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Hanging Mason Jar Solar Lights

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One of the best things to do on a clear night is sit outside and watch the stars. It’s so calming and soothing, the chaos of the day is gone (as in all the neighbour hood kids as well as my own are sawing logs in their beds), the sun is not making a person a hot sweaty mess, you can actually relax because you can’t very well start the mower at 10 pm.

Now that I think of it though, the man who lived in the house that was behind us did that once, 9:30 pm and his mower starts up. Drove me nuts, he was cutting a foot of grass (& dandelions)…..with no bag & his yard was so large that he did 5 rounds of the perimeter and then quit. It was like a crop circle gone wrong. When 7:30 am rolled around and my angelic boys – by angelic I mean, crazy, out of control, louder than loud, nerf gun-toting, did I say crazy? boys – asked if they could go outside I opened the door and let the Calvary out. Hey, fair is fair buddy. Needless to say the lawn stayed partially mowed for a couple of weeks but he never mowed late at night again.

Now, back to star filled nights. I love the ambience of sitting outside with some soft patio lights, chilling with some friends and family. One thing we are lacking on our deck is soft lighting. I’ve mentioned building a pergola a time or 100 to Eric mainly for the sole purpose of having lots of hanging twinkling lights above my head, so we’ll see if that happens by the end of the summer! If not, well here’s how I ‘temporarily’ solved my lighting problem.

I picked up a box of various sizes and styles of Mason jars last week, they were ones that I haven’t been able to find in stores so I’m thinking they’re old school, as in my grandma probably canned with those jars. Minus the little ones, ha! I picked up these 3 solar lights from Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago with the intention of using them in another project that totally bombed out so I was glad to be able to find another use for them!

I took the tops off of the lights and covered the solar panel with Frog Tape. I spray painted both the tops as well as the lids in Oil Rubbed Bronze (a new old fave).

Once the lids were dried I drilled a hole through the top to accommodate where the light would hang down a bit. Although my method looks a little rogue, no glass jars were damaged in the making of this project!

I placed a bead of carpenters glue to the outer edge of the solar top and placed in on the lid. The light hung down through the hole and the rest of the top sat flush with the lid, once placed on I screwed the lids to the jars.

Deciding I wanted to have them hang instead of just sitting in a bunch on the table, I took some wire that I found kicking around and leaving around 2″ of overhang wrapped the wire twice around the around the jar. When I got to the opposite side of where I left my overhang I looped the wire over to meet the other piece and twisted them together. They were charged up from having been in the sun all day so I hung them from an apple tree in our backyard and watched as they started to glow!

These are such a great way to utilize those extra mason jars you’re not sure what to do with and will be so fun to hang around our campsite once we get out camping!

 

  • Cedar Hospitality
    Jul 22

    Its beautiful mason jar and you did wonderful job to keep light on night. I love this…

    • Rose Whidbee
      Cedar Hospitality
      Feb 11

      I Love the idea of hanging them In a tree In the back yard
      I will try that
      Thank You

    • Paddy
      Cedar Hospitality
      Jul 25

      Is there a video of this anywhere ..what was the purpose of the frog tape

      • Debbie Bass
        Paddy
        Aug 22

        It was to cover the solar panel when spray painting.

      • debra
        Paddy
        Aug 24

        So you don’t spray paint over solar panel.

        • Helen
          debra
          Oct 13

          No you don’t spray over the solar panel. How do you think the panel will work if you spray over it??

      • Claudia Belanger
        Paddy
        Feb 12

        It was to Not get paint on the solar panel! 😀

    • Pattyjames26
      Cedar Hospitality
      Sep 07

      I just love it iam going to paint some with a stainless look. 🥀

  • Nola Harrington
    Aug 04

    Fantastic idea! I’m definitely going to do this project. Thank you!

    • Chandra
      Nola Harrington
      Aug 04

      Thanks Nola! They take no time to make and are so cute!

      • R. Nicholson
        Chandra
        Jan 09

        Thanks for sharing such a great idea! I’m going try making some to put on top of my fence posts.

