There’s something magical about the glow of Halloween night — pumpkins on porches, twinkle lights in windows, and now, these fun and frightfully festive Halloween luminaries! With their glowing colours, glittery accents, and classic Halloween silhouettes, these mason jars are the perfect way to add a playful (and slightly spooky!) vibe to your seasonal decor.
Whether you’re crafting with kids, hosting a Halloween party, or simply looking for a creative way to light up your space, these DIY luminaries are sure to bring a smile — and maybe even a little shiver. They’re cheerful, crafty, and just the right amount of spooky fun for both kids and adults alike!
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How to Make Halloween Luminaries
Materials:
- Mason jar(s)
- FREE Printable Cat Outline (or other Halloween silhouette; find links below)
- Black paper
- Tissue paper (cut into squares)
- Matte Mod Podge
- Glitter (to match tissue paper)
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare your supplies
- Clean the outside of the mason jar with rubbing alcohol. This will remove any dirt or oils from the surface.
- Print one of our free Halloween templates. We have ghosts, pumpkins, bats, and more! (See links below.)Here we printed a cute Halloween cat.
- Cut out the template and trace it onto black paper.Then cut out the shape. Detail scissors work well for this task.
- Cut about 1/2 a sheet of tissue paper into squares and rectangles. Ours were about 1 inch long, but the exact dimensions don’t matter.
Step 3: Decoupage the jar
- Add a thin coat of matte Mod Podge to one section of the jar using a foam brush.
- Place a piece of tissue paper into the Mod Podge. At the top, try to keep each piece straight just below the neck.
- Now add a bit more Mod Podge on top of the tissue paper.
- Continue adding more tissue paper, overlapping it and adding Mod Podge overtop until you get to the bottom of the jar.Repeat for the next section of the jar.
- Continue until the whole jar is covered. Make sure the tissue paper goes to the bottom of the jar and every bit is covered.You can hold the jar to the light to see if there are any gaps, and add more tissue paper to cover them.
Step 4: Add the Halloween cut-out
- Place your black paper cut-out on the side of the mason jar. Ensure that it’s on the flat side of the jar, opposite any raised sections.
- Add more Mod Podge on top of the black paper, making sure it’s nice and flat. Allow to dry.
Step 5: Decorate with glitter
- Use a smaller paintbrush to add a thin coat of Mod Podge to the neck of the jar.
- Choose a colour of glitter that will match your tissue paper. Sprinkle a generous amount onto the Mod Podge on the jar’s neck. Shake off any excess glitter and allow to dry.
- Now paint another coat of Mod Podge on top of the glitter. This will seal it in and prevent it from falling off easily.
- Place a tealight in the jar and your Halloween luminary is complete!
- Have fun using different colours and outlines to make your mason jar lanterns!
Helpful Tips:
- Use enough Mod Podge, but brush gently: Keep a light, even coat of Mod Podge on your brush and use gentle strokes to avoid tearing the tissue paper.
- Check for missed spots: Once you’ve covered the jar, look for any tiny uncovered areas and patch them with small tissue pieces.
- Be neat around the rim: A smaller brush gives you more control with the Mod Podge and helps keep the glitter exactly where you want it.
Where can I get templates to decorate my Halloween luminaries?
We have lots of free, printable templates for you! We used the following:
- Cat Template #3 (small, printed at 85% scale)
- Ghost Outline #2 (small, printed at 85% scale)
- Bat Outline #2 (small, printed at 75% scale)
You can also try our pumpkin templates or leaf templates to make fall luminaries. Or, for even more Halloween inspiration, check out our witch coloring pages, ghost coloring pages, pumpkin coloring pages, and Halloween coloring pages.
What type of Mod Podge is best for making Halloween luminaries?
We used matte Mod Podge, but glossy will give you a shinier finish. Both work, so choose whichever look you like better! You can usually buy small bottles of Mod Podge at the dollar store.
You can also water down white school glue as a substitute, but it’s easier (and less messy) to use a product specifically made for decoupage.
What size jar do I need to make a Halloween luminary?
We used 16-ounce (500 ml) mason jars, which gives you plenty of space to showcase your Halloween designs.
You can also use smaller 8-ounce jars, but you’ll need to scale down the silhouettes even further.
How else can I add a silhouette to my Halloween jar lanterns?
We traced our templates onto black paper and cut them out, but there are lots of other fun and creative ways to decorate your jars:
- Stickers: Halloween-themed stickers work great and are easy for kids to apply. You can also buy foam cut-outs.
- Freehand designs: Draw your own silhouettes on black paper and cut them out.
- Painting: Draw designs directly onto the decoupaged jar with paint markers or a fine-tipped brush and acrylic paint.
- Felt or craft foam: Trace the templates onto one of these materials to add a little dimension and texture.
- Vinyl decals: Create crisp, professional-looking silhouettes using a cutting machine (like a Cricut or Silhouette) to cut spooky designs from black adhesive vinyl.
There’s something so heartwarming about the soft glow of handmade lanterns on a chilly autumn night. These Halloween luminaries are a super fun craft that’ll bring a little extra magic to your home.
Whether you’re making them with your kids, adding them to your Halloween decor, or simply enjoying their flicker on the mantel, they’re sure to make the season feel special. Light them up, get cozy, and let their spooktacular glow carry you through the fall nights ahead.
Here’s even more Halloween craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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