Fixin' Leaks and Leeks

The craft alarm made a thwiping sound today that sent wild rabbits—and probably the neighborhood bear—tearing through backyard kiddie pools on a rampage. But the noise was warranted: I needed to peel the “jellybean” labels off my empty plastic jar, and they were on there, good and tight. Seriously, it was so hard. It took like a full five minutes.

Could I have just left the labels on the jar and refilled it? Prolly. But as they say, “An empty jar is just a craft you haven’t met yet.” And there’s a whole welcoming committee of jars in my cupboard.

So, I took to drawing little flower- and circle-like figures on the plastic container with permanent marker. Then, I gave up and filled in with cute stickers.

Once I find more jellybeans—or other candies—I imagine all the colors just filling up the empty spaces in between the stickers and drawings, making everything so jolly. (Squee!)

Also, I’ve done something practical. If the jar is permanently named “Jellybeans,” and I decide to put something else other than jellybeans into that container, I will be unnecessarily surprised. It’s one thing for a bear and rabbits to wreak havoc on neighborhood kiddie pools when startled. The CEO and founder of the Fixin’ Leaks ‘n Leeks blog has a reputation to uphold if she wants to maintain her membership in the Good Beets Baking Club. (Don’t look it up. I swear it’s real.)

Other Uses for the Jellybean Jar:

• Sweets and swears: Every time someone gives a compliment that contains a swear word, put money in the jar! (Example: You look f*!!!ing awesome!)
• Password saver: Use colorful scraps of paper to write all your passwords in a safe, see-through jar. (Never lose a password again!)
• Random activity generator: Find colorful, decorative small rocks, and write down things you might do when you’re bored like create and post fake LinkedIn jobs. (I’m looking at you, “Koala cuddler, $150K per year, no experience needed, remote work.”) Then, place them in the jar, shake them up, and surprise yourself.
• Store all the things you like to collect, such as wine corks, shells, buttons, and stray action figures that need a home. Then, when the jar is full, set them free on a moonlit night. Let them play with the neighborhood critters and splash in the bird baths. Watch the whole thing unfold as footage from someone’s doorbell camera posted onto the HOA Facebook page. Deny everything in the comments section by typing, “That wasn’t me.”

Your Turn: What’s an item you’ve repurposed/up-cycled as a craft lately?