s perfectly fine to simply reduce and recycle, we love hearing that our fans are reusing our candle jars and tins before they recycle them. We reuse our Frostbeard jars all the time, so we thought it was time to share some of our favorite candle jar DIYs with our readers. From terrariums to holiday gifts, the only limit when it comes to how many uses there are for your re-purposed Frostbeard candle jar is the size of your imagination.

Step one of any candle jar DIY project is removing the last bit of candle wax from your container. For safety reasons, we recommend that you stop burning candles once they only have ½" of wax remaining. So before you begin your DIY-ing, you’ll need to get that ½” of wax out of the bottom of your jar. There are many ways to go about removing wax from candle jars, two of our favorites include using boiling water and a sauce pan or using your freezer. Either method should result in a clean Frostbeard glass jar or tin, but be careful. While heating, your tins and glass jars will be hot. Always use caution while cleaning out candle jars.

1. Succulent Planters and Terrariums

As you can see from the image above, we love turning our Frostbeard tins and jars into succulent planters and terrariums. Turning a candle jar into a planter is easy.

Supplies you’ll need:

• 1 Frostbeard tin or jar
• Potting soil
• 1 succulent
• Moss
• Small rocks or pebbles

This DIY is super easy. Start by lining the bottom of your container with small rocks for drainage and then fill the rest of the jar ¾ of the way full with potting soil. Next, plant your main succulent in the center of the jar’s opening and add any other small succulents that you can around its base. Finish off your design by using moss to fill any holes left on the soil’s surface. And there you go, you just made a succulent planter! To take this DIY a step further, use some hemp or twine to add a gift tag around the outside of your jar to make this a lovely housewarming or holiday present.

2. TBR (To Be Read) Jar

If you’re anything like us, your TBR (to be read) list is quite extensive, and deciding which novel to start next can be difficult. Do you want the mystery, romance, or YA novel? There are too many choices; how is one person supposed to choose! Enter the TBR jar. Next time you’re ready to start a new title simply reach into your TBR jar and choose a title at random.

Supplies you’ll need:

• 1 Frostbeard tin or jar complete with lid
• Paper
• Pen
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Decorating supplies of your choice

First, you’ll want to count up the number of TBRs currently on your list. Next, cut your paper up into small strips of paper that are large enough to write each book’s title on. Make as many strips as you need to write each book title, plus a few extra for when it’s time to add to your list. Once your strips are cut, write one title on each strip of paper. After that is completed fold all of your strips in half and add them to your jar. Screw on the lid and give it a shake! Now go ahead and blindly pull out your next great read. For extra flair, decorate the outside of your jar however you like to make it a functional piece of decor in your space.

3. Candy Gift Jars

Whether you need to DIY a secret Santa gift or you need some last minute party favors, this adorable candy gift jar DIY is simple to make and sweet to enjoy.

Supplies you’ll need:

• 1 Frostbeard glass jar complete with lid
• White spray paint
• Caulk
• Caulk gun
• Medium sized jingle bells
• Colorful beads to mimic sprinkles
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Your candy of choice

Just a reminder, whenever you’re working with caulk, you should wear gloves as it can irritate the skin before it cures. The aim of this DIY is to turn your Frostbeard glass 8 oz jar into a treat-filled cupcake. Step one, after cleaning your jar and lid, spray paint your lid white. Next, use your caulk gun to pipe caulk onto the top of your lid just like you would to frost a cupcake. Then, before the caulk dries, sprinkle on some small beads and add one of your jingle bells to the top of your “frosting” spiral. Set the lid off to the side to allow the caulk to cure. Just a note, acrylic latex caulk can take up to 24 hours to dry whereas silicone or modified silicone caulk can take anywhere from 12 to 48 to cure. Read the directions on the back of your caulk to find out how long your formula will take to cure and plan accordingly. Before adding in your candy of choice, wrap some ribbon below the lip of your jar. Lastly, once everything has dried, fill your jar with candy and screw on your lid.

4. Hot Cocoa Mix Sets

It gets extremely cold here in Minnesota, and there’s nothing better than battling the frozen tundra outside with a cup of hot cocoa and a good book. For us, hot cocoa is a go-to gift that we can give to any of our Midwestern friends, or even to those who just straight up like hot beverages. This holiday season we’ll be reusing our old Frostbeard jars to give the gift of warm chocolatey goodness.

Supplies you’ll need:

• 2 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups powdered milk or instant nonfat dry milk

This one’s as simple as one, two, three. First, sift together the ingredients listed above into a large bowl and then whisk to combine. Next, pour the mixture into your 8 oz glass Frostbeard jar. You can add a few marshmallows to the top for an added festive flair if you so desire. Lastly, screw on your lid and finish of your design with a bow or ribbon. And that’s it! Easy to make, easier to enjoy. This simple DIY makes for a great gift for any occasion.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Frostbeard

We want to thank you in advance for reusing and recycling our containers. We work hard to create environmentally friendly soy book-themed candles, and it’s nice to know that our signature scents are having a second life after they have burned their last. Have you used your Frostbeard jar or tin for a unique DIY project? Tell us about it below or share a picture with us on Instagram or Facebook!