The Gunny Sack

Spa In A Jar DIY Valentine’s Day Gift In A Jar

A gift in a jar will not only impress the recipient but it is also fun to make! I am taking the gift jar idea a bit further by combing it with Valentine’s Day ideas. Last week, I shared the Ice Skating Date In A Jar. This week I am showing how to make a Spa In A Jar so you can have a relaxing spa date at home! I have some home spa treatment recipes from previous posts so I included them in this mason jar.

A Spa In A Jar could be given for many occasions besides Valentine’s Day! My teen saw me making it and said she would love to have it when I was done. If you are making this for a date, be sure to make two jars so that you can each use all the treatments!

Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and I receive small commissions for purchases made through those links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Spa In A Jar Items

Start with a Kerr wide mouth, quart size mason jar to hold everything. I tried to stick to a blue color scheme to make the jar look pretty but it isn’t necessary if you can’t find matching items.

I also included the following home spa treatments that I made myself: Lavender Bath Salts, Maple Brown Sugar Scrub, Sugar Hand Scrub and Peppermint Tea Foot Soak. You can click on each one for the recipe and links to the printable labels.

Slowly add the items to the jar with the content labels facing the outside so that the recipient can easily see what is in the jar. It took several attempts to get everything to fit into the jar and I kept adjusting it until it looked right. Once it was all in, I printed the Spa In A Jar label and cut a length of ribbon which I attached to the jar. You can download the free printable here. I printed it by choosing “wallet size” and it was perfect.

Let’s take a little spin around the jar so that you can see it from all sides.

Wondering what else you could put in this jar? How about a face mask, lip scrub, foot scrub, pore strips, massage oil, perfume, hand cream, foot lotion, socks, eye mask and tea light candles. I am going to try to find some mini sized spa items for men so that I can assemble a jar that is specifically for men. Not that any of these items are too flowery or girly but I’m sure a guy would appreciate receiving products with scents geared toward men.

Mini ContainersThere have been a lot of questions about the exact containers I used so I purchased another package for this photo. I should’ve taken a picture before I painted the original ones but I didn’t even think it of. I found these containers at the Family Dollar in one of the food aisles as a hanging extra. You know the little things that are hanging between the items on the shelves? Each container holds 2.4 oz and they cost $1.00 for the 8 pack.

The foot soak jars are these bead storage containers.

A fluffy bathrobe and cozy slippers would be the perfect things to give along with the Spa In A Jar!

If you love this mason jar post, here are some more to check out:
Peppermint Pampering Gift In A Jar

Peppermint Pampering Gifts In A Jar

Pedicure In A Jar

Pedicure In A Jar

Comments

  1. I noticed that your foot soak in the spa in a jar is in a different container. Do you have a pic of that or know where you got that container?

    Reply

  2. Hi,Tonia
    I was wondering how much will this entire jar cost in all because it’s Mother’s Day in a week so I want to get an idea of how much money I’m spending
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Hi Yazzy! It really depends on how many of the items you already have on hand (sugar, soap, travel sized items, chocolates, etc.), how many jars you plan to make, and whether or not you have coupons. You can buy single mason jars at Michaels. The other items you choose to put in the jar are totally up to you. If you buy a whole bag of Lindor Truffles only to use a couple for one mason jar, that would cost about $5.00 just for the chocolates. But you could pick up a couple of singles truffles from Michaels by the cash registers for about 33 cents a piece, making it 66 cents for two chocolates versus $5.00. Sorry, I couldn’t be of more help and best of luck! ~Tonia

      Reply

  6. Hi,
    I really love the idea of the spa in a jar for a cute DIY project. I have been using your recipes to make the jar with ingredients for my research project for english class. If you would be willing to answer an interview by email for one of my sources, that would be amazing. This post is so inspiring and cute.
    Thanks,
    Amanda

    Reply

    • I can’t remember which brand I used, but any brand of silver spray paint that says it can be used on plastics should work. Best of luck! ~Tonia

