How to Make Halloween Luminaries from Recycled Glass Jars

If you're looking for an easy Halloween craft to do with kids, look no further than your recycling bin! 

With a little help from Mod Podge and tissue paper (or napkins) you can transform empty glass jars to adorable Halloween luminaries. 

These recycled glass jar luminaries are easy to make and a perfect first Mod Podge project. 

This Halloween luminary project I designed was featured on Hands on Crafts for Kids in December of 2015. 

While the version of my Halloween luminaries aired by Hands on Crafts for Kids is a little different than the way I designed it (they used Elmer's glue instead of Mod Podge for example), watching the video below will give you the basic technique for making them.

How to Make Halloween Luminaries from Recycled Glass Jars

Supplies

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• Empty glass jar with lid
• Mod Podge 
• Foam brush
• Orange napkins or tissue paper
• Green napkins or tissue paper
• Black paint marker
• Green chenille stem
• Wire cutters or "junk scissors"
• Glue dots (or hot glue used with adult supervision)
• Battery powered tealight

Directions

Video: How to Make Halloween Pumpkin Luminary Jars

If the video does not play in the space directly below this paragraph, click here to watch it on YouTube >>

How to Make Halloween Luminaries Step 1:

Tear off small pieces of the napkins and separate the plies from each other.

How to Make Halloween Luminaries Step 2:

Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge on the jar (in the video they use clear glue but I prefer Mod Podge). Place an orange napkin piece on the Mod Podge, pressing down into the Mod Podge. Dab more Mod Podge over the top with the foam brush. Continue in this manner around the jar until the entire jar is covered except for the collar. Set the jar aside to dry.

Use this same process to cover the lid with green tissue or napkin pieces. It's ok if you need multiple layers of tissue in order to cover any text on your jar lid.

How to Make Halloween Luminaries Step 3:

Once dry, use the black paint marker to draw a face on your jack o lantern.

How to Make Halloween Luminaries Step 4:

Make a stem by cutting a 2-3 inch piece of green chenille stem. Wrap the chenille stem around a pencil or paint brush to make a curly Q. Bend the bottom to create a flat area where you can attach it to the lid. Attach stem to lid with a glue dot.

How to Make Halloween Luminaries Step 5:

Add a battery powered  candle to the jar and reattach the lid

Don't forget to pin it to save it for later!

About the Author:

Carissa Bonham is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she won the Craftys Award for the "Best Craft Blogger" category in 2016 and the ShiftCon award for "Best DIY Blogger" in 2018.

Her creative pursuits don't stop at crafts - she is also the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017) and several ebooks. Her projects have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living community group.

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