A Jar of Secrets

A jar of secrets is more than meets the eye. Ideal on Valentine’s Day, or as a gift of friendship or love to the special ones, a jar of secret says that you are willing to put the time and effort into showing someone that you care.

First, get a glass jar and clean it. Removing any paper labels can be done by soaking the jar in warm/hot water for a couple of hours. The paper and glue can then be easily scraped or scratched off. Alternatively, eucalyptus oil does a great job, removing any residue adhesives. Remember to rub and scratch carefully so as not to damage the jar.

If the jar smells, soak it in hot water + lemon, then rinse in cold water and dry with newspaper to avoid ‘drying spots’. Once dry, if you wish, spray some scent lightly inside.

Next, get some coloured paper – select matching colours for best presentation – and cut into strips. The finished product will be a jar full of Chinese lucky stars, each with a special secret written inside.

On each strip, write a short, original little message especially for the recipient. Then fold the paper into a lucky star. Make sure your message is on the inside, so it can only be read if the star is unfolded.

You can find instructions on how to make a Chinese lucky star here (if you want real photos, use this tutorial!).

When the jar is full of your secret stars, you can decorate your gift even more by making a fancy lid with coloured tissue, lace, chiffon or any other materials that can be used to seal the jar. Or if you prefer to use the original lid, grab some baubles and charms from your nearest craft store to glue on top.

If you find yourself racing against the clock, pick a smaller container such as a shot glass, or use the stars as filler.

Avoid storage problems for the recipient by filling a small container. The jars that come with Bo Peep ribbon candy are an ideal size and look beautiful when filled with tiny lucky stars. Small china teacups or tiny jewellery boxes also make for stylish gift boxes.

If you’re not keen on stars, there are many other origami figures like paper balloons (the kind that can be inflated!) or jumping frogs. Origami goldfish and swans can be very quick to make if you are pressed for time.

As always, it is the meaning of the gift, and not the gift itself that tells someone how much you love them. Even if you fail, the fact that you tried and the reason why you tried will shine through and make your special occasion sweeter than any chocolate.