How to Make a Mason Jar Lantern!
Do you have any mason jars lying around that you don’t know what to do with? Instead of getting rid of them, make a rustic mason jar lantern! These lanterns create a wonderful ambience and are very relaxing and nice to look at when winding down after a long day on the farm!
You will need a few inexpensive supplies to get started but fortunately, they can all be found at your local department, hardware, or craft store. You probably even have some of the items already lying around your home or garage!
Supplies You’ll Need:
Mason Jar, Wooden Board, Hardware, Screw Driver/Drill Gun bits, Hot Glue Gun, String Lights, Batteries
*Notes-
Whichever wooden board you choose, think about where you will put the battery pack. I bought one with a raised edge in back, so it could hide the hardware nicely behind it. Check out your local craft or department store and you will find something that works. You can even find one in the forest or just get an unfinished cut from your local lumber store. Always shop local if possible!
Also, whichever hanger you decide to use, it should already come with the required screws and hardware. You can find a variety of hangers at any hardware or gardening store.
Finally, you can purchase string or fairy lights at any craft or department store. Some will come with batteries while others won’t.
Now, let’s build a Mason Jar lantern!
🕯Time to prep your board.
🕯Either use the natural wood tone or stain any color.
🕯Stains are available at most hardware stores or arts and craft suppliers.
🕯I love how the dark walnut stain looks behind the glowing mason jar. Check out the great contrast in the finished product!
🕯Find the center of your board and mark it. This will guide your hanger placement.
🕯For best results, I would highly suggest using a ruler, or if you like to wing it like I do, then just eyeball it.
🕯Attach your hanging hardware per the directions.
🕯If you are concerned about the wood cracking from the screws, you can drill small pilot holes. I didn’t in this case, and it still worked fine.
🕯Drill a hole next to the metal hanger. It should be big enough to feed the lights from the back to the front to hide the battery pack behind the wood.
🕯I selected a very skinny string of lights with a timer on it, to save battery in case I forget to turn it off. They fit nicely through the drilled hole.
🕯I tried to hide the wire behind the hardware as best as possible, but again its about your creativity and enjoyment so go wild!
🕯I glued the battery pack in back so it’s easy to get to from the left side.
🕯MAKE SURE THE BATTERY PACK IS ACCESSIBLE!
The wood I used had a raised edge so I glued my batteries away from the edge so when I need to change them I can.
🕯Decorate your jar accordingly—I used twine as my hanger and décor, and I held it together with hot glue as I wrapped it, so the jar is nice and secure!
🕯Get creative when you decorate your lantern! You can use flowers, burlap, or whatever your heart desires.
🕯Place the lights in the jar without the removable lid insert. I personally like the look of the metal outer lid ring, but you can do without it if you prefer.
🕯Now you just have to attach the larger twine hanger to the back of the wood. I attached it with a staple on each side and a dab of hot glue!
🕯Hang and Enjoy!!!!
Summary
And that’s it guys! Its quite simple to make your very own Mason Jar Lantern, and it’s a lot of fun too! The finished product is beautiful and rustic, a great addition to a farmhouse or cabin! They also work great as gifts, and party favors. There is a ton of opportunity to get creative with this project so dive in and show me what you come up with!
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