Paint mason jars with vibrant colors and light up your summer nights

Transform ordinary mason jars into vibrant patriotic lanterns that will illuminate your summer nights with a festive glow. Perfect for Fourth of July celebrations, Memorial Day gatherings, or simply adding a touch of Americana to your outdoor decor, these lanterns are a fun and easy DIY project. With a few simple materials, you can create a stunning display that showcases your patriotic spirit and adds a personal touch to your home.

These patriotic mason jar lanterns can be styled as centerpieces on your outdoor dining table or placed along walkways to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Pair them with rustic wooden furniture and red, white, and blue table settings to enhance the theme. For an indoor display, arrange them on a mantel or shelf alongside other Americana decor pieces, such as vintage flags or star-shaped ornaments, to create a cohesive and festive look.

3 mason jars
Red, white, and blue acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Painter's tape
Star-shaped stickers or stencils
Battery-operated tea lights or string lights
Twine or ribbon (optional)
Sandpaper (optional, for a distressed look)

Clean the mason jars thoroughly and let them dry completely.

Use painter's tape to create stripes on one jar. Paint the exposed areas with red and white acrylic paint to create a striped pattern. Let it dry.

On the second jar, use star-shaped stickers or a stencil to create a star pattern. Paint over the entire jar with blue acrylic paint. Once dry, remove the stickers to reveal the clear star shapes.

For the third jar, paint it entirely in white and let it dry. Optionally, use sandpaper to gently distress the paint for a rustic look.

Once all jars are dry, place battery-operated tea lights or string lights inside each jar.

Wrap twine or ribbon around the neck of each jar for added decoration, if desired.

Arrange the jars in your desired location and enjoy the warm, patriotic glow they provide.

To add a personal touch, consider using different shades of red, white, and blue to match your existing decor. You can also experiment with different patterns, such as polka dots or chevrons, using stencils or freehand painting. For a more rustic look, lightly sand the painted surfaces to create a distressed finish. If you prefer a more subtle glow, use frosted glass spray on the jars before painting to diffuse the light. Additionally, these lanterns can be adapted for other holidays by changing the color scheme and patterns to suit the occasion.