      Reply

  11. Hi Tonia, this Spa in a Bottle is a great idea, never thought of it. My daughter is a beauty therapist and I know she would also love this. I only opened this pin today, 1 day after Christmas. But this is in time for Valentine and birthdays in between. You are sooo creative, love it. Sandra

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  12. Hey I love this idea! I am making them for my family this christmas but I wanted to add some extra things and I was wondering if you knew the name of the font you used to make them?
    Thanks so much,
    Lauren Richardson

    Reply

  13. I absolutely LOVE these jar ideas!!! I needed ideas for both a Secret Santa for my sister-in-law and for my daughter’s middle school teachers, and these fit the bill perfectly! I made a Spa in a Jar for my SIL – who just had a baby 4 months ago and could use some pampering – with a 1-gallon Ball mason jar from Target that cost about $15 (our budget was $50 so I could afford to splurge a bit), then I filled it with the following: a Dove revitalizing collection gift set (Purely Pampering Shea Butter Body Wash, Hair Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo, Purely Pampering Shea Butter Beauty Bar, and body pouf); a Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit (hand salve, Almond & Milk Hand Cream, Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, Coconut Foot Cream, Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream, Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil); one each of Que Bella relaxing bath bath oil and relaxing aromatherapy mask in lavender; three French Vanilla bath bombs; and four Tahitian vanilla tea lights. Most of the things came in a gift set or package together that I then separated and packed carefully into the jar. I used the free printable “Spa in a Jar” and a pretty ribbon, and that’s it! It came out to almost precisely $50 to the penny, including the cost of the jar!! I’m almost sad to give it away, but I know she’ll love it! And for the teacher’s, I made “Energy in a Jar” kits (in 24-oz Ball mason jars that I purchased in a 9-pack) with a 100-calorie pack of cashew halves & pieces, a 1.3-oz bag of Lindt milk chocolate truffles, a chocolate chip Cliff Bar, a mini box of Sun-Maid raisins, and a single-use bag of Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix. I added the label, a cute ornament, and ribbon, and had a great gift for under $6 per person! Thanks again for the great idea – I love your site!!! Happy holidays! xo

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  14. Hi Tonia. I aboslutly loved this idea and I made some to give to my sister and mother in law! I was having trouble finding the correct sized container, but for those who are having the same trouble, Target has the perfect sized containers in their travel section.

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  16. Hi, I was just wondering how you attached your labels to the small tubs?
    I love this idea and am making lots of different types for christmas presents 🙂
    Thanks
    Rosie

    Reply

    • Hi Rosie,
      I’ve used everything from Mod Podge to glue sticks to hot glue and even double stick tape and glue dots. Merry Christmas!
      ~Tonia

      Reply

  17. Hi hun, I was searching through the net with my kids (5&6 yrs) & came across your gifts in a jar, the kids (both boys) love them! They are excited to make the moisturisers, body butters & sugar scrubs…. How long would you say they will last for? As I need to make them up but dont want to make them up too soon if they are going to go bad.

    Thanks in advance

    Reply

    • Hi Katya,
      Thank you! The closer you make them to Christmas the better off you will be. I would suggest that you use them with a month or two to be safe. But in reality, we found some extras in our cupboard 6 months later and it was fine! Have fun!
      ~Tonia

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      • Thankyou for such a swift reply, In that case I will leave it another couple of weeks then will make them all up after my youngests birthday on the 15th. Thanks again.

        Reply

  18. This is a great idea! I’ll be making some for Christmas. One note though, be careful with the chocolate. Chocolate, especially good chocolate, will absorb scents. Just keep that in mind if you plan to make these really far in advance.

    Reply

  19. I love this post! I stumbled a crossed it will searching for gifts for my bridesmaids. I think they will love this. I tried clicking on the links to download the labels (templates), however it is not working. Is there another way I could get the download?

    Reply

  20. I think the spa jars are wonderful, thank you so much for sharing. I was considering trying them out as a door gift this year for thanksgiving so I’ve been shopping around and I’m having a hard time with the bath bombs, all the ones that I’ve come across are a little large. Did you order yours from someplace or did you make them yourself?

