How To Make Christmas Luminaries With Mason Jars
Hands up if you want to learn how to make Christmas luminaries with mason jars. Fab, you’ve come to the right place!
Like most of you, I’ve always been a big fan of twinkling lights and powdery snow – especially at Christmas.
I’ve been saving all kinds of food jars this year, such as jam jars and pots of Nutella (other chocolate spread brands are available!), so I could make a whole set of DIY Christmas luminaries.
And now I’m here to show you how to make your very own Christmas luminaries with mason jars (or any other kind of empty food jar like I did).
Are you ready for some snowy Christmas feels? Great, let’s dive in…
How To Make DIY Christmas Luminaries
Supplies
- Mason jars or any other kind of jar (I’ve been collecting all sorts of glass jars all year, so mine were made out of Nutella jars, jam jars, mayonnaise jars and even an empty jar of sweetener)
- Artificial snow (you could also use Epsom salts, regular salt or sugar)
- Twine or ribbon
- Winter berries or greenery for decoration
- Mod Podge or craft glue (just as long as it dries clear)
- Flameless candles
- Glitter (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Clean your jars
Start by cleaning out your jars (if you haven’t already) and dry them thoroughly. Top Tip: Soak your jars in warm soapy water to help you remove any old food labels.
Step 2: Sprinkle fake snow onto your jars
Paint your glue evenly all over the outside of your first jar. Next, sprinkle your artificial snow all over the glued area. You can easily top up any empty bits as you go along.
Top Tip: You could also add some glitter to your snow to give it a little bit of extra sparkle if you want to. Silver glitter would look especially pretty!
If you don’t have any artificial snow to hand (or you can’t find any in the shops) then you could also try salt or sugar. This will give your luminaries more of a frosted-glass look. Here’s how one of mine came out when I used sugar:
When I first made the sugar version, I wasn’t sure how well it would last. I genuinely thought I’d find a mouldy jar the following Christmas. But it’s now over 3 years since I made these and everything looks just as lovely as when I first made them.
FYI: I’ve also seen these snowy DIY Christmas luminaries made from Epsom salt, so you could also try that instead if you prefer.
Step 4: Add some finishing touches
Wrap some twine or ribbon around the top of your jar and knot it into place. But don’t tie your bow just yet! Slip your winter berries or greenery through the twine first so that it’s loosely held in place.
Next, tie your twine in a bow to secure everything neatly. Trim the ends of your bow so the ends are the same length.
Note: You might also need to do a little bit of fiddling to hide the stem of your greenery. You could also trim it if you prefer.
Step 7: Pop your flameless candle into the jar and you’re done!
If your jars are too narrow for you to put your hand all the way in (such as if you’re using a jam jar or a tall narrow jar), then you can use kitchen tongs to get your candle in and out of the jar when needed. You could also hold the bottom of the jar (without touching the fake snow) and tilt it to get the candle in and out.
Don’t they look so pretty and festive? Just like my pom pom snowman Christmas ornament, they’re definitely going to make our house feel all warm and glowy this year!
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More Christmas Crafts You Might Like
If you like these snowy Christmas luminaries, then take a look at my other Christmas crafts:
Cute DIY Pom Pom Snowman Ornament
How cute does this pom pom snowman Christmas ornament look? Find out how to make your very own right now!
Easy DIY Mason Jar Christmas Ornament
Here's another sweet Christmas ornament idea, this time made from mason jars. They're so simple to make, you could easily have a whole batch made up in a matter of minutes!
Easy DIY Christmas Card Holder
If you want to hang your Christmas cards on something a little bit different, then take a look at this easy DIY Christmas card holder tutorial. It will look so lovely hanging on your wall!
Gift Bag Wall Art | Christmas Reverse Canvas Tutorial
How sweet is this gift bag wall art? This is such an easy craft if you're not sure what to do with your old gift bags - and is something you can admire for many more Christmases to come.
Meet Me Under The Mistletoe Sign | Easy DIY Christmas Decoration
This festive Meet Me Under The Mistletoe sign also uses the reverse canvas technique. It's so cheap and easy to make. You don't even need a Cricut machine!
I hope you enjoy making these pretty Christmas luminaries!
If you make anything inspired by this tutorial, I’d love to see it! Don’t forget to tag me on Facebook or Instagram.
Do you want to make your own mason jar luminaries for Christmas? Pin this tutorial now, make them later!
