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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! 
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!
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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
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.
Jar #1 gets the more detailed cut out pumpkin pattern.
Jar #2 is going to have a wide swath of patterned napkin.
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.
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.
Jar #1: painting over the paper napkin with mod podge
Jar #2: the mod podge applied on top of the paper napkin, and needs to be painted over the entire napkin
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.
Step 7:
- You can decorate the neck of the jar with twine or a piece of ribbon tied into a small bow.
Other Variations to Consider for These Fall Themed Mason Jars:
- Use real leaves instead of napkins. You can use real fallen leaves, fabric leaves or even artificial leaves.
- 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!
- 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.
- Use pressed dried flowers and mod podge them onto the jar for a more delicate look.
- Use the leaves of a fern for a unique look!
- Fill the jar with candy instead of a flameless candle, this makes for a great gift idea!
- 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!
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:
DIY Easy No Sew Velvet Pumpkins
DIY Whipped Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Easy DIY Gnome Christmas Ornaments Tutorial
Easy DIY Wood Bead Snowman Ornament
Fall Mason Jar Lantern Craft
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!
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