If you're a crafty hoarder like me, it's possible you have a few baby food jars stowed away (even if your "baby" isn't a baby anymore). They are just too cute to recycle! They beg to be used for something awesome. (If you don't have baby food jars, you might have other small glass jars from spices or condiments that would work too.)
You've probably seen those clear glass ball ornaments that you can fill with whatever. Well, consider these clear ornaments you don't have to buy. Plus, they have much wider mouths than the glass bulbs so you can fit all sorts of things inside.
I had a couple of different sizes of baby food jars plus a lone glass spice jar in my stash. To prep them, I soaked off the labels, removed any residual glue and cleaned and dried the glass really well, scrubbing off any printed-on numbers that might be on the outside.
Next, I painted the lids. Spray paint is probably the best option here for good coverage. I used a champagne/gold color, but you could use whatever you might have.
Then the hunt was on to find things to fill the jars. I scrounged the house and found lots of options. Here are some ideas!
Scraps of wrapping paper, scrapbook paper or bits of old Christmas cards
Jingle bells or snippets of garlands
Mini ball ornaments (how meta)
Elements of nature (twigs, acorns, pine cones, etc.)
Craft supplies (beads, small wood cutouts, foam shapes)
Photos or other keepsakes (wedding invites, baby announcements like I made here)
When you're done filling, pop the lid back on and tie a ribbon or piece of string around the neck of the jar and you're done! Easy!
You can fill them with anything, but I urge you to poke around your house before buying fillers. Just make sure it's nothing too heavy; the glass jars are semi-heavy already (though no heavier than many store-bought ornaments) and you probably don't want to weigh them down too much if you're going to hang them on the tree.
It's inexplicable, but sometimes things just look cooler in jars. I loved a couple of them so much, they made it into my current mantel display.
But the very best thing about this idea? Nothing is permanent! You can take everything apart when Christmas is over or if you're tired of it. Love that.