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Upcycled Jar Party Lanterns

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It’s June and that means outdoor party season.  We have a big graduation party coming up this month and I wanted to make outdoor lanterns to decorate the tables and provide a little ambiance.  I had made some adorable beach lanterns for a friend’s party a few months ago.  I used repurposed glass jars to make the beach lanterns.  I repurposed the repurposed beach jars to make upcycled jar party lanterns for our graduation party (I get double recycling points for this one!).

3 sea glass jars with red and white band on white wood table



It all started with some jars from my recycled glass jar collection.  Don’t have a collection of your own?  Ask friends to help you recycle glass food jars and you’ll be surprised how many you can collect in a couple of weeks with just a little help.

bunch of glass jars on wood table

I followed the tutorial at ModPodgeRocks on making faux beach glass jars

The product I originally used has been discontinued, but this is a great alternative. And it’s even easier to use since it’s a spray.

I recommend only purchasing one of the colors of paint (you choose which one you prefer).  There’s only a slight difference in color and not worth buying 2 bottles of paint. I just used a sponge brush to apply the paint.  After the first 2-3 jars, you’ll have the paint application technique down (don’t give up after the first jar).

glass jars with sea glass paint and paint bottle in the front

Originally, the jars were decorated with more of a beach look, but my daughter is going with red, white and blue colors for her graduation party, so I simply added a strip of red and white scrapbook paper. My friend, J., was over crafting with me and we decided we liked variation in the width of the paper strips, so we varied the sized from 1 inch to 2 1/2 inches in width.  We used double-stick tape to hold the paper closed. 

close up of sea glass recycled glass jar with red and white paper band on wood table

I added a battery operated tea light to each jar and voila!

close up of sea glass recycled glass jar with red and white paper band on wood table with battery tea light

I’ll put a couple of these recycled jar lanterns on each table and scattered around the deck the night of the party.  It should look festive and even a little magical.

close up of sea glass recycled glass jar with red and white paper band on wood table with battery tea light

How about you, do you have a summer party planned that could use some upcyled jar party lanterns?  If not, it’s time to plan a party!

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19 Comments

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  2. Hi Susan – I think I counted three re-uses in this one??? What a beautiful DIY and your daughter will have a wonderful party to celebrate her successes and graduation. Blessings to your family. Hugs, Holly

  3. These are really beautiful and it’s very creative of you.
    I honestly could use a few jars like these 🙂
    Outdoors parties? – I wish, but the humidity here is unbearable

    1. When I lived in humid state, one of the locals told me that it was the humidity that gave them beautiful skin (said with a strong Southern accent). So every time I was sweating like crazy, I’d just chant, “beautiful skin, beautiful skin.” 🙂

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  6. Hi Susan! I just wanted to let you know that I adore your Upcycled Jar Party Lanterns, and I’m featuring you as one of my Rockstars this week from Creativity Unleashed!

    As a Rockstar you’re in the running for this week’s MEGA Rockstar! Grab your friends and come vote at

    The MEGA Rockstar gets loads of love including:

    1. Shout outs on all my social media houses.
    2. A bucket full of Pins to my biggest group boards
    3. A big sidebar ad proclaiming them the MEGA Rockstar of the week
    4. And a feature in my weekly newsletter!

    Congratulations and Good Luck!!!

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