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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
Its beautiful mason jar and you did wonderful job to keep light on night. I love this…
Rose Whidbee
Cedar HospitalityI Love the idea of hanging them In a tree In the back yard
I will try that
Thank You
Paddy
Cedar HospitalityIs there a video of this anywhere ..what was the purpose of the frog tape
Debbie Bass
PaddyIt was to cover the solar panel when spray painting.
debra
PaddySo you don’t spray paint over solar panel.
Helen
debraNo you don’t spray over the solar panel. How do you think the panel will work if you spray over it??
Claudia Belanger
PaddyIt was to Not get paint on the solar panel! 😀
Pattyjames26
Cedar HospitalityI just love it iam going to paint some with a stainless look. 🥀
Nola Harrington
Fantastic idea! I’m definitely going to do this project. Thank you!
Chandra
Nola HarringtonThanks Nola! They take no time to make and are so cute!
R. Nicholson
ChandraThanks for sharing such a great idea! I’m going try making some to put on top of my fence posts.
Nola Harrington
Great Idea! Thank you
Terry
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
TerryAs 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
Hi.. Love the idea! What size was the hole you drilled in top?
Thank you 🙂
carol
Kathleen HollandIt’s been asked several times. What size was the drill bit you used? Please let us know
Chandra
carolThe drill bit size was 3/8, you may have to adjust the size though if your light is bigger.
Eula
ChandraJulie. You will want to remove the tape once paint is dry.
Cherie
Were the solar lights able to charge while under the tree branches?
Thanks for,this fun project, I will use your idea.
Chandra
CherieYes 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
CherieIn 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
DeborahWe’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
DeborahI 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
DeborahActually 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.
Your Turn To Shine - Link Party No. 35 - Canary Street Crafts
[…] Hanging Mason Jar Solar Lights courtesy of Hashtagblessed […]
Maria Brittis
love this! I love to hang lights outside for my parties great post
Maria
Chandra
Maria BrittisThanks Maria!
Joseph Mirizio
ChandraChandra, not understanding the frog tape, that goes over the light part???
Chandra
Joseph Mirizioyou’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
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
cherylThanks 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
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 HoltermanGood idea. Thanks for sharing!!
Dollar Store Crafts | How to Make Mason Jar Solar Lights
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How to Make Mason Jar Solar Lights - Diy
[…] Feature image via http://www.hashtagblessedblog.com […]
Jean
Hello, I was wondering if you could paint the jars with a glass paint to get some colors ?
Chandra
JeanYes! I’m sure it would work just as wel and look great too!
Jim bob
Wow, will be doing this for the Schools woodlands project
Julie
I don’t understand the frog Tape
Chandra
Julieyou’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
ChandraJulie. You will want to remove the tape once paint is dry.
Georgia
JulieThe frog tape is only used temporarily while you paint the solar light to cover up the solor grid.
Jeanine Leary
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 LearyWe are huge campers too and they are perfect around the campsite!
Eveline Van Heijst
What a fun idea.
Wendy R
If you spray glue the jar then put glitter..they sparkle..!!
Chandra
Wendy RGreat idea!
Kimberly Edwards
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 EdwardsThey are perfect for small spaces!
Maggie
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
MaggieYes! They would be cute teacher gifts!
Resurrecting the Raised Garden - HashtagBlessed
[…] Hanging Mason Jar Solar Lights […]
Sue
Hmm,how about Baby Food Jars?? I Have a few,hoping that mite work!?
Eula
SueSue, your jar top will need to fit the solar light. I dont think baby food jars are lsrge enough to fit.
Sharon Brown
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 BrownSmall jars at Goodwill…49 cents
Sharon
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Turn $1 solar lights and mason jars into gorgeous patio decor - DIY
[…] you can set these on a table or hang them with some string. Check out the adorable craft from Hashtag Blessed. This blog follows Chandra and her family as she whiles away the cold Canadian hours being a mom […]
Juanita
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
I love your mason jar lights.
Chandra
Robin ClarkThanks Robin!
Turn $1 solar lights and mason jars into gorgeous patio decor (3 projects) - DIY
[…] you can set these on a table or hang them with some string. Check out the adorable craft from Hashtag Blessed. This blog follows Chandra and her family as she whiles away the cold Canadian hours being a mom […]
Lacy
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.
Decorating Home Ideas On A Low Budget Using Mason Jars
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Deena
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
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
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
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
If we glue them to the jar lid how do we replace the battery when need replacing? Thanks
Katie Hawthorn
I’ve had trouble with rainwater seeping into my containers on previous projects like this. Anyone else? Ideas to resolve?