How to make a light-up fairy jar lantern

May 4, 2021

DIY your own glowing glittery fairy jar lantern

Learn how to make a light-up fairy jar lantern from a mason jar

Learn how to make this glowing light-up fairy jar lantern. Smooth clear mason jar is covered is extra fine white glitter to give a whimsical effect. Fairy like accent flowers have been glued to the top of the mason jar. There are two large flowers on either side of the glowing silhouette fairy jar.

Making a DIY light-up fairy jar lantern is easier than you think. This has been a favorite craft kit in our Etsy shop and for good reason…it’s absolutely adorable! When we had our brick and mortar craft studio this was always a top choice for the kids to make too. There’s really not anything that can top a glowing fairy lantern that’s covered in glitter!

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Materials and supplies needed to make a light up fairy jar. Clean smooth mason jar, twine, iridescent extra fine glitter, container of mod podge, 1/2" black tipped sponge brush with wood handle, assorted whimsical fake flowers, fake berry springs, black cardstock cutout of fairy silhouette, a piece of white tissue paper. Canvas drop cloth in the background.

What you need to make a light-up fairy jar lantern

Materials and supplies needed to make a light up fairy jar. Clean smooth mason jar, twine, iridescent extra fine glitter, container of mod podge, 1/2" black tipped sponge brush with wood handle, assorted whimsical fake flowers, fake berry springs, black cardstock cutout of fairy silhouette, a piece of white tissue paper. Canvas drop cloth in the background.
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How to make a light-up fairy jar lantern

Learn how to make a light-up fairy jar lantern from a mason jar
Total Time1 hour
Cost: $

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

  • CUT OUT FAIRY SILHOUETTE- First, cut out your fairy silhouette onto black cardstock using a cutting machine. I prefer to use a Cricut but any craft cutting machine will work. If you don't have a fancy machine don't worry. You can print one off on your at-home printer, trace it onto black cardstock then use a pair of scissors or a precision xacto knife to cut it out of cardstock.
  • GLUE THE FAIRY SILHOUETTE TO THE MASON JAR- Second, apply your mod podge to the INSIDE of one side of your smooth mason jar. (This is easier than applying the glue to the cardstock fairy then trying to place it inside of your jar). Then, place your fairy inside sticking it to the mod podge glue. Be sure to position it so it's not crooked. Hold the fairy in place with the end of your brush for a few seconds until it’s set.
  • ADD TISSUE PAPER- Next, cut your piece of tissue paper down so it is slightly bigger than your clear mason jar. You are going to mod podge this to the OUTSIDE of your jar. Apply a good layer of mod podge to one side of your jar, be sure to get good coverage. Place your tissue paper on the mod podge covered area of the jar and slowly pat it down to work out all the bubbles. If it rips, don't worry this won't be super noticeable as you will be covering the jar in glitter. After you’ve mod podged down your tissue paper trim away the excess where the lid will be screwed on. This makes it easier to get the lid on and off.
  • ADD GLITTER- Once the tissue paper-covered jar is dry you can add glitter. Again, you will paint the outside of the jar with mod podge, you will paint directly onto the white tissue paper. Then, sprinkle extra fine white glitter all the way around your jar. There's no wrong way to sprinkle this on just be sure you cover the entire jar. Next, when you're done glittering the outside of your fairy jar turn it upside down on the table and let it dry. You will want it completely dry before you start gluing all your accents on.
  • GLUE ON ACCENTS- Accent time! A grown up will want to help with this part you opt to use a glue gun is involved.  Using your hot glue gun, glue one end of your twine down just below that bottom lip of the jar. Wrap the twine around a few times. Then glue the second end in place. Now, glue your accents right onto the twine. It helps if you trim down the flower bases so that they can sit flat on the twine
  • ADD A BATTERY TEA LIGHT CANDLE- Lastly, add a battery operated tea light candle to the inside of your fairy jar. Turn off the lights and you're done! You've just created the cutest little glittery fairy jar light!

