Use Beads To Transform Old Glass Jars Into Colorful Lanterns

Outdoor lighting is the key to creating a warm, inviting atmosphere in your backyard. There are lots of designs for weatherproof fixtures, from practical wall sconces and pathway post lights to decorative string lights and DIY lanterns. Lanterns, in particular, are excellent for outdoor lighting because they're portable — you can pick them up and move them wherever you need them. Depending on the bulb they're fitted with, they create a beautiful ambiance that's hard to replicate with other outdoor fixtures. Plus, lanterns are typically cheap to buy, but if you're crafty, you can repurpose a kitchen item for a second life in the garden, like an old glass jar. Add a hook to the lid, use a fringe of sparkly beads to decorate the lantern, and pop a mini round LED light inside. You're done!

For this adorable jar upcycle you'll need, of course, an old glass jar with the label removed. Simply fill the jar with hot, not boiling, water and wait 1 minute. The heat will loosen the glue, and the label should peel right off. You'll also need a roll of Fandamei 18 Gauge Craft Wire, a pair of wire cutters, an electric drill, and an LED puck light that's slightly smaller than the mouth of your jar. The beaded fringe of this DIY is fully customizable — you can create any design you wish to suit your backyard aesthetic. The Cutefox Multi-Color Crystal Crafting Kit has an assortment of beads to play with for a bit under $5.50. You'll also need a thin metal ring that's a smidge larger than your glass jar in diameter and an eye bolt with a nut.

To craft a decorative lantern with a beaded fringe, place the thin metal ring over your jar to see how far down the side it sits. Decide how long you want your beaded fringe to be and remove the ring. Set it aside and cut several lengths of wire. Thread on the beads, alternating colors and shapes as you go, then wrap the end of the wire around the metal ring. Repeat this process until the ring is full, then slip it back over the jar. Drill a hole in the lid of the jar and paint the lid a hue that matches your beaded fringe. Thread the eye bolt through the hole, fastening the nut on the underside of the lid. Place a puck light inside the jar and screw the lid on. It's now time to hang your beaded lantern in your backyard and enjoy its glow.

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There are ways to modify this idea to suit your materials and aesthetic preferences. You could, for example, turn the beaded wire from decorative to functional and create a cradle for the jar that's similar in design to a macramé planter hanger. Then there's no need for the lid at all! Pop a Homemory Flickering Flameless Battery-Operated Tea Light Candle inside the jar for a romantic vibe. Just make sure you hang this lidless lantern in a covered part of your yard, or it will fill up with water when it rains. If you want to bring the beach into your home with this adorable DIY jar upcycle, add a little colored sand to the bottom of the jar and switch the beaded wire out for some jute twine and some faux starfish or seashells.