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    Home » Gift Ideas

    52 Things ~ A Year In A Jar

    Modified: May 9, 2023 · Published: Feb 13, 2012 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    This Gift In A Jar is filled with 52 Things making it A Year In A Jar. It’s a handmade gift idea for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day.

    52 Things A Year In A Jar Mason Gift

    I love Valentine’s Day because I think it is a great reminder for us to really think about those we love.  But I don’t like that it lasts only 1 day…because love lasts the whole year!

    So, that got me thinking of a way to keep us reminded of our love throughout the year.  Want to know what I am giving Brian for Valentine’s Day?  A year of reasons why I love him.  Yep, 52 reasons (I will refill it next year with more reasons).

    I put them all in a jar and he is to open one a week.  Don’t you think it would be fun for a bride and groom to give each other as wedding gifts?

    Or how about a shower gift that will become 52 Things from the first year of a babies life?  It would be like a Baby Book In A Jar!  Or what about giving a jar to your mom on Mother’s Day?

    mason jar gift supplies

    They are easy and super cheap to make.  Cut out 52 rectangles of kraft paper (I picked mine up at the dollar store) about 2 inches by 4 inches each.

    If you are giving this as a gift for someone else to complete such as a bride-to-be or new mother, put the kraft paper, baker’s twine and a couple of colored pencils in a glass mason jar.  Be sure to add instructions as to what is to be done with the gift!

    strips of paper with writing on them

    If you are the one giving the gift, fill out 52 things on the pieces of kraft paper.  Mine are 52 Things I Love About You.  Yours could be 52 memories or 52 wishes or whatever you want!

    rolling paper around a pencil

    Cut 52 – 6 inch pieces of baker’s twine.  Roll up each piece of kraft paper.  I rolled mine around the colored pencil I used for writing.  Tie a piece of baker’s twine around each roll.

    tie label to mason jar

    Randomly toss the rolled up notes into the mason jar and put the lid on.  I wound some additional baker’s twine around the mason jar and added a tag that says 52.

    So, what kind of 52 Things jar are you going to make?

    52 Reasons I Miss You
    52 Memories of Us
    52 Ways You Are A Great Friend
    First 52 Weeks of Your Life
    52 Reasons You Are A Fantastic Kid
    52 Things To Photograph
    52 Ways You Are The World’s BEST Mother/Father
    52 Things To do This Year
    52 Date Ideas

    ******

    Some of you have be complaining 😉 about not being able to think of 52 things so I am going to give you some ideas/topics for the “52 Reasons I Love You” jar to get you started: {I’m keeping it G Rated}

    Personality Traits You Love: Sense of humor, Outgoing, Quiet, People Person, Reserved, Helpful, Thoughtful, Cooperative, Stable, Impulsive, Organized, Disciplined, Random, Spontaneous, Unique, Sympathetic, Resourceful, Committed, Loving, Sociable, Talkative, Positive, Sarcastic, Curious, Adventurous, Emotional, Energetic, Calm, Laid Back, Focused, Driven, Unconventional, Straightforward, Subtle, Enthusiastic, Honest, Decent, Trustworthy, Generous, Supportive

    Physical Traits You Love {Color, Texture, Size, Etc}:  Eyes, Hair, Lips, Smile, Eyelashes, Hands, Fingers, Legs, Feet, Ears, Height, Petite, Muscles, Shoulders, Skin, Scar, Mole

    I Love The Way You _____:  Play With Our Kids, Make Breakfast In Bed, Kiss Me Goodbye, Get Up With The Kids In The Night, Kiss Me Hello, Remember My Birthday, Complete My Sentences, Know What I Am Thinking, Laugh, Sneeze, Care About Your Health, Love To Learn, Make Me Laugh

    You Are An Awesome ______:  Person, Husband, Wife, Mother, Father, Son, Daughter, Brother, Sister, Lover,  Leader, Cook, Photographer, Provider, Artist, Singer, Friend, Uncle, Aunt, Mechanic,Techie, Runner, Teacher, Listener

    You Are My _____:  Best Friend, One and Only, Sunshine, Anchor, Helpmate, Forever and Always, Favorite, World, Bliss, Strength, Comfort, Star, Soul Mate, One in 6 Billion, Everything, Happy, Home, Family, Nest, Buddy, Number One, Inspiration, Match, High, Type, Heart, Dream Come True

