This summer I’m determined to make the most of my yard and patio, and I know many of you are feeling the same! A great way to make outdoor spaces more inviting is with accessories, like outdoor pillows, pretty planters (try these DIY Modern Planters!), and ambient lighting. Speaking of which, this DIY glass jar lantern craft is the perfect way to add color and style to your outdoor space-day or night!
The colorful gems on these lanterns make them adorable decorations during the day. When you light them up at night, their colors dance and bring a whole new feel to your patio or deck!
Supplies Needed to Make Glass Jar Lanterns
This post is sponsored by DAP Products, Inc. The project and opinions are all my own. Also, this post contains affiliate links. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.
- RapidFuse Ultra Clear All Purpose Adhesive
- Glass jars in varying sizes
- Clear glass gems or clear glass cabochons
- Colorful bingo chips
- Twine
- Twine-wrapped wire or jute-wrapped wire
- Scissors
- Craft clamps
- Battery-operated candles OR battery-operated fairy lights
Glass Jar Lantern Craft: How-To
Before jumping in and creating these cute and colorful lanterns, make sure the glass jars you’re using are clean and dry-both inside and out. I wiped the outsides of my jars with rubbing alcohol just to be safe. Soap and water will work well, too!
Step One: Secure the Glass Jar
Once that is taken care of, it’s time to get down to crafty business. Set a glass jar on a level surface. To keep it from rolling away while you’re working, place objects underneath it on both sides. I used little wood blocks to keep my jars from rolling around.
Step Two: Glue Bingo Chips to the Lantern with RapidFuse Ultra Clear
Working one section at a time, glue colorful bingo chips to the jar with RapidFuse Ultra Clear All Purpose Adhesive. This glue is a MUST HAVE for this project because it forms a crystal clear bond between the bingo chips (and glass gems to come later), and the glass jar. This is essential for creating a flawless and clean look, and for letting these lanterns shine at night!
Only use a tiny amount of glue on the back of each bingo chip. Trust me: a little goes a long way! You can apply the glue directly from the RapidFuse Ultra Clear bottle, or you can use a small paintbrush to dab on a tiny bit of glue.
Step Three: Attach Clear Gems or Cabochons with RapidFuse Ultra Clear
Next, in that same section where you just glued on bingo chips, use RapidFuse Ultra Clear to attach clear glass cabochons to the jar.
These clear glass gems are great for filling in empty spots on the lantern, and they help bounce the light around at night.
The RapidFuse Ultra Clear is perfect for attaching these clear glass gems because it won’t yellow as it ages. Can you imagine how gross that would look if you had yellow glue spots all over your lanterns? No thanks. (*Making a mental note: use RapidFuse Ultra Clear for all crafts with glass gems going forward.)
Once the RapidFuse Ultra Clear has set up (usually in less than 30 minutes), rotate the glass jar and repeat steps 2-3 on the next section. Do this until the entire jar is covered with bingo chips and glass gems.
Step Four: Create the Lantern Handle
After the RapidFuse Ultra Clear has set and cured, it’s time to create handles for these DIY lanterns. Start by wrapping twine around the top of the glass jar and securing it in place with a liberal amount of RapidFuse Ultra Clear and a craft clamp.
Once dry, remove the clamp. Then, cut three pieces of twine-wrapped wire and braid them. Attach them to the twine on the jar with Rapid-Fuse Ultra Clear and craft clamps.
Unlike hot glue or other adhesives, the RapidFuse Ultra Clear will dry totally clear and not leave glue clumps all over.
To finish off the look, wrap twine around the ends of the handle. Again, secure this twine with RapidFuse Ultra Clear and craft clamps.
Step Five: Clean Up Excess RapidFuse Ultra Clear, if Necessary
Your DIY lanterns are almost ready, but before they make their debut on your fabulous summer patio, check to see if you got excess glue anywhere that you’d like to clean up. I had a couple of glass gems slide away (due to excessive glue application and/or turning the jar too soon) and leave a glue trail, but it was not a problem.
RapidFuse Ultra Clear that has cured is easy to remove with acetone nail polish remover! Just dip a cotton swab into the acetone nail polish remover, put it on the excess glue and let it sit, and then gently scrape off the RapidFuse Ultra Clear with a utility knife or the end of scissors.
Colorful DIY Glass Jar Lanterns
Pop in battery-operated candles or battery-operated fairy lights, and these DIY jar lanterns are ready to dress up your outdoor space!
Check out how gorgeous they are filled with fairy lights. The colors dance and add magic to summer nights!
And, you don’t have to worry about using these lanterns outdoors. RapidFuse Ultra Clear All Purpose Adhesive is an interior and exterior adhesive that’s water-resistant once cured, so you can use these outside safely.
Make a bunch of them and they’ll be the star of your outdoor space.
DIY Glass Jar Lantern Craft
This DIY Glass Jar Lantern Craft will be the star of your patio! Embellish glass jars with colorful and clear gems to create colorful lanterns that shine during the day and also at night.
Materials
Tools
- Scissors
- Craft clamps
Instructions
- Clean the glass jar to remove any dirt or residue.
- Stabilize the glass jar on a level surface to keep it from rolling away.
- Glue colorful transparent bingo chips to the glass jar with RapidFuse Ultra Clear All Purpose Adhesive.
- Glue clear gems to the glass jar with Rapid Fuse Ultra Clear All Purpose Adhesive.
- Wrap twine around the top of the jar and secure in place with RapidFuse Ultra Clear All Purpose Adhesive.
- Braid together three pieces of twine-wrapped wire to create a handle. Glue it to the sides of the glass jar with RapidFuse Ultra Clear, and use craft clamps to secure the bond and hold the handles in place.
- Once the glue has dried, wrap another layer of twine around the base of the handles to cover the seam. Secure to the jar with RapidFuse Ultra Clear.
- Fill the glass jar lantern with fairy lights or battery-operated candles.
Notes
When gluing the glass gems and bingo chips to the glass jar, only use a very small amount of RapidFuse Ultra Clear. Too much adhesive will cause the gems and chips to slide down the side of the jar.
Remove excess cured RapidFuse Ultra Clear with acetone nail polish remover.
Deborah says
These lanterns are perfect! I know my granddaughter will love a few for her first dorm room this fall!
Bre says
Hi, Deborah – thank you! And that would be so sweet for your granddaughter!!