  • Nola Harrington
    Aug 04

    Great Idea! Thank you

  • Terry
    Aug 14

    I’ve been kicking around ideas for solar lights lately, and seeing this blog got me psyched to go pull out my old glass paints (like stained glass…both permanent and temp/removable) to start drawing on all the clear vases I collected one year to paint and give as gifts. They have all those notches and grooves that would look beautiful hanging ad a colored solar light. I once handpainted a forest scene with moose, bear, and squirrels on clear glass to make pencil cup. I will hang on to your website and try to find pix 2 share. Have u tried using decoupage glue/sealant on glass? I have big collection of geometric patterned vellum paper, and it is like rice paper when lit up. Another idea is use those appliances for Windows. Sold in Lowe’s or home depot. But

    • Vix L
      Terry
      May 29

      As I was reading the instructions on how to make these lights I was thinking about adding color to the jars for additional mood setting. Live love love this idea

  • Kathleen Holland
    Feb 06

    Hi.. Love the idea! What size was the hole you drilled in top?
    Thank you 🙂

    • carol
      Kathleen Holland
      Aug 11

      It’s been asked several times. What size was the drill bit you used? Please let us know

      • Chandra
        carol
        Aug 11

        The drill bit size was 3/8, you may have to adjust the size though if your light is bigger.

        • Eula
          Chandra
          May 03

          Julie. You will want to remove the tape once paint is dry.

  • Cherie
    Mar 08

    Were the solar lights able to charge while under the tree branches?
    Thanks for,this fun project, I will use your idea.

    • Chandra
      Cherie
      Mar 08

      Yes thy were! Our backyard gets maximum sun exposure through the day and they hung low enough on the branches that they were able to charge nicely throughout the day!

    • Deborah
      Cherie
      May 26

      In my opinion they are not going to charge through the canopy of a tree.
      I have to trim leaves away from solar lights in the garden all the time so they are not blocked. Otherwise for an open space I think they sound great. But believe me they are not going to charge hanging from a tree.

      • Chandra
        Deborah
        May 28

        We’ve had some pretty good luck with them charging! Our trees aren’t very dense though so I think that’s attributed to it!

      • Linda
        Deborah
        Jan 13

        I have similar solar lights in my trees, they work great! But, I do plan on making some of these! Like anything in life, nothing works for everyone a 100%. You need try it and move it if it doesn’t work. There is always a place for a bit of mood lighting in my yard/gardens.

      • Cali
        Deborah
        Apr 04

        Actually I have made these. they hang from 5 various trees in my back yard at camp on Lake Champlain. They shine beautifully and Bright every night.

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  • Maria Brittis
    Jun 01

    love this! I love to hang lights outside for my parties great post
    Maria

    • Chandra
      Maria Brittis
      Jun 01

      Thanks Maria!

      • Joseph Mirizio
        Chandra
        May 20

        Chandra, not understanding the frog tape, that goes over the light part???

        • Chandra
          Joseph Mirizio
          May 28

          you’ll want to use tape to cover the part the sun charges prior to spray painting. If you don’t then you’ll paint the part that charges and it won’t work!

  • cheryl
    Aug 06

    Chandra – a really cute idea/project – could you please add details regarding the more tech aspects – such as hole size, parts of the solar light to use, how to take the solar light apart, etc – sure would help much -thank you!

    • Chandra
      cheryl
      Aug 11

      Thanks Cheryl! The drill bit size I used was 3/8. I was able to just twist the top off the solar light that I had purchased and it removed the whole top portion. That included the charge pad, battery area and light. You should be able to twist off the top to any solar light and use it!

  • Debbie Holterman
    Aug 18

    Just a thought…If a person does not have a drill and/or a large drill bit, I would think you could make your own lid by using a scissors or utility blade to cut a circle from a piece of plastic, such as the cover from an old food container. If it isn’t sturdy enough, maybe two layers could be glued together. Once it’s painted, it would look the same as a mason jar lid.

    • Gloria
      Debbie Holterman
      May 16

      Good idea. Thanks for sharing!!

  • Jean
    May 14

    Hello, I was wondering if you could paint the jars with a glass paint to get some colors ?

