• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Reid Homestead
  • Garden
    • Growing Vegetables
      • Growing Tomatoes
      • Seed Starting
      • Saving Seed
      • Garden Pests, Diseases & Problems
      • Garden Harvest Tally
    • Growing Fruit
    • Growing Herbs
    • Gardening Tools & Equipment
    • Permaculture
    • Flowers
  • Food Preservation
    • Freezing
    • Canning
    • Cold Storage
    • Fermentation
    • Dehydrating
  • Homesteading
    • Animals
    • Making Money on the Homestead
    • Homestead DIY Projects
      • Crafts
      • Soaps, Scrubs & Bath Bombs
    • Blog Hops
      • Farm Fresh Tuesdays
    • Homestead Gift Ideas
    • Homestead Planning & Organization
      • Monthly Homestead To Do Lists
    • 5 Things Friday
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Natural Remedies
    • Plant Based - Vegan - Vegetarian Recipes
    • Salads and Sides
    • Smoothies
  • Resources
    • Freebie Resource Library
    • Blogging Resources
  • Shop with Us!
    • Shop our Printables!
    • Shop Our Homestead Favorites
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Garden
    • Growing Vegetables
      • Growing Tomatoes
    • Growing Fruit
    • Growing Herbs
    • Garden Pests, Diseases & Problems
    • Gardening Tools & Equipment
    • Seed Starting
    • Saving Seed
    • Garden Harvest Tally
    • Flowers
    • Permaculture
  • Homestead
    • Animals
    • Monthly Homestead To Do Lists
    • Making Money on the Homestead
    • Homestead DIY Projects
      • Crafts
      • Soaps, Scrubs & Bath Bombs
    • Blog Hops
  • Food
    • Food Preservation
      • Canning
      • Cold Storage
      • Dehydrating
      • Freezing
      • Fermentation
    • Recipes
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Christmas
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Main Dish Recipes
      • Natural Remedies
      • Plant Based - Vegan - Vegetarian Recipes
      • Salads and Sides
      • Smoothies
      • Thanksgiving
  • Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Freebie Resource Library
  • Shop
    • Shop our Printables!
    • Shop Our Homestead Favorites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Garden
      • Growing Vegetables
        • Growing Tomatoes
      • Growing Fruit
      • Growing Herbs
      • Garden Pests, Diseases & Problems
      • Gardening Tools & Equipment
      • Seed Starting
      • Saving Seed
      • Garden Harvest Tally
      • Flowers
      • Permaculture
    • Homestead
      • Animals
      • Monthly Homestead To Do Lists
      • Making Money on the Homestead
      • Homestead DIY Projects
        • Crafts
        • Soaps, Scrubs & Bath Bombs
      • Blog Hops
    • Food
      • Food Preservation
        • Canning
        • Cold Storage
        • Dehydrating
        • Freezing
        • Fermentation
      • Recipes
        • Appetizers
        • Breakfast
        • Christmas
        • Desserts
        • Drinks
        • Main Dish Recipes
        • Natural Remedies
        • Plant Based - Vegan - Vegetarian Recipes
        • Salads and Sides
        • Smoothies
        • Thanksgiving
    • Resources
      • Blogging Resources
      • Freebie Resource Library
    • Shop
      • Shop our Printables!
      • Shop Our Homestead Favorites
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Homestead » Homestead DIY Projects » Crafts

    DIY Easy Fall Mason Jar Lantern Craft Tutorial

    November 20, 2023 by Tamara Leave a Comment

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
    You can read my full disclosure statement here.

    3 complete fall mason jar lanterns, text overlay Fall Mason Jar Lantern - Easy Craft Tutorial

    Are you looking for a fun fall project to make to decorate your Thanksgiving table or your buffet table with this fall season? These autumn inspired mason jar lanterns are easy and fun to make, and to decorate with!

    Using simple supplies this fun project would be great to make with your friends! The supplies are inexpensive and the results can become an easy fall centerpiece.

    You can use old glass jars found at a thrift store or right from your recycle bin. Also check the thrift store for fall themed paper napkins, or skip the napkins altogether and use fallen leaves for a more natural look, and make autumn mason jar leaf lanterns! 3 decorated mason jar lanterns in fall themes on a table with fallen leaves

    Jump to Instructions Print Instructions

    These will look great in any room of your home, casting a warm glow creating a lovely effect at this time of year with fall vibes!Or use them outside on a patio table or on your front porch or steps!

