Thursday, November 17

Mini Lanterns

At this point in the year, my thoughts (obviously) turn to Christmas. However we are having a progressive dinner with a group from our church this weekend so I'll spend just a little time on a few things aimed more toward Thanksgiving (but you can bet your buttons I'll be using them for Christmas, too!). I want to do some simple centerpieces for the tables at our house, so I started by putting together some mini lanterns to hold tea lights. Here's how I did it.


I started by rounding up some small glass jars to use for my lanterns. These are actually glass yogurt cups delivered to my door from France. My sister spent some time there last summer and brought these home to me. What can I say? She knows what I like. :) If you don't have French yogurt cups, I think baby food jars, small mason jars, or any jar with a lip would work great for this project, too.


Then I picked up some wire from Lowe's. I think probably any wire would work. I chose this one because I could bend it by hand but it wasn't too flimsy. It was about $5 for the roll of 175' and I used about 2-3' per lantern. (No exact measurements, I winged it. Because that's how I roll. How I fly? Because I said winged? Get it? This is getting away from me.)


Then I just started wrapping my wire around the jar. I wound it around under the lip and looped it up in a handle shape too. I tried a few different approaches and I was happiest when the handle had 3 layers of wire to be nice and sturdy, but just go with whatever you like best. Just make sure it is secure below the lip if you want to pick it up by the handle. (I also think they would be really cool hung by the handle outside) Then just pop in a tea light and you are done!


Just keep wrapping that wire until you have a whole fleet of little lanterns! They turned out really cute and simple, and I think they will look great as part of my centerpieces. I'm also thinking about mixing in some pillar candles and...something else. I don't know what yet. Maybe some squashes? I'll get back to you on that.


As far as cost for this project, the only thing I had to buy was the $5 wire (and I have tons left over). So save those glass food jars!



I think these little guys will look great at Christmas, too! You can't have too many twinkling lights. You just can't. :) And experienced center piece makers have any advice for me? Do you wait until after Thanksgiving to think about Christmas?
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2 comments:

  1. I love this! I was plotting something similar for a get-together this weekend, actually! The wire looks so simple, yet so pretty.
    ~Frances

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  2. Thanks Frances! I hope your get together went well! :)

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