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Mason Jar Lights for Fall

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August 21, 2015 by Kendra 9 Comments

With fall coming on, for some reason I got it into my head that I wanted some “warm” outdoor lighting. I knew I wanted to make Mason Jar Lights but wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Candles seemed neat but also very short-term. That’s when I got the idea to use string lights. It was perfect timing when a company asked me to review their solar-powered string lights on Amazon.

I immediately knew I would use them, but had to figure out how to create my lights in a way that they would be nice for several weeks instead of just a few days. It took me a few times to get it right, but they are out there and glowing beautifully every night now!

How to Make Mason Jar Lights

You will need:

  • String lighting: These fairy lights are perfect.
  • Narrow/Regular Mouth Mason Jars
  • Sand
  • Clear Contact Paper
  • Washi Tape or Canning Rings
  • Hot Glue

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Start by pouring 1/2 to 1 cup of sand into the bottom of your jars. This will help weigh them down a little more, and white sand is best as it will reflect the lights.

Next, use a wide mouth jar lid and trace it onto the back of your contact paper. If you don’t have a lid, trace the bottom of your jar. Do not crowd your circles when tracing because you aren’t going to cut them out on the line.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Once you have your circles traced, it’s time to cut. I cut around my circles, leaving at least 1/2 inch along the edge. They need to be considerably larger than the opening of your jar so they can wrap down around the edges.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Next fold the circle into quarters and use the lines to make a single cut to the center of the circle. Peel the backing off and insert the light right into the center.

I pulled the cut edges back together and overlapped them a small amount before placing it onto the rim with the sticky side down.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Because I was in a hurry, sometimes the light ended up a little off-center. It didn’t seem to matter though once they were lit.

If you are using the canning rings to hold the contact paper down, you will need to place the ring around your light before wrapping the contact paper around it. Then you will simply screw the ring down over the contact paper. You don’t want your wires being pinched by the ring.

If you are using washi tape, press the edges of the contact paper down very firmly, then tightly wrap washi tape around the outside of the rim. Use your fingers to smooth and press into place.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Continue adding the lights until all lights have been properly “canned. 😉

Even though the lights on this string are placed further apart than many light strings are, they were still a little close together. This means moving them as an entire unit and not one at a time.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Now it’s time for the glue gun. If you don’t get any rain in the fall, or don’t plan on placing these out in the weather, you may skip this step. If rain is a possibility while you have your lights out, this step is what keeps the insides dry.

Two days after putting my mason jar lights out, it rain HARD. It was very clear which ones I had sealed off and which ones I hadn’t quite done as good a job on. Those have a lot of water in them. 🙁

Use the hot glue gun to seal off the small hole in the contact paper around the wiring.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

Because I wanted the glue to set with the wires going across instead of up, I would glue then place a cup over the top of the jar. It worked like a charm. 🙂

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

This was a really fun project and I love the results, however I cannot tell you how long it took me to complete. Sorry. I had a busy little boy who constantly needed “rescuing” and took lots of photos along the way.

My total time was over 2 hrs. In all honesty, it probably would’ve taken less than an hour without those distractions. 🙂

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

They are so bright and pretty out in front of our rose bushes at night. The lights are warm and welcoming. I especially love how the white sand reflects the color of the lights. So pretty.

How to make solar powered mason jar lights with with string lighting. Beautiful outdoor mason jar lighting.

If you want the solar lights that I used, you can easily find them here on Amazon. Be sure to check out the other styles too as tear-drop isn’t the only design they have.

 

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Filed Under: DIY, Home and Garden Tagged With: crafts, decor, fall, outdoors

Respectful opinions are always welcome

  1. Kim Sullivan says

    August 21, 2015 at 1:28 am

    I love this project! Your lights look great! I checked out the link and I really want to order the dragonfly lights. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      August 21, 2015 at 7:32 am

      Thanks Kim! I thought the dragonflies were neat as well 🙂

      Reply
  2. Carrie says

    August 21, 2015 at 11:09 am

    That is such a neat post. I never would have thought to do that. How beautiful they came out!

    Reply
    • Kendra says

      August 23, 2015 at 8:51 pm

      Thanks! I love how they look. Even the ones that still got a little water in them 🙂

      Reply
  3. Tianna says

    September 2, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    brilliant! love this – thanks for sharing!

    stop by and chat ♥ http://storybookapothecary.com

    Reply
  4. Carmine @ Candle Junkies says

    September 2, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    I found this post on the Dream. Create. Inspire. Link. party and I love the effect that these lights give off!
    Thanks for sharing this easy to follow DIY
    Carmine, http://www.candlejunkies.com

    Reply
  5. Kim~madeinaday says

    October 20, 2015 at 11:31 am

    How clever are you! These are so cute! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on FB Thurs! Have a great week!
    Kim

    Reply
  6. Creatively Beth says

    September 23, 2020 at 11:52 am

    These lights would be a lovely addition to my garden! Thank you for the inspiration. I’d love for you to share over at our weekly Wednesday Creative Crafts Linky Party https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party-8-join-in-the-fun/
    Have a great week!
    Creatively, Beth

    Reply
  7. Michele Michael says

    September 25, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    Thanks for posting at Funtastic Friday. So much fun.

    Reply

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about-small Hello, my name is Kendra. I am married to an amazing young man named Jason, and together we have 3 boys! Here at A Proverbs 31 Wife, you will find posts on homemaking, natural living, marriage, and motherhood. My goal is to uplift and inspire Christian wives and Mothers. {Read More}

 

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