What can you do with a mason jar?

That’s what Danielle asked of us this week in her Craft with What You Got Challenge. While I love me a mason jar or two, I feel like they have become a little over-done in the crafting world. There is only so much you can do and I have enough planters and candle holders to make Martha proud.

So I asked my boyfran-man for ideas. Wouldn’t you know that boy is a genius and casually mentioned the idea of a pico tank after about ten minutes. A pico tank is a very teeny tiny saltwater tank, some as small as batteries.

The whole idea sounded like the epitome of this blog. A homemade ocean. When we started brainstorming for the tank I got really nervous about putting anything living in it due to the very small size of mason jars. My heart always breaks for those beta fish in the itsy bitsy cups, so how could I walk past a cramped crab everyday without a little heartbreak. Then some luck fell into our laps. We found a giant-sized mason jar at Hobby Lobby for 50% off….and scooped it up faster than Ms. Bynes tweets go viral. I feel like Jupiter found Pluto or something, and they are homies for life.

The supplies were fairly straight forward. A light, an air tube, some sand, a heater, and a cute little fish. We got a Damselfish, and appropriately named him Jean-Claude Van Damsel. It’s important to choose your fish wisely, keeping the size and rate of growth in mind. Apparently, our goal is to have a tank in every single room of our house. We are so head over heels for our little tank, we may have said “best project ever” about sixty times that night. And since that night I have walked around singing “Part of Their World” every time I cross through the kitchen. Thank goodness for Tim and his brilliance.

Do you love decorating with mason jars?

Ever heard of pico tanks?

Think Jean-Claude Van Damsel is the cutest thing ever?