With autumn now upon us, it’s not too soon to be thinking about that spookiest, scariest of holidays – Halloween! At Glass Bottles, we’re big fans of DIY decor for all occasions, so it’s no surprise we’ve already got our eye on the creepiest Halloween mason jar crafts around.
Whether you’re planning to go out trick-or-treating, or staying in to watch Beetlejuice for the three hundredth time, Halloween lanterns are the perfect way to add a ghoulish glow to proceedings. And best of all, they’re super easy to make at home! We’ve collated our favourite Halloween mason jar lanterns from the craft corner of the internet – so you can pick your favourite and get your make on!
(Before you start, a quick safety note – we recommend using LED tealights for these crafts rather than real ones, as some glass jars aren’t heatproof and may shatter if they get too toasty. If you are planning to put real tealights in your Halloween lanterns, make sure your jars are heatproof, and you’re not using any flammable materials to create your lantern. Alternatively, you can always skip the glow and fill your jars with sweets – it’s better to be safe than sorry!)
Jack O’Lantern Jars
These classic pumpkin-style lanterns look best when you use big round jars to make them – the chunkier the better! Bigger jars are also easier to decoupage, so invest in a large mason jar for full effect. But don’t worry – all jars can be made to look Jack O’Lantern-esque with this simple tutorial!
To make a Jack O’Lantern jar, you’ll need:
- Large jam jars
- Orange or yellow tissue paper
- Decoupage glue or watered-down PVA glue
- Black paper
- Paintbrush
- LED tealights
Spooky Spider Jars
These spider jars are a creepy twist on your traditional Halloween lantern, and they’re sure to scare arachnophobes senseless! You’ll probably find some of the items you need in your bathroom cabinet, so there’s no need to splurge on a wealth of decorative items (although if you’re hoarding plastic spiders, we need to talk).
To create your spooky spider jar, you’ll need:
- Mason jars
- Fake spiderweb or cotton wool
- Black nail polish
- Hot glue
- LED tealights
- Plastic spiders
Cute Ghost Lanterns
These ghost lanterns are more cute than creepy, but there’s definitely a place for twee Halloween, especially if you don’t go in for witches and werewolves. (Besides, Casper was a friendly ghost, wasn’t he?) This method for creating a Halloween lantern is really easy and super effective – and works with or without the tealights. Fill with sweets for neighbourhood trick-or-treaters!
To make this cute ghost lantern, you’ll need:
- Glass jars
- White craft paint
- Foam paintbrush
- Sandpaper
- Sealing spray
- Black paint (although a sharpie will do the trick!)
- LED tealights (optional)
- Ribbon (optional)
Halloween Scene Lanterns
Tutorial at Adventure In A Box.
These lanterns are sure to create an impression with the trick-or-treaters in your neighbourhood. The designs look fiddly, but you can buy a template for a small fee – or design your own! There are 4 different ways to create these jars, so pick the one best suited to your skillset. This tutorial recommends experimenting with different sized jars, so make sure to explore our range before you start.
To make these stunning Halloween scene lanterns, you’ll need:
- A variety of glass jars
- Spray paint in your preferred colour
- Different materials depending on your chosen technique
Glass Jars For Halloween Lanterns
We hope you love these Halloween mason jar craft ideas as much as we do! They’re perfect for upcycling glass jars you already have, or for experimenting with DIY holiday decor for your home. If you don’t already have the jars you need to create the lantern you love, we’ve got you covered. Shop our collection of glass jars in a huge range of sizes here!