Summer might be almost over, but spending the cool nights of early fall curled up on my patio with a glass of wine is one of my favorite activities. As the result of a Pinterest inspiration, I decided that I would adapt wedding Mason jar lanterns to suit my patio. I created this fantastic (and really pretty) DIY using old glass canisters, glass paint, and battery operated tea lights.
These would also be great for weddings, parties, or just to place in your window. The colors sparkle in the sunlight, and in the evening it creates a well light, soothing cottage chic ambiance that really helps you enjoy that glass of red.
Things you will need:
Clear glass jars with lid
Vitrail Glass Paint, colors of your choice
paintbrushes
nail polish remover, acetone
Battery operated tea lights
Step 1:
The first step is to ensure that your glass jars are clean and free from any residue, left over glue, etc. I ran mine through the dishwasher, and lightly polished with Windex before beginning. Ensure that your jars have been left to dry for at least 24 hours after you clean them.
Step 2:
Paint both the outside and inside of lid. As the glass paint is translucent, I did this to achieve a darker color and create the illusion of a lid. As there was no way to remove the wire without destroying my jars, I painted it as well.
Step 3:
Place you fingers on the inside of the jar in a comfortable position, or, if you like, rig up an apparatus to hold the jar in place which you paint. Paint the entire outside of the jar. Let dry for 24 hours.
Step 4:
Examine the jar. I needed to remove some areas where a buildup of paint left blotches. I place a drop or two of nail polish remover on a cotton pad and lightly buffed. Because I liked the “streaky” look that resulted, I lightly buffed all of my jars in the same fashion. This is personal preference, and if you like the glass after painting that you do not need to do this step.
Step 5:
Prepare tea lights. I purchased these battery operated tea lights off of eBay (Side note: they are also submersible). The first step was to inspect them, and ensure that they worked. After I discovered they worked correctly, I removed the inside of the battery and took out the “Made in China” insert, as this was viewable through the glass.
Step 6:
Using a glue gun, attach the bottom part of the tea light to the inside of the lid. Through trial and error I discovered that the best method is to place glue on the lid, and glue on the bottom of the tea light and then press together firmly. Hold for at least a minute to ensure the light has adhered to the glass.
Step 7:
Re assemble the tea light on the bottom of the lid.
Voila! You now have at least one functioning tea light lantern. If you are interested in owning a set, but don’t want the headache of creating one, please visit my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBitofGlass.
A Little Bit of Glass 