How to Make Mason Jar Lanterns
Make these pretty and simple Mason Jar Lanterns in just minutes! They’re perfect for outdoor summer entertaining!
One of my most favourite parts of summer are nights on the deck with friends…under the stars and candles and lanterns. Some of the best conversations happen here. We find ourselves doing this often during our warm summer nights and I would’t have it any other way.
Lighting makes all the difference!
Lighting is key for these times…soft glowing lights. So I fill the table with tea lights and I’ve started hanging glass lanterns from our deck umbrella. Home made lanterns out of mason jars. Let me tell you, these are the easiest things to make, and they have such big impact! Come along, I’ll show you how!
These lanterns are made from mason jars! I continue to love the versatility of mason jars…from jams to desserts to soap pumps and now lanterns! LOVE them! This super easy lantern project can be done in a short period of time with just a few simple and inexpensive materials!
What you need to make Mason Jar Lanterns:
- Mason Jars
- 20 gauge wire
- Tin Snips
How to Make Mason Jar Lanterns:
- Wrap wire around the mouth of your mason jar, under the bottom lip of the screw top area of the glass (the neck), hook and pull tight.
- Wrap the end of the wire tight, looping about 3 times around (as shown below). Basically your making a ‘knot’ to secure it.
- Now make the handle: Leave about 8 inches of wire for the handle, and 3 inches for knotting to secure it (see below).
- Then pull the wire down through the wire around the neck of the jar on the other side of the jar (as shown below), making sure to leave 8 inches for the handle.
- Then wrap the wire tight to secure it, looping about 3 times (see below), like you are ‘knotting’ it. Then snip the end.
You’re done! SO simple. Honestly, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to make these Mason Jar Lanterns in no time!
The finishing touches.
- Now that you’ve made the number of mason jar lanterns that you want, you can hang them!
- I used twine wrapped through the wire handles to hang them. I did this so they would hang low over our table.
- Add little tea lights to each jar.
- Light and enjoy!
Mason Jar Lantern Tips and Ideas:
- You can use citronella candles to keep the mosquitoes away!
- Use any size mason jar that you like. I use the 500 mL size jars.
- Put lids on your jars when you’re done using them, so they don’t collect rain.
- Get fancy and add sand or glass beads to the bottoms of your jars, then rest your candles on top.
Don’t they look pretty at night?! Sparkle, sparkle!
PIN IT TO MAKE LATER!
How beautiful! And what a great step by step tutorial…awesome!
LOOOOVE this!! I am doing this for sure plus it looks adorable with the mason jars!!
I think this is such a great idea! I am going to pin it right now! Yvette @ AquaSeventy6
Super cute, I love the look of these lanterns. Thanks for the tutorial!
Oh wow, these are so pretty and creative! I wish I browsed your link sooner so I can make them for tonight! They are perfect for the Mid-Autumn Festival while my family is going to hang out at the back yard after dinner to enjoy desserts and enjoy the full moon! It’s a Chinese tradition and the moon is the fullest and roundest tonight! 🙂 Oh well, maybe I’ll make these for next year then.
I’ve done the same thing with my jars. I added aquarium rocks in the bottom to match my porch then added the tea lights.
I’m been wanting a tried and true recipe for Vanilla Sugar and found yours. I can’t wait to try it!
You have a new follower here!
These look great! I love Mason jars they’re so versatile!
Love them! Such a cute idea! 🙂 Now following you…:)
threemangoseeds.blogspot.com
I just love mason jars – you can do everything with them! This would be so fun for Halloween!
So pretty! Am so happy I discovered your blog…
http://www.practicalfashionista.blogspot.com/
I love this idea… I may just have to give it a try!
I’m your newest follower too! 🙂
Hi! Stopping by from Blue Cricket Design Show & Tell link party. They look pretty and makes me imagine a peaceful night just sitting in the garden and think!
Love these!!! so beautiful
i would love it if you would share this on my link party , Serenity Saturday over at http://www.serenityyou.blogspot.com
xxx
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Such a fantastic project!! Would love for you to come share this at Feathered Nest Friday! 🙂
Love this–I am definatly going to do this–time to take down some of my dead hanging plants that I keep thinking may just come back! These will look pretty in their place.
Those look great! I love mason jars. 🙂
I love Mason Jars too. These look great. Very creative! I linked to you from Nifty Thrifty Things. Thanks.
Those are so cute…I have always wanted to make some but never have!Thanks so much for sharing!!
Just love your mason jar lights! We just made these for an outdoor party and tied them witn twine. I stopped over from Centsational Girl Fall Craft party. Hope you’ll visit The Corson Cottage somtime:) Carrie
Love this! I think my love of canning has spilled over into a love of doing things with Mason jars. This is great, thank you.
These also look very pretty with tinted jars(glass paint)
you ladies has said it all, glass reflects light , it is so soothing, I also have used mason jars, jars .. for every thing , I use one now for my measuring cup I drink from a pint to keep track of the liquid i ned to drink. thank you
this is such a lovely tutorial….I love the simplicity ……
I love these. The thing I like is that when I am done for the evening I can put their lids on and keep any moisture out. I am planning to use seashells in the bottom or colored glass depending on where I hang them outside. I wont be taking them down each night so I want to keep the water out in case it rains.
You can buy citronella tealights, and they will keep the bugs away as well.
I am going to make these, but have one question. If I want to hang them from branches in my crepe myrtle canopy, then I will need something to clip them to/or add to hang the wires from the branches. Any ideas? Thanks!!!