    You Are _____:  Beautiful, Handsome, Gorgeous, Pretty, Special, Kind, Important, You, Mine, Amazing, Larger Than Life, Fascinating, Loved, Fabulous, Fantastic, Adored, Brave, Breathtaking, Incredible, The Wind Beneath My Wings, Always On My Mind, Everything I Ever Dreamed Of, A Miracle, A God Send, A Gift, The Icing On My Cake, Cream In My Coffee

    Here are a few more Gift In A Jar ideas to love:

    • This Peppermint Pampering Jar is filled with items like body butter, foot, and sugar scrub.
    • Valentine’s Day gift in a jar is full of pampering spa items and sweet treats.
    • A Spa In A Jar with some home spa treatment recipes and pampering items.
    • A Unicorn Spa Jar is for girly girls who love all things sparkly and colorful.

    More Gift Ideas

    • Assorted candies and free printable valentine cards for kids on a countertop.
      Printable Valentine Cards For Kids
    • Simmer pot ingredients in a glass jar.
      Simmering Pot Recipes
    • Spiced orange tea mix.
      Spiced Orange Tea
    • Bean Thinking About You Test Tube Valentine
      Valentine’s Day Ideas Test Tubes and Treat Bags

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    1. Carol @ The Red Painted Cottage says

      February 4, 2016 at 10:47 am

      I just saw this on another site and I love it! I’ll be sharing this idea on my post with a link back to your posting of this, assuming you don’t mind!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        February 4, 2016 at 12:19 pm

        Of course! Thanks Carol!

        Reply
        • Carol @ The Red Painted Cottage says

          February 4, 2016 at 1:37 pm

          Thank you, will probably do this Monday or Tuesday next week for last minutes ideas!

          Reply
    2. April says

      December 5, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      This saved me this Christmas!!! I have been killing myself trying to think of something to give my cousin who has had the hardest two years of her life…her daughter was born with a terminal genetic disease so there is nothing I can buy her that will mean as much as getting a jar full of “52 Heart Notes” to help keep her spirits up!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        December 5, 2015 at 11:58 pm

        What a great cousin you are! I hope your gift brings her a smile this Christmas!

        Reply
    3. nicola says

      July 18, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      I am inspired by the’in a jar’ concept. I am going to do it for ‘a year in a jar” clever clever clever….totally love it

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        July 20, 2015 at 2:13 pm

        Fantastic! Have fun with it! ~Tonia

        Reply
    4. Lochlyn Casey says

      May 9, 2015 at 7:57 pm

      I loved this idea so much and did it for Mother’s Day. My mom will definitely love it!

      Reply
    5. Jessica says

      May 9, 2015 at 10:52 am

      I love this idea. I am making a “52 weeks of positive thoughts and actions” jar. I’m making it for a friend who is going through a lot of stress right now. I used color paper for the notes in her favorite sports teams colors and I’m going to paint their logo on the jar for her. Thanks for giving an idea to run with!

      Reply
    6. Robert says

      February 13, 2015 at 8:52 pm

      This idea has caused me a great deal of stress in the last week. My fiance’ tasked me with doing this for her and has told me that it better be from the heart. All she has talked about in the week since tasking me is how much she is looking forward to what I have done. I can think of 52 reasons why I should not do this, I hate this!

      Reply
      • Sherry says

        December 8, 2016 at 12:08 am

        Robert,
        What a shame to be “forced” to do this. If you really care about her it should not be hard to think of 52 wonderful things you love about her, or 52 things to do on a date her. But it should have been something YOU wanted to do, not forced. Makes things feel a bit different or even “scary” that you won’t say 52 things SHE would want to hear from you. I will bet its safe to say you are not with her anymore?? LOL

        Reply
    7. Denny says

      February 13, 2015 at 7:57 pm

      I just made this for my husband. I did: Fun Things for Us to Do Together, Things I love about you, Silly Things We Like, and Fun Memories of Us Together – 12-14 of each for 52 total. I color-coded each category.

      Reply
    8. Sally says

      January 30, 2015 at 9:10 am

      Hi! I’m doing this lovely gift for my boyfriend! Can I ask you the mason jar’s measures?
      Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        January 30, 2015 at 2:29 pm

        Hi Sally,
        I used the large quart sized (32 oz) jar. Best of luck!
        ~Tonia

        Reply
    9. Sheena says

      January 12, 2015 at 12:09 pm

      Great idea and I decided to do “52 things I love about you” thinking that I would have to really commit to thinking hard about things to say. Well once I began, I was on a roll and within half an hour had more than 52 things to say to my hubby of 32 years of marriage.