1. CUT OUT FAIRY SILHOUETTE

First, cut out your fairy silhouette onto black cardstock using a cutting machine. I prefer to use a Cricut but any craft cutting machine will work. If you don’t have a fancy machine don’t worry. You can print one off on your at-home printer, trace it onto black cardstock then use a pair of scissors or a precision xacto knife to cut it out of cardstock.

2. GLUE THE FAIRY SILHOUETTE TO THE MASON JAR

Second, apply your mod podge to the INSIDE of one side of your smooth mason jar. (This is easier than applying the glue to the cardstock fairy then trying to place it inside of your jar.)

Then, place your fairy inside sticking it to the mod podge glue. Be sure to position it so it’s not crooked. Hold the fairy in place with the end of your brush for a few seconds until it’s set.

  • using a 1" foam sponge brush to paint the inside of a clear smooth mason jar with glue, mod podge. Mason jar is sitting on a canvas drop cloth.
  • placing a black fairy silhouette on the inside of a clear smooth finish mason jar. Women is using a 1" black tipped and wooden handled foam sponge brush to hold and position the fairy in place on the inside of the jar. The glass jar is sitting on a canvas drop cloth.

3. ADD TISSUE PAPER

Next, cut your piece of tissue paper down so it is slightly bigger than your clear mason jar. You are going to mod podge this to the OUTSIDE of your jar.

Apply a good layer of mod podge to one side of your jar, be sure to get good coverage. Place your tissue paper on the mod podge covered area of the jar and slowly pat it down to work out all the bubbles. If it rips, don’t worry this won’t be super noticeable as you will be covering the jar in glitter.

Tips for best results:

  • work on one side of the glass jar at a time
  • use a careful light hand when patting the tissue paper down
  • if a rip occurs patch it with a small discarded piece of white tissue paper

You will do this all around the jar till it is totally wrapped in one layer of tissue paper

Making a DIY light up fairy jar lantern -adding a piece of white tissue paper to a clear smooth glass mason jar. A small container of matte finish mod podge glue, a 1" black foam sponge brush with a wood handle. The glass jar is laying on a canvas drop cloth

After you’ve mod podged down your tissue paper trim away the excess where the lid will be screwed on. This makes it easier to get the lid on and off.

4. ADD GLITTER

Once the tissue paper-covered jar is dry you can add glitter. Again, you will paint the outside of the jar with mod podge, you will paint directly onto the white tissue paper. Then, sprinkle extra fine white glitter all the way around your jar. There’s no wrong way to sprinkle this on just be sure you cover the entire jar.

making a light up fairy jar lantern that's covered in white extra fine glitter. There is a black cardstock fairy silhouette inside the jar. Women used a piece of paper under the jar to catch the excess glitter white gluing it to the smooth finish clear mason jar.

Next, when you’re done glittering the outside of your fairy jar turn it upside down on the table and let it dry. You will want it completely dry before you start gluing all your accents on.

5. GLUE ON ACCENTS

Accent time! A grown up will want to help with this part you opt to use a glue gun is involved. 

Using your hot glue gun, glue one end of your twine down just below that bottom lip of the jar. Wrap the twine around a few times. Then glue the second end in place.

Now, glue your accents right onto the twine. It helps if you trim down the flower bases so that they can sit flat on the twine

Tips for gluing on twine & accent pieces:

  • hot glue the twine just below the lip of the jar
  • hot glue your accents directly onto the twine
  • glue on leaves first, then florals
  • do not glue accents to the mason jar lid, they will fall off easily
  • women is making a glittery light up fairy jar lantern. She is using a hot glue gun to glue twine onto the glitter covered mason jar.
  • woman is using a hot glue gun to glue floral accents onto twine. She is creating a glittery light up fairy jar lantern from a smooth clear mason jar.

6. ADD A BATTERY TEA LIGHT CANDLE

Lastly, add a battery operated tea light candle to the inside of your fairy jar. Turn off the lights and you’re done! You’ve just created the cutest little glittery fairy jar light!

DIY craft tutorial- how to make your own glittery light up fairy jar lantern from a mason jar. Glowing fairy jar lantern has floral accents, glitter on the outside of the glass jar, warm glowing light from the inside of the jar. Two large flowers on either side of the mason jar. Jar is whimsical looking.

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