There must be a hundred ways to dress up plain paper bags into illuminated art pieces. However, this year I'm giving the small sacks a break and going for the glass. Mason jars aren't as cheap as the bags, but they are worth the extra change. Decorate the front with some fun images and trim the sides with tissue paper to add a whole new level of whimsy to your outdoor Halloween décor.
When tea light candles are inserted, these luminarias will glow when lined up in long rows. I went for a retro vibe by using Halloween cards from www.archiemcphee.com ($4.95 for a set of 10). A case of Mason jars will run you about $10.
Mason Jar Halloween Luminarias
Supplies
1 case of Mason jars (12 to a case)
Assorted Halloween pictures, shrunk in size to approximately 2 by 3 inches.
Tissue paper in black, orange, purple and white
White craft glue
Scissors
Thin paintbrush
Dimensional squeeze paint in orange and black
Colored sand, black, orange, white or purple
12 tea light candles
Directions: Use glue to attach pictures to one of the smooth sides of the jar. Decide what kind of pattern you want for the remaining side, then cut the tissue paper in mosaic type shapes. Apply thin streaks of glue with the paintbrush on the jar and carefully lay the pieces of paper over it until the jar is covered. Add accents with the dimensional squeeze paint, either by outlining the paper or adding dots or squiggles. Let dry. Remove lid and pour in approximately 1/2-inch layer of sand. Drop in the tea light. Screw the Mason jar's lid (without the top piece) back on. Light using a long-stem candle lighter.
Variations: For more personalized luminarias, take pictures of your family members making scary faces and then shrink them down to use instead of the other pictures. In place of tissue paper, embellish with ribbon, stickers, sequins or any other lightweight items. To store your luminarias, wrap them individually in plastic bags.
Copyright © 2007, Kathy Cano-Murillo
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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2006. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *
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