So, here's a little tutorial for you, courtesy of the dapper Mr. Beeper. Last summer I handed him a crate of mason jars and asked him to make some lanterns out of them that we could hang in the back yard--and this was the result. Today, it is about my favorite feature in our yard--instant ambiance in a jar (um, pun intended). 
Get your own ambiance-making instructions right here:DOWNLOAD TUTORIAL
And step by step photos above for your reference. (and those are NOT my hands in the photos--Mr Beeper's, thank you very much).
And this is what I recommend you do by the light of your mason jar lanterns: pour yourself a glass of white wine, set your bare feet in the grass, listen to the crickets, and think about nothing (or Jude Law, if you really want to).
Great project, Holly! Will be blogged about today on Re-nest.com - please email me with any questions! trent@apartmenttherapy.com
ReplyDeleteJust curious...what happens when it rains? Are you keeping them sheltered away from the elements or just dumping out any water out? Clever idea!!
ReplyDeleteThey stay out in the weather all spring, summer and fall--we bring them in for the winter since the extreme cold here in Minnesota could crack the glass. But when it rains, I simply pull out the candle, and tilt the jar so the water will run out but the sand will stay in the jar. (and I always do this in short order right after it rains since standing water makes for mosquito nesting grounds). The wire does become rusty over time, but I happen to like that look. More rustic.
ReplyDeleteI love this, will be perfect for our patio in the winter!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great idea!
awesome !! I am totally doing this!! thanx for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI made these for a wedding this weekend, we put a little moss in the bottom with a tealight and hung them on rusty shepard hooks down the aisle way. It was the perfect touch to the vintage feel of the wedding! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love that you made some of these for a wedding--sounds like it was the wedding I wanted to have but did not have. Not that my wedding was awful or anything--actually, it was quite lovely--but perhaps a bit more formal than what I would do today...anyhoo, seperate issue. Glad you found a lovely use for the lanterns.
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ReplyDeletehey..i love this project..thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteIt's great! And I love the rustic look...
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that I blogged about your lanterns in my Make It Yourself Monday feature.
ReplyDeletehttp://brideonbudget.blogspot.com/2010/07/make-it-yourself-monday.html
Where did you get the "hooks" to hang them from (off of the fence)? Love the look!
ReplyDeleteI think we purchased the hooks from Home Depot a couple of years back.
ReplyDeletemy fiance and i are collecting the blue mason jars for center pieces for our wedding. i saw the idea of the lanterns and i think that will be the perfect touch. we are planning a wedding and i'm leaning towards the vintage feel. if any of you have more do it yourself ideas for the vintage feel, please let me know! i'm truly excited to learn more, see more and do more for the personal feel!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this-thank you so much for sharing. We are designing an outdoor eating area that has a camp feel to it & these lanterns will be perfect. Holly
ReplyDeletethis looks awesome. what material is the bailing wire made out of? what guage?
ReplyDeleteI just made similar jar lanterns to hang from twine around my front porch and in my trees in the backyard, but I love that you hang them from the fence. Looks like I'll be extending my project. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWe just put up our lanterns, thank you so much for such a great idea! We have 6 randomly placed along our fence then 4 on our tree. Can't wait to enjoy them this fall!
ReplyDeleteThanks ffor posting this. I just found it on Pinterest. My hubby just built me a pergola out back and I want to make citronella candles and hang them around it. I wasn't sure how to go about it, so thank you. =)
ReplyDeleteTell liz I saw a post on pinterest about dying mason jars. She mentioned she was collecting them for her wedding.
on the subject of rain, could you just drill a couple holes in the bottom, and put some screen over them to keep the sand in? or is the sand you used too fine to let that be a possibility?
ReplyDeleteGonna do this for my son's backyard, wedding rehearsal dinner. And as for what to do when it rains...at the end of the night, after each use, just screw on the lids...it extinguishes the fire and protects it from moisture...simple. Great Idea!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of using the lids in this way--cannot believe this idea never occurred to me given that each and very jar does have a lid...this is what I will be doing this summer. Thanks for sharing the idea, Momover7cs.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you put the lid on to extinguish the flame it creates a vacuum to keep the wick from getting "lost" in the wax :)
DeleteI pinned this over on pinterest a long time ago, just thought I'd let you know, people have been repinning it like crazy recently! 442 repins today. Popular idea! Thanks for the awesome tutorial. I made some last summer and loved them!! I spray painted the lids a light blue and would put them on when I was done, kept the bugs and water out that way :) Hope you are getting some extra traffic over on your blog :)
ReplyDeleteRenae, thanks for sharing about the pinterst pinning frenzy happening with this. Also, I love the idea of spray painting the lids--one more thing to do before summer arrives...
ReplyDeletedthanks for the great tut! I just pinned this, and plan to do a post about ball/mason jar projects soon, I will link back when I do! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWill be doing this thanks but i will try the battery tea lights they worked great in the pumpkins last halloween!!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! :) Shared it on my blog: http://happyandsimple.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/my-secret-garden/
ReplyDeleteTo add another idea to momover7cs comment ... Here is a nice way to keep track of the lid while in use. Just secure a magnet to the bottom of the jar and the lid would "stick" to that when not covering the top. Should prevent those "oh where did I put the lid" moments :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea.. I tagged this blog on Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this! On my to do list. Shared the idea here:
ReplyDeletehttp://pinsandprincesses.blogspot.com/2012/04/trash-to-treasure-or-at-least-useful.html
Great as a hanging vase, too! I love the look!
ReplyDeleteHey Holly! Great post. AND I found the exact same plant hangers you have for 2.11 a piece! $10 cheaper than anything close to it! My question.... I want to use quart size jars (I got a case free off craigslist) can Mr. Beeper tell me how much wire for each quart size jar? THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!
ReplyDeleteLove these! Found an awesome "recipe" for dying mason jars (don't know how it would hold up with real flames though), so I may use electric tea lights. Also, I'm using copper wire so I can prevent the rust issue!Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteLove this idea. Great tutorial. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThoi trang tre em - Quan ao tre em
ReplyDeleteI love it, thanks for the great idea !
made these for a wedding this weekend, we put a little moss in the bottom with a tealight and hung them on rusty shepard hooks down the aisle way. It was the perfect touch to the vintage feel of the wedding! Thanks!
ReplyDeletehanging candle lanterns
I shared this idea on my blog! I linked to your PDF. Thanks for the great tutorial!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute idea. I want to make these to hand on hooks throughout my garden walkway. It will look so pretty at night when all lit up.
ReplyDeleteAlena | http://malibucreations.com/collections/marrakesh-market.html
These are cool lanterns. They seem fairly inexpensive to make. They also seem fairly easy to make.
ReplyDeleteRon Johnson | Malibu Creations
These are so cool! I will totally be making these to hang on the fence for my cousins wedding! It will be so fun. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJim Tracy | http:/ /www.jojosgiftsgalore.com/default.asp?dept_id=45230
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ReplyDeleteThis is a really neat project! I would definitely want to do this. How well does it light up? http://www.ceecspecial.com/listing.asp?dept_id=45230&nopopup=1
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the lanterns, the wire and jar are a good combination. I was going to try that but with string, except wire is probably more stable. I have been looking for backyard decorating ideas, so I will definitely have to try this.
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