Three ways to make jam jar lanterns
Here’s how to upcycle your spare jam jars into mini candle lanterns for your garden this Summer.
This step by step guide takes you through three different ways to turn your glass jars into different effects for twinkling lights. First up a way to turn paint into a stone effect; second way is with string to make a sea lantern effect; and finally, a paper mache technique using paper napkins.
You will need:

- Empty clean jam jars
- Night light candles
- Left over paint – I used tester pots that we had lying about
- Bicarbonate of Soda
- Glue
- Scissors
- Sticky tape – or something to use as a stencil
- Paper napkin – or tissue paper works well
- String
- Paint brush
1. Painted Love Heart Jam Jar

First, here’s how to make a lantern with a painted stone effect. Did you know if you mix paint with bicarbonate of soda, it will dry like a stone layer effect? Use a stencil to give a little window for your candle to shine through – I used a heart. You could use multiple stencils, like mini hearts, or stars for example. Or you could stencil letters on multiple jars to spell out a message, like ‘Happy Birthday’ or a persons name perhaps.
Step 1 – Clean the jam jar
To remove the label, soak in warm bubbly water. For stubborn sticky spots try wiping the area with olive oil.

Step 2 – Add your stencil
Add your stencil of choice. I cut out a heart from paper tape, so it was easy to stick to the jar. You could use paper or card and lightly glue or cellotape to the jar. Don’t fix your stencil too well, as you won’t be able to remove it after you’ve painted your jam jar!

Step 3 – Mix and add your paint
I mixed the paint with the bicarbonate of soda – about half and half in quantity. I also used one coat of the mix, but you could use two coats for a more dense effect. Leave to dry.

Step 4 – Remove the stencil
Carefully remove the stencil and wipe and tidy up your patterns.

Here’s the finished painted jam jar lit at night. I think with a second coat, you’d get a more defined stencil shape.

2. String Sea Lantern

This style has a really effective light in the evening and once you get the hang of the string tying, it’s a quick and easy transformation. This technique would lend itself to a larger version really well too.
First clean your jar like the previous guide.
Step 1 – Anchor the top
Add a loop of string at the top. Tie it on a bit looser than normal, to allow room to add the vertical string pieces. You can then tighten this loop once you’ve added the other lengths of string.

Step 2 – Add the vertical lengths
Next step is to add the vertical lengths of string. I used 6 lengths of string, but you can use more for bigger jam jars or vases. But always keep the number even. Cut the lengths at least 4 times the height of the jam jar or vessel.

Now add the string lengths to the top loop as follows. Fold a length in half to make a loop. Tuck this loop behind the top string and pull the ends through as pictured below. Add the six lengths evenly around the top.
Step 3 – Add the knots
Next step is to add a row of knots. Take a pair of strings as pictured. And self tie them into a knot. Repeat the process around the jar.

Then repeat this process on a second row of knots. If you are doing this on a bigger jar or vase, you could add more rows by simply repeating the process.

Step 4 – Seal off the bottom
Turn your jam jar upside down and snip off the ends of the string.

Then seal off those ends. I used paper sticky tape, but you could glue on a circle of paper or felt to finish the jar.

I think this one might be my favourite effect, the way the light is directed out at the bottom of the jar.

3. Paper Mache Jam Jar
This technique is like paper mache and I used ‘Modge Podge’ glue which is great as a glue, and also as an over coat to seal in the paper.

Step 1 – Cutting the paper
I used pieces of a paper napkin as it’s nice and thin. But you could also use multi-coloured pieces of tissue paper. Anything that lets the light shimmer through. I chopped the paper into about 2cm size pieces, but you could experiment with smaller or larger pieces.

Step 2 – Glueing the paper
Paint the glue onto the jar and lay on the pieces of paper with slight overlaps. This gives an effect where the light can glimmer through the thinner pieces of paper when it’s finished. Paint a layer of glue over the paper at the end to seal everything in. Leave to dry.


This technique gives a subtle glimmer – experiment with different colours or you could try adding a stencil gap, like the first jar.

For more ideas on recycling in the garden, see my other post on the blog here >>> Garden Upcycling
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