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" Heads up: the mason&amp;#039;s not the only jar in town! Though we love a nice mason jar craft, there are tons of great ways to repurpose other types of jars you might have hogging pantry space. My favorite: attaching little figurines to the jar lid. In under five minutes, you&amp;#039;ve created a cup, snack bowl, storage container, and party favor, all in one. Clean house and wow holiday guests with these two ways to glam up your recycling:   1. Dazzling Drinks    (Photo by Yuki Sugiura) Put empty food jars to work as cups for cranberry-infused tea. We cribbed this idea from Angel Adoree&amp;#039;s book, The Vintage Tea Party Year. For the most visual impact, choose jars in an array of sizes. Then, use hot glue to affix a little ornament, figurine, or pinecone to the lid. When the glue dries, spritz the lid with a few blasts of spray paint. (Metallic gold looks super festive, and opaque black is a great all-seasons choice.)  Here&amp;#039;s how to make the tangy tea:  Ingredients: - 1 cinnamon stick - 6 allspice berries - 3 cloves - 4 tea bags - 1/2 cup raw sugar - 1/2 cup cranberry juice - 1/4 cup orange juice - 1 Tbsp lemon juice - 6 Tbsp cranberries  Instructions:  1. Place the cinnamon stick, allspice, and cloves on a folded cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth with string to make a little bag containing these ingredients.  2. Place 4 cups of water at the spice bag in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Take the pan off the heat and add the tea bags. Cover the pan and let the mixture steep for 5 minutes.  3. Discard the tea and spice bags. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Add the juices and heat through. Place 1 Tbsp of the cranberries into each of 6 jars and pour the hot tea over them. Serve immediately.  Country Living hasn&amp;#039;t tested this recipe. If you&amp;#039;re in the mood for fruity tea, try our black apple variety.   2. Sweet Snacks    (Photo by Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn) Quilted jars recall the crystalline look of ice, and make the perfect spot to stash party snacks, like popcorn. (Amp up the flavor with smoky, savory add-ins like aged Gouda and zesty paprika.) Annette Joseph, who crafted this set for her book, Picture Perfect Parties, topped the jars with elf ornaments. Check out Factory Direct Craft for cheery miniatures. If you&amp;#039;re hosting a cocktail party, these are a great way to invite guests to nibble throughout the evening...and keep a bowl of extra snacks on hand so that they can refill the container for the road!  Tell us: Do you send guests home with a favor?   Plus:   See more sweet and simple entertaining tips \u00BB101 Holiday Decorating Ideas \u00BB21 Easy Handmade Ornaments \u00BB41 Crafty Present Ideas \u00BBDelectable Holiday Appetizers \u00BB "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/a4861/holiday-jar-toppers/>