    Reply

    • Hi Nicole,
      Yes, I made mine but they didn’t turn out very good so I didn’t share my recipe. They kept expanding and expanding and I had to keep smashing them back into a ball. 🙂 If you can’t find a bath bomb and don’t want to make your own, I would say just leave them out. Best of luck!
      ~Tonia

      Reply

    • I found the test tubes at Michaels on clearance for 38 cents each. They had Halloween candy in them and they only had these 6 left. I threw away the candy, washed the test tubes and spray painted the lids silver. You could also check Amazon and Etsy. Best of luck! ~Tonia

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  23. I would like to think you. I’m 13, and this year I’m tired of receiving without giving back for Christmas. I have used almost every single one of your gift ideas for every single member of the family. They were super easy, cheap, and fun to make. This will definitely be a Christmas to remember. Thank you.

    Reply

    • You are so very welcome! My Vanessa is 13 and she often feels the same way. It’s hard to make money to buy gifts when you are a teen. I am delighted that I could be a help!

      Reply

  24. I was looking through the family dollar website and could not find the 2.4 ounce containers. I need the containers tomorrow so i cant order them. Do you know anywhere else i could buy them? Thank you! This is a really great idea!

    Reply

    • Thanks Sharon! I spread all of the lids out on newspaper and spray painted them with multiple coats until I could no longer see the color beneath. You can use any spray paint that is made for plastics. Choose whichever color goes with the other items you put in the jar. Best of luck! ~Tonia

      Reply

  28. Tonia
    We spoke earlier this year regarding how wonderful your recipes are!!! My church GA’s made these for mother’s day and they were a HUGE hit. I ahave a few questions for you. I wanted to know if we need to use B&BW lotions for the best results or if we can use any peppermint scented lotions? Also, can we use the same recipe and change the scent? I am thinking pumpkin for fall.

    Thanks,
    Tara

    Reply

  30. What great gift ideas. I’ve been collecting mason jars and the cupboard has runneth over! I’m going to start making gifts using some of your ideas and recipes. Karen

    Reply

  31. Love this so much! Our church group girls are making these for their Mom’s for Mothers Day! Thank you for sharing everything! I printed all the labels on sticker paper! 🙂 So glad I came across this on Pinterest.

    Brooke

    Reply

  33. I’ve seen something similar to this before, but never so well executed as this! I LOVE it 😀 it is an adorable AND practical gift! I was inspired by yours, and made one to give to my friend for her birthday! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

    Reply

  34. I tried to make the maple brown sugar scrub and it came out lumpy and very oily. I followed the recipe correctly but it looks nothing like yours. Why?

    Reply

    • Sorry that happened and I’m not sure why. Was your brown sugar lumpy to begin with? It needs to be loose sugar. I would suggest adding more brown sugar, a little at a time, until it is the consistency that you prefer. Best of luck!

      Reply

  35. I absolutely love this idea! I’m the director of a pageant, and I’d like to make these for all my contestants, and give them out at dress rehearsal. Where did you find the tubes for the bath salts? Thanks soooo much for this fabulous idea!

    Reply

    • Hi Lori,
      I found the test tubes at Michaels on clearance for 38 cents each. They had Halloween candy in them and they only had these 6 left. I threw away the candy, washed the test tubes and spray painted the lids silver. I would suggest looking on Amazon for plastic test tubes. Best of luck!
      ~Tonia

      Reply

  38. I love your website, it’s so cool! my question is, how long will the scrubs, bath salts last for in the jars? how long before Christmas would you make up your batches?

    many thanks,
    A huge fan!
    Nichola 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks Nichola! Unfortunately, I am not really sure. I’ve always given away most of what I make. I keep 1-2 jars for myself and we use it pretty quickly. I made the scrub, body butter and foot soak for my peppermint pampering jars 6 weeks in advance and they seemed fine to me, but of course I didn’t test them for bacteria or anything. From what I’ve read online, the scrubs have a short shelf life, especially one you start using it and introduce bacteria to the jar. That being said, the blue scrub in this post was made with Dial Antibacterial Soap and the scrub in my peppermint pampering jars was made with coconut oil which is said to be antibacterial and antifungal. Sorry for the long answer! I think it really depends on the products you use to make the items and how the products are being used once they are opened. Best of luck, Tonia