    You could also cut out shapes in tissue paper, such an an acorn or turkey, or use dried flowers, see more ideas for other options down below. Younger children will love to help make these and they are the perfect addition to your fall decor.

    These also make a great hostess gift! Also see my Easy Painted Pumpkin Mason Jar Craft Tutorial or my DIY Easy No Sew Velvet Pumpkins for more ideas!

     

    Other Articles you may be interested in:

    Hot Cocoa Gift in a Jar
    Stove Top Stuffing Cheat Recipes
    Root Veggie Mash with Butternut Squash
    No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipes

    Our favorite homesteading and gardening tools in our Amazon Store!
    Our Garden Harvest Tally Spreadsheet is now available!

    Supplies Needed for these Fall Themed Mason Jar Lanterns:

    Supplies: 

    • Mason jars - three various sizes 
    • Fall/ Thanksgiving inspired paper napkins - printed or plain 
    • Mod Podge 
    • Paint brush 
    • Scissors
    • Twine or ribbon
    • Flameless tealights or battery-operated candles

    photo of craft supplies needed to make fall mason jar lantern craft: jars, paper napkins with fall theme, scissors, mod podge, flameless tealights, paint brush, twine

    How to Make a Fall Themed Mason Jar Lantern:

    Directions: 

    Clear off a work space area as this may get a bit messy!

    Step 1:

    •  Wash and dry your glass jars. 

    Step 2:

    • Separate the napkin into a single ply. Use scissors to cut around the picture, if using a napkin with holiday design. Cut a strip of a solid color for one jar, and cover another mason jar with a patterned napkin. 

    close up of cutting out the pumpkin pattern in paper napkin

    showing the placement of the cut out pumpkin napkin on the jar

    Jar #1 gets the more detailed cut out pumpkin pattern.

    showing how to measure a solid pattern napkin around the jar

    Jar #2 is going to have a wide swath of patterned napkin.

    showing how to measure a solid strip of coordinating colored napkin around the jar

    Jar #3 will have a small band of napkin in a solid color. Note all three napkin choices are color coordinated in a fall theme.

    Step 3:

    • Starting with one mason jar at a time, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the surface of the jar where you would like to place the napkin. 

    showing a jar beside a bottle of mod podge and a paint brush

    showing a jar painted in mod podge where you will apply the paper napkin

    Step 4:

    • Carefully place the napkin onto the jar and wrap it around, cut off any excess or overlapping napkin. 

    Step 5:

    • Next apply a thin top coat of Mod Podge over the entire napkin area on the jar. Repeat steps 3-5 on the remaining jars. 
    painting over the paper napkin on the jar with mod podge

    Jar #1: painting over the paper napkin with mod podge

    applying mod podge over the paper napkin on the jar

    Jar #2: the mod podge applied on top of the paper napkin, and needs to be painted over the entire napkin

    a piece of napkin that has been fully mod podged onto the jar

    Jar #3: the paper napkin has been fully mod podged onto the jar

    Step 6:

    •  Allow everything to dry completely before displaying or adding a flameless tea light or battery-operated candles. 

    close up of finished fall mason jar lantern craft

    Step 7:

    • You can decorate the neck of the jar with twine or a piece of ribbon tied into a small bow.

    close up of 3 finished fall mason jar lanterns

    Other Variations to Consider for These Fall Themed Mason Jars:

    1. Use real leaves instead of napkins. You can use real fallen leaves, fabric leaves or even artificial leaves.
    2. You could add a layer of craft paint in an autumn color to the jars before applying anything with mod podge. You could also use acrylic paints or spray paint them!
    3. You can cut out or use die cuts of fall shaped items such as a leaf shape, pumpkins, acorns, turkey, etc, and mod podge those on. Just be sure to trace them onto a thinner paper such as tissue paper, so the shapes will mold onto the jar properly.
    4. Use pressed dried flowers and mod podge them onto the jar for a more delicate look.
    5. Use the leaves of a fern for a unique look!
    6. Fill the jar with candy instead of a flameless candle, this makes for a great gift idea!
    7. Think outside the box, what else could you add to the outside of the mason jar? Colored sand? Rocks? Twigs? Use a little hot glue and go to town making this craft your own! Have a walk through a craft store while making these in mind and you never know what you will find!

    close up of 3 side by side fall mason jar lanterns

    I hope you enjoyed making these gorgeous fall lanterns! If you are a hands on person and enjoy making things yourself, you may want to check out all of my DIY Soaps, Scrubs & Bath Bombs tutorials or all of my DIY Craft Tutorials!

