Turn mason jars into a set of fairy lanterns with frolicking silhouettes of enchanted creatures!

Update! You can watch a video of me making lanterns here.

The post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Two years ago, I made a set of Halloween and Christmas lanterns, and have since had readers asking questions and offering their own suggestions on how else they can be made. In response, I decided to write another tutorial with a new approach to making the lanterns. Using my old designs didn’t seem interesting, so I created a new set of silhouettes – joyful fairies dancing around the light! I thought I may just add this set to the room of my daughter Faye who is already a happy possessor of a fairy tree house.

Previously, I have used mason jars, spray paint and paint markers, but this time the list of materials is even simpler:

printable design
mason jars
spray paint
black paper
white glue

Instead of painting the designs, I suggest cutting!

1 — Prepare the jars by washing them thoroughly, as any oily residue will interfere with paint adhesion.

2 — Spray paint the outsides of the jars. For this project I used Rust-Oleum Meadow Green paint. I thought that green would suit the fairyland. Check my other lanterns to consider blue or purple! Rust-Oileum paints give good even coverage. It is great for most projects, but for this project it means that you need to be careful to leave the jars translucent by spraying a very thin, even layer. Once they are dry, drop a candle inside one of the jars and see how the light comes through. If you think that one layer of paint is not enough, add another. If the light isn’t coming through, you may need to try with a different jar. Let the paint dry thoroughly, according to the instructions on the can, before proceeding to the next step.

3 — Now, there are FOUR ways of putting the design onto the jars:

DRAW: This is what I did with my previous lanterns. You can read about it here.
OR PAINT: Find the recipe for cheap homemade glass paint and watch the video here.
OR CUT AND GLUE: This is what I did here. After you print the designs or draw them, cut them out with scissors and a craft knife for details. If you happen to have a silhouette cutting machine, use it (Crircut tutorial and Silhouette Cameo tutorial)! Glue the designs onto the sprayed jars with clear glue, like Elmer’s. Last, I attached the silhouette with the fairies dancing in the air using a little piece of double-sided tape. You can watch a video tutorial here.
OR PRINT ON VINYL: Print the designs on vinyl and then adhere them to the outside of the jars.

4 — Insert the candles inside and enjoy! LED candles may be preferable if the lanterns are going to be around children or pets.

Download the printable design here!

Would you like to have the instructions when you are working on this craft? Print this card below!

How to Make Fairy Lanterns from Mason Jars

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Turn mason jars into a set of fairy lanterns with frolicking silhouettes of enchanted creatures!

Materials

a selection of mason jars
spray paint (Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch meadow green)
black paper
white glue
scissors
hobby knife

Instructions

Wash the jars.
Spray paint the outsides of the jars. Leave the jars translucent by spraying a very thin, even layer
Next, there are FOUR ways of putting the design onto the jars. DRAW: Use the glass markers. PAINT: Find the recipe for cheap homemade glass paint and watch the video here. CUT AND GLUE: This is what I did for these particular lanterns. After you print the designs, cut them out with scissors and a craft knife for details. If you happen to have a silhouette cutting machine, use it! Glue the designs onto the sprayed jars with clear glue, like Elmer's. PRINT ON VINYL: Print the designs on vinyl and then adhere them to the outside of the jars.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you make the lanterns, please share your photos with us! We love seeing them. You can post them on our Facebook page, email me or tag us on Facebook or Instagram – @adventureinabox.

More Lanterns?

Here are some of our other designs.

Halloween Mason Jar Lanterns

Christmas Mason Jar Lanterns

Fairy-Tale Mason Jar Lanterns

Romantic Evening Mason Jar Lanterns

13 Comments

Jen Walshaw on December 7, 2016 at 3:14 pm

Oh my word – these are just adorable – I love them
- Liska Myers on December 8, 2016 at 11:59 am
  
  Thanks a lot, Jen! I treasure your opinion. :)
  - Barbara Vickers on January 27, 2018 at 5:43 pm
    
    Love the fairies in a jar can’t wait to make them for my friends granddaughter.
Tina Kinney on May 1, 2017 at 8:37 pm

Can you tell me where you found the fairy silhouettes? This would be amazing from my mother.
Janie on May 7, 2017 at 9:19 am

I’ll be trying these. Thank you.
Lea Martin on June 15, 2017 at 3:42 am

Beautiful. It is just amazing. Thanks for the sharing.
Maître glandu on June 29, 2017 at 4:09 pm

Merci beaucoup pour cette merveilleuse réalisation
Very merveillous
Thanks
Michelle on July 10, 2017 at 1:35 pm

SIMPLY STUNNING!! My daughter and I will be trying these gorgeous and whimsical Faerie Jars. They are so playful and look amazing. Thanks so much for the tutorial and the cut out designs as well. Have a wonderful summer. Blessings, Michelle
Irene on December 22, 2017 at 9:33 am

Hi there, are you able to do these for Easter? Something for Easter would be lovely.
- Liska Myers on January 4, 2018 at 7:59 pm
  
  That would be a fun project! I’ll try. :) Thanks for the idea.
  - Laura Vandewaal on January 8, 2018 at 3:45 pm
    
    Gorgeous I’m gonna make them I have 5 grandaughter
Carol Weaver on March 5, 2018 at 12:14 pm

Just purchased and downloaded the fairy, fairy tale and romantic evening silhouettes. Very nice! Cant wait to do a project with them.
- Liska Myers on March 8, 2018 at 6:01 pm
  
  Thank you, Carol! I hope it works well!

Fairy Lanterns from Mason Jars