      Reply

      • Hi and thanks Tonia, you answered my question perfectly. I am so excited for Christmas 2014 to make these as part of my gifts. I will be making 17 in total. Thank you so much and I look forward to following your website for new (and looking back at your old) fab ideas.
        Your webpage has reached me here in New Zealand and I am telling everyone about it

        Kindest,
        Nichola

        Reply

  39. Hello Tonia! I’ve been reading through the comments people have and most of my questions were answered in those posts, but I just wanted to know approximately how much you paid for for everything in this GREAT gift package idea. I can tell you have a very supportive audience that will be here every step of the way! I know I’m one of those people lol. But seriously, Tonia, keep up the good work! (:

    Reply

    • I really don’t know how much it all costs and don’t even know how to calculate it. I already had most of the items in the jar. The pebble candles were sent to me ($0), the hair mud mask was a free sample from Ulta ($0), the mason jar I had on hand, 2 chocolate truffles (60 cents), lip balm ($2.50), razor I had on hand (78 cents new), homemade spa products leftover from spa party, travel size lotion was a free sample as was the face wash but they would range from $1-$2 at Walmart, nail clippers ($2). You can make the jars as expensive or as inexpensive as you want! Hope that helps!

      Reply

  41. Dear Tonia,

    thank you very much for sharing this wonderful ideas! I’m gonna try them as Christmas gifts this year! 😉
    I only have one question: in most of the recipes you use epsom salt, could it be subsistute with usual sea salt?

    Thank you very much in andavance! 🙂
    ambra

    Reply

    • Hi Ambra,
      I think the only recipe that uses salt is the foot soak, right? From what I read online, you can use sea salt instead of Epsom salt but sea salt is typically used for cooking. Sea salt can help relieve stress and achy joints and muscles. Epsom salts have soothing effects on the muscles and nervous system of the body and helps to detoxify the body. Hope that helps!
      Merry Christmas,
      ~Tonia

      Reply

  42. Tonia
    I have been doing crafts since I was young and this is one of best in a long time gifts in a jar. I am making them for Christmas gifts and I know they will go over big in my family. You have a awesome website and real easy to follow. Thank You

    Reply

  43. Hi Tonia! I love your site and am so excited to make your gifts in a jar:) do you have a label for Foot Scrub? I want to add the peppermint scrub to the Spa in a Jar but I can’t find a label for it. Thanks and have a great holiday!

    Reply

  44. This is such an awesome idea! I’m making 6 for the girls in my family and packaging them with a robe, slippers, a wine glass, and some extra larger spa goodies for a pink spa themed Christmas gift! I can wait to share this with all my friends on Facebook but it’ll have to to wait because I’d hate to give away the surprise for the girls until after they unwrap them. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this idea!

    Reply

  46. Hi! I LOVE this idea! One question: how did you attach the labels to the containers? Glue? How about to the ribbon on the glass jar? just curious! Thanks!

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  47. I didn’t realize til I had gone to the store 3 times, that the jars are WIDE MOUTH QUART sized. Not Reg mouth. JUST if anyone else had issues. Walmart has them online for order. Or at their store!!

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      • Hey Tonia,
        No worries. I think this is an amazing gift idea and you have have inspired me to make them and your other amazing crafts!! Sorry if my post seemed a bit rude, I didn’t mean that. Just that I was going around like a madman looking for the wide mouth. 🙂 of course I’m the silly goose trying to shove things in yhe smaller mouth jars. Thanks for the inspiration Tonia!!!! Happy Holidays!!!! Renee

        Reply

  48. Thank you so much for the great ideas!!! I recently got laid off and since the holidays are coming I am on a super strict budget. Thank you for giving me fun, inexpensive and personalized ideas for the holidays!!!!

    Reply

  49. Have you made a gentleman friendly version of this yet? Or have any ideas about male friendly scents to incorporate into it? My boyfriend loves pampering himself but hate most of the “girly” smells they have.

