Adding Pizzazz to your Jam Jars With Lids, Covers and Labels or Just Doing Something Practical.   For normal everyday jam use, you may not want to bother with fancying your jar up.

However, if you are entering them in the local shows, using them for wedding favours or giving them as gifts you may want to add that bit of something extra. This is easy with fancy lids, labels or lid covers. Sometimes the simplest addition can make all the difference. A rustic label, a coloured ribbon or a cut covering can make your jams and other preserves that much more special.

Jam Jar Labelling

If you are thinking of reusing the jar or want something special then a non-stick label tied on may look better and will certainly make the jar easier to clean than a sticky one.

Going Rustic with your Jar Theme

A great theme and in keeping with jam making is the rustic look.  This usually consists of a brown tag tied on with a bow by natural looking string.  The lid cover can be as simple as a rough cut brown paper or something more ornate.

Colour Coding Your Jams

Think about the jam (or other preserve) that you are making.  What goes with it?  If you are making a red jam, strawberry or raspberry for example, why not make your accessories a colour to either compliment or contrast your jam.

Of course, if you are creating wedding personalised and decorative favours for family or friends then your jars will need to be to that weddings theme colour and style.

Style is Everything

Keep your overall theme similar and carry the colours through.  Maybe your labels will have a design of strawberries on them or a green border.

I admit I wouldn’t have thought of this.  It is simple and the striking slate design with chalk writing looks great.  What I love about these is that they are reusable and easy to remove.

 

Chalkboard Sticker (reusable), Labels and Chalk - Little Jam Jar Blackboard


 

Pretty Jam Jar Labels

As you can see these pretty pre-printed fruit labels would give a very different look to the ones above.  These would look great with wavy lid covers in a matching colour.

100 Jam Jar Labels that are Self-Adhesive


While this type of label is very popular there are a few minor issues.  The fruit designs are limited so if you are making something else they are no good.  And they come off as they come out of the box.

These fruity labels are great for the quintessential countryside look.

Designs of Labels and Lid Covers for Local Shows

Check first what your shows criteria for entries is.  Do you have limitations or ranges of jar sizes for instance?

We went to a local show and someone had entered a jam in a pre-used (not jam) jar complete with the old lid and original advertising brand on it.  It was disqualified for hygiene due to the lid reuse and mentioned for poor presentation due to the advertising on the jar.  I felt for them.

I admit personally, I’d rather sterilise a sealed lid than leave the jar with the material cover only.  But all the other jars had no lids but covers only.

Note:  Check the sizes of the lids or covers against your choice of jam jar to make sure they will fit.

Alternative:  If you are craft-minded, perhaps you can either buy fabric remnants or reuse some.  A quick trim around with pinking shears should do the trick.

What Kinds Of Jar Decoration Do I Use At My Home?

My sister does this for Christmas and those extra touches do make all the difference.  It makes the gift truly unique and special.  Mind you my sister’s jams are very unusual and unique flavours and mixes which add to the uniqueness.

I admit for my own jam I don’t do this.  I probably will for the show this year if I get a chance to enter, but not normally.  The reason I don’t bother most of the time is it just me and I make the jam as I want it, then it is gone.  Also, my other sister finds my jam is too sweet for her, while my niece says the same jam is too sour! (There’s no pleasing some people lol).  So not much point in creating jam as a gift for either of them.  For me, the jam tastes just right.  Hmm, now where did I hear that sentence before?

Practical Jam Jar Lids for Everyday Use

7cm Jar Lids, Home Made Box of 12


So for those of us that just want our  lids practical what do we do?

I admit I do reuse jars and lids and sterilise them buying new all the time can be costly.  Another option would be to get replaceable lids or centres like the Kilner ones if you don’t want to replace everything.

The jam jar lids, 70mm on the right can fit belly jars that are 1000g  500g, sizes.  They work out at about 90 pence each and with the average quality jars being £2/3 each sometimes this can be very budget friendly.

I love these.  I have Kilner ones.  They scare you half to death.  You pop them on then go back to the computer then 10 to 15 minutes later they POP! And Seal.  I always jump, my sister does the same.