    OTHER DIY CRAFT/TUTORIALS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:

    Hot Cocoa In a Jar Gift Idea

    DIY Easy No Sew Velvet Pumpkins

    DIY Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub

    DIY Whipped Peppermint Sugar Scrub

    Easy DIY Gnome Christmas Ornaments Tutorial

    Easy DIY Wood Bead Snowman Ornament

    3 finished fall mason jar lanterns, text overlay Fall Mason Jar Lantern Craft Tutorial
    Print

    Fall Mason Jar Lantern Craft

    A simple and easy craft using mason jars, Mod Podge & festive seasonal paper napkins to create a simple lantern for your holiday table scape or to add to your fall decor!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Active Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: DIY Craft Tutorial
    Keyword: autumn, diy, fall
    Yield: 3 jars
    Cost: $12

    Materials

    • 3 jars mason jars use assorted sizes
    • 3 napkins paper napkins fall or Thanksgiving themed
    • 1 container Mod Podge
    • 1 paintbrush paint brush
    • 1 pair of scissors
    • 3 pieces twine or ribbon
    • 3 tealights flameless tealights

    Instructions

    • Clear a work area and wash and dry your jars.
    • Separate the napkins into a single ply. For one jar, use a themed holiday design, such as pumpkins. Use scissors to cut around the picture if needed Cover the second mason jar with a simpler patterned napkin. Cut a strip of a solid color napkin for the third jar.
    • Starting with one mason jar at a time, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge onto the surface of the jar where you would like to place the napkin. 
    • Carefully place the napkin onto the jar and wrap it around, cut off any excess or overlapping napkin. 
    • Next apply a thin top coat of Mod Podge over the napkin that you have applied. Repeat steps 3-5 on the remaining jars. 
    • Allow everything to dry completely before displaying or adding a flameless tea light or battery-operated candles. 
    • You can decorate the neck of the jar with twine or a piece of ribbon tied into a small bow.

    Want to Remember This?

    Please pin "Fall Mason Jar Lantern Craft" on your favorite Craft, Fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving board on Pinterest, or share on your social media accounts such as your Facebook Page, to remember it for later! 

    3 complete fall mason jar lanterns, text overlay Fall Mason Jar Lantern - Easy Craft Tutorial

     

    « Seed Starting 101 Series: Seed Starting Equipment Set Up
    Hot Cocoa Cake Mix Cookies with Candy Cane »

    Sharing is caring!

    31 shares
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Email
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    Welcome! At The Reid Homestead, we have been growing, harvesting and preserving food for over 20 years. We love teaching and sharing our methods to help others grow, harvest and preserve their own home grown food! We also will share some of our favorite recipes and an occasional craft tutorial here and there! Read more about me!

    Enjoying my content?

    If you learned something here, and would like to help support this blog, please consider buying me a coffee via the Ko-fi link below, or sending us a tip! Thank you so much!!! 🙂

    Or, Send me a tip!

    Recent Posts:

    • Easy DIY Yarrow Salve Recipe
    • Easter M&M Oreo Bark Recipe
    • DIY Honey Almond Sugar Scrub Bars
    • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha Recipe
    • Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread Recipe
    • Hot Cocoa Cake Mix Cookies with Candy Cane

    Footer

    Legal Stuff:

    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

    Other Tidbits

    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Tip Jar - Buy me a coffee!
    • View my Web Stories!

    You're welcome and encouraged to link to TheReidHomestead.com or use a single image with a brief description to link back to any post with a do follow link. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited. Feel free to pin on Pinterest! Thank You!

    Copyright © 2025 The Reid Homestead on the Foodie Pro Theme

    31 shares