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  52. If you use essential oils for your scrubs it can melt plastic. I would put the scrubs in small baby food jars. I love this spa in a jar idea ! 🙂

    Reply

  55. I just found your website from Pinterest, and am now a follower. I love this idea! For Christmas we do guy and girl gifts for everyone in the family, and I think this would be awesome to give the ladies. Thank you!

    Reply

  56. Ok. I think I thought of any way to package that. Question on the containers, did you say Family Dollar? I checked two of them and they don’t carry; but I was thinking it just may be here in Dallas area that doesn’t.

    Reply

    • Hi Yolanda,
      I had a hard time finding test tubes. There are many places where they are available online but the shipping would’ve been expensive in order to get them in time. I found the test tubes at Michaels on clearance for 38 cents each. They had Halloween candy in them and they only had these 6 left. I threw away the candy, washed the test tubes and spray painted the lids silver.
      ~Tonia

      Reply

    • Hi Brenda,
      You can find mason jars at Walmart, Target, Michaels and I’ve even bought them at my small local grocery store. I’ve also seen them at thrift stores. Best of luck!
      ~Tonia

      Reply

  59. I LOVE this idea!! I am needing 20 hostess gifts for my upcoming baby showers and I think this is the way I want to go! I love the baby blue and black, I just hope I can find what I need in my small town! I also love your everything jars! I am a teacher and think this would be an adorable gift to give my fellow teachers! Fingers crossed!

    Reply

  60. Where did you get the containers from….finding it hard to find small ones that would fit in a mason jar????

    Reply

    • Hi Angela,
      The foot soak containers are bead organization jars from Joann’s. The hand scrub containers are from the dollar store. I just spray painted the lids silver. Thanks for stopping by!
      ~Tonia

      Reply

  61. This is an awesome idea. I made one for my friend for her birthday. Its a thoughtful and cost effective gift. Thank you so much for the idea!

    Reply

  62. I’m a runner, so the foot soak caught my eye. I made a version of these for my running girlfriends as a “post-race” recovery kit (foot soak, hand scrub, body scrub, lip balm, chocolate). Thanks so much for sharing the recipes!

    Reply

  63. hello, I love this !! what size mason jar did you use ? for the scrubs etc are these glass mason jars to ( size?)

    thanks !

    Reply

    • Hi Jessica! I used a large, quart size mason jar to hold everything. The small containers holding the scrub and hand scrub are from the dollar store. About 2 tablespoons fits into them. The foot soak plastic containers are actually for beads so the volume size isn’t written on the package. They are 1 7/8″ tall and 1 1/2″ in diameter. Each jar held 2 tablespoons which is enough for 1 foot soak. Here is a link to what the package looks like: http://www.joann.com/bead-organizer-6-3-x4-8-/zprd_09035874a/

      Reply

    • Hi Emilie, I can’t reply via email because that option isn’t enabled in your profile so I hope you see my reply here! 🙂 I got the small, clear jars from the Family Dollar. I think they were only $1.00 for a six pack. The lids were bright colors and I spray painted them silver!

      Reply

  66. I discovered you via Tidy Mom. This is brilliant and beautiful. I’d like to make one for my mom with all homemade concoctions.

    The best Valentine I ever received? My boyfriend, who I think became my boyfriend that day, came over to my house on Valentine’s Day and cooked an elaborate dinner for me because I was sick. It was so sweet!

    Reply

  72. Tonia, I think this is a brillant idea. I always look for unique ideas for my three daughters two adult and one teen that don’t include candy. Things they aren’t expecting. I have to do this for them this year. I must check out your other Jar Gifts. I am always looking for unique gifts for birthdays, etc. Great idea!

    Reply

  74. Your mason jar gift continue to amaze!! I made 15 of your everything jars for Christmas and love this one as well. Where did you get the mini pebble candles–how cute!!

    Reply

    • Thanks so very much Dori! I love hearing that people actually make the things I post about! I will add a link to the post for where I got the mini pebble candles.

      Reply

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