Woman Upcycles Glass Jars To Make Stunning Frosted Lanterns

Does your home decor need the subtle glow from a sweet frosted lantern? Trick question; of course it does. There are a few different ways you can make a DIY lantern, but YouTuber She So CraftDee has an incredibly simple and effective method you should absolutely try. If you love the elegant look of frosted glass and using fairy lights to decorate, then this is the hack for you. She coats a glass jar with frosted glass spray, adds fairy lights to the inside, and attaches a wooden finial to the top. The end result is a stunning lantern made from craft supplies you might already have. In addition to your jars, frosted glass spray, lights, and finial, you'll need some paint, wire or twine, hot glue, and potentially a drill or pliers.

The frosted sides of the jar will diffuse the light from the fairy lights inside, so your lantern gives off a soft glow instead of a brighter, harsher light. The finial is attached to the top, giving your jar a more traditional lantern shape. If you're not familiar with the word finial, it's a decorative peg or knob used to make a curtain rod, bedpost, or similar piece of furniture look a little nicer. They come in a variety of styles and shapes, so you can customize the top of your lantern. The wire or twine is used to hang the finished lantern, but you could leave that off if you'd rather keep it on a table.

Anything on the surface of the jar might leave a texture or shadow in your lantern, so clean it thoroughly first. Make sure to remove any sticker residue from the glass as well. The frosted glass spray paint will need to be applied in a well-ventilated area, ideally outdoors, to reduce exposure to fumes. Cover the entire jar, applying multiple coats to achieve an even frosting. She So CraftDee used three or four coats, resulting in a thoroughly frosted jar. Next, paint the jar lid and wooden finial so they match. Painting them the same color will make the top of your lantern look like a single piece. Matte black is a good choice, as it's a classic lantern color.

Once they're painted and dry, you can affix the finial to the lid. If the finial has a flat bottom, use some hot glue to secure it to the center of the lid. Some finials have screws sticking out of the bottom. You can remove the screw by gripping it with pliers and slowly rotating while pulling, or drill a hole in the jar's lid for the screw to fit into. If you plan on hanging the lantern, cut a piece of wire, twine, ribbon, or another material and attach one end to each side of the top of the jar with hot glue. Add your fairy lights to the inside of the jar, place the lid back on top, and your cute frosted lantern is ready to light up your life.

She So CraftDee's lantern is fantastic, but half the fun of trying a new DIY is customizing it to fit your home. If you don't have any well-ventilated or outdoor spaces for spray painting, you could try a different frosted glass technique. Epsom salt can be used for a more textured look, while glue will give a more rustic, streaky finish. If you prefer the smoother finish of the spray paint but still want some variation in the texture, you can give your jar an uneven coating. Adding tape, ribbon, or a piece of paper to the outside of the jar will block the spray paint from coating the space beneath it. You can use this to create unique shapes or patterns. You can also change up the paint on the lid and finial. Black may be classic, but metallic gold would look elegant. For a rustic lantern, paint them gray or black and brush some cinnamon over them to give them a faux-rusted look.

Beyond just altering how the lantern is made, there are plenty of ways you can decorate your lantern afterward. Cut out a paper shape and affix it to the inside of the jar to create a shadowy silhouette. Animals, trees, mountains, and even fantastical creatures like fairies and dragons would make interesting silhouettes. Alternatively, decorate the outside of your lantern by adding ribbons or greenery to the lid. Use pine branches or holly for a frosty winter lantern or add some springtime cheer with faux flowers.