      Tonia, thank you, this is an awesome project, simple but I think even my unromantic husband is going to get a kick out of this!!!

      Light, love and peace
      Sheena
      South Africa

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        January 12, 2015 at 9:08 pm

        You are very welcome! I’m so happy you are making this for him and I hope he loves it.

        Reply
    10. Sarah says

      December 21, 2014 at 9:22 pm

      Could you please give some ideas for 52 things a year for busy parents ? I love this idea, it will be an awesome christmas present !

      Reply
    11. Geri says

      December 15, 2014 at 11:23 pm

      Exactly what I was looking for. I’m going to do this and send to my best friends and close cousins. Thanks for sharing! I really love your website 🙂

      Reply
    12. Jill says

      November 22, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      This is great! I am doing the 52 Reasons You Are a Great Kid for my daughter. She is a 10 yr old 5th grader and going through a rough time with puberty and being a girl-this is just what she needs. She loves when I put little notes in her lunchbox or sneak in her backpack. She also hates Mondays-so this will most definitely put a smile on her face!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 23, 2014 at 9:02 pm

        What an awesome idea! It will give her something to look forward to!

        Reply
    13. Becca says

      November 18, 2014 at 4:44 pm

      I think I’m going to do this for a year’s worth of simple dates, 52 date ideas for my fiance and myself, things like go out for coffee, or have an at home movie night. I think I’ll start it on the just after the new year. This can be used for so many things 🙂

      Reply
    14. Sally says

      September 23, 2014 at 2:25 pm

      I love your ideas, how can i do one for my turning 21 years old son?

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        September 23, 2014 at 11:01 pm

        Thanks Sally! A 21 year old is just starting out on living their own life. I would fill the jar with things that either look forward or things that look back. Here’s a few ideas:
        52 Memories (ie When you were 5, you fell asleep in the dentist’s chair.)
        52 Things I Hope For You (ie My wish for you is that life becomes all you want it to be.)
        52 Lessons For Life (ie Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.)
        52 Simple Life Hacks (ie Keep cookies fresh by storing them with fresh bread.)

        Reply
    15. Michelle says

      August 11, 2014 at 10:01 am

      i amdoing this right now for my best friend for her birthday. I just did 52 memories of us. it was so much fun to relieve the happy and sometimes sad moments of out 40 plus years of friendship.

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        August 12, 2014 at 8:36 am

        That is so sweet, Michelle! Your friend is going to be touched. I am going to have to do this for my friends too!

        Reply
    16. Sonja says

      December 17, 2013 at 10:27 am

      I’m making one right this moment. I’m 21 years old and making “52 Memories of us” for my 20 year old sister 🙂 I’m Finnish by the way, I love how versatile your website is and doesn’t require a crafter to live in a certain country to have the necessary items available.

      I’ve had such a blast reading old diaries, talking to my parents and grandparents about us.
      Such a great idea, a gift can’t get any more personal than this!

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        December 17, 2013 at 1:15 pm

        Oh Sonja! That is so precious. She is going to love it. Even though my husband finished unwrapping all of his notes, he still has the jar with all of the notes on his dresser in our bedroom. He really appreciated it even though I never did end up refilling the jar. And btw, I am 75% Finnish! 🙂

        Reply
    17. Colleen says

      August 14, 2013 at 4:03 pm

      I love this, another must do to add to my list ….

      Reply
    18. Where Roots And Wings Entwine says

      June 12, 2013 at 10:02 am

      This is adorable. Wish someone would create one for me…..may just have to hint to the other half 😉

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        June 12, 2013 at 10:05 am

        I know what you mean! My husband dutifully opened one a week for a year and it made him happy every week! I need to make another jar for him!

        Reply
    19. Connie says

      February 4, 2013 at 1:22 pm

      I really love this! I have an ongoing Mason Jar linky, would you please stop by and add this one? Thanks! http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/2012/08/the-pantry-for-mason-jar-monday.html

      Reply
    20. Angela Swanson says

      January 24, 2013 at 7:36 am

      The sweetest idea for a valentine’s gift that has a lot of heart and meaning. This would be a great idea for a teen.

      Reply
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    Tonia Larson from The Gunny Sack.

    Hi, I'm Tonia! Welcome to The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! Meet Tonia Larson →

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