    • Chandra
      Jean
      May 14

      Yes! I’m sure it would work just as wel and look great too!

  • Jim bob
    May 14

    Wow, will be doing this for the Schools woodlands project

  • Julie
    May 16

    I don’t understand the frog Tape

    • Chandra
      Julie
      May 28

      you’ll want to use tape to cover the part the sun charges prior to spray painting. If you don’t then you’ll paint the part that charges and it won’t work!

      • Eula
        Chandra
        May 03

        Julie. You will want to remove the tape once paint is dry.

    • Georgia
      Julie
      Aug 23

      The frog tape is only used temporarily while you paint the solar light to cover up the solor grid.

  • Jeanine Leary
    May 21

    Love this, we camp all the time. Will have to made a half dozen or so. Great for all around the camp site. Heck even hand one to the kids to walk up to the bathroom. 🙂

    • Chandra
      Jeanine Leary
      May 28

      We are huge campers too and they are perfect around the campsite!

  • Eveline Van Heijst
    May 23

    What a fun idea.

  • Wendy R
    May 23

    If you spray glue the jar then put glitter..they sparkle..!!

  • Kimberly Edwards
    May 23

    I love this idea. I have just purchased a condo in Ballantyne and I have a patio that I think these would look awesome hanging from the top (there are neighbors above with a balcony, so their floor is my roof/cover). I can hang these from the edge and they can get sun. I thank you dearly for posting this wonderful idea ?

    • Chandra
      Kimberly Edwards
      May 28

      They are perfect for small spaces!

  • Maggie
    May 27

    Love this! Assembling 4 of them. Waiting for the paint to dry … tomorrow they will be finished. Thanks for this great idea! Make adorable gifts too … ?

    • Chandra
      Maggie
      May 28

      Yes! They would be cute teacher gifts!

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  • Sue
    Jun 28

    Hmm,how about Baby Food Jars?? I Have a few,hoping that mite work!?

    • Eula
      Sue
      May 03

      Sue, your jar top will need to fit the solar light. I dont think baby food jars are lsrge enough to fit.

  • Sharon Brown
    Jul 02

    Great idea now I’m gonna be on the hunt for small Mason jars. But I’m going to hang mine in the pool area. My granddaughter will just absolutely love these. She’s only 9 but very crafty.

    • Meridee
      Sharon Brown
      Jun 05

      Small jars at Goodwill…49 cents

  • Sharon
    Jul 15

    What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

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  • Juanita
    Apr 04

    They would be great hung under a porch umbrella alsoglue small glass beads onto the outside of your jars or just drop some colored ones into the jar for added color.

  • Robin Clark
    Apr 14

    I love your mason jar lights.

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  • Lacy
    May 03

    Does anyone have any ideas on how a person could add colored glass stones inside the mason jars to add some colored sparkly effects? Dont think that one solar light would eliminate the stones enough to work.

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  • Deena
    Aug 16

    Precious!
    I have saved nearly 100 OUI yogurt jars to make little lights/lanterns. Have you done anything with those? (I was just going to use twinkle lights and use wire to make hangers. )

    All tech help appreciated.

  • Margaret
    May 22

    Maybe I missed this…….you put tape over the solar lighting spot, so what happens the next day? You have to remove the tape and allow the jar to stay out in the sun?

  • Alice
    Jun 09

    Chandra…
    Those little lights are Sooo… Cute…
    I was wondering how might you
    Make the solar top more flush with
    The lid… I’m not a fan of the sticking
    Up Sooo far… You have any ideas?
    Thank You for Sharing…
    And All the Direction’s…

  • Gloria
    Jan 14

    Love these inexpensive low budget crafts. I am going to try a few. These will help pass the winter months and give me a anticipation of camping when weather permitting. Thank you, Gloria

  • Katherine Rogers
    Mar 03

    If we glue them to the jar lid how do we replace the battery when need replacing? Thanks

  • Katie Hawthorn
    Mar 16

    I’ve had trouble with rainwater seeping into my containers on previous projects like this. Anyone else? Ideas to resolve?

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