You Will Need
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- Project Budget
- Almost Nothing
Two dilemmas, one solution: Dilemma 1: Paper lanterns don't hold up to rain, and string lights short out. (Not to mention, they can be pretty pricey!) Dilemma 2: Old jam jars, mismatched glasses and solitary tea light holders that take up space, yet are too cute to recycle in the conventional manner. Solution: Make lanterns that stand up to rain, won't short out (unless there's a strong wind!) and recycle that old glassware! Yay!
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METHOD ONE (best for glasses, tea light holders, etc.)
**NOTE: I'm not sure why I put this one on first, because it's more complicated. You may want to scroll down and start with METHOD TWO.**
Cut two pieces of wire long enough so they can almost make a full circle (top to bottom) around your container.
Fold each piece in half and loop them together as shown.
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4
Carefully holding the wire in place with one hand, pick up your container and fold the wire ends in to the mouth and down the side.
You can cut the wire if it's too long, or to your own desired length. Make sure to keep some length for added support, though. I'd say at least one inch into your container at minimum.
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6
Taking one lenth of wire, carefully hook the end under the bend where the support wire folds into the mouth of the container.
Pinch closed with needle nose pliers, and repeat with other end of wire on the opposite side. You should have an upside-down U shape over your container. Carefully twist the top to form a small twisted circle for the next wire to pass through.
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Take your second length of wire and repeat step 6. Make sure after you hook the first end of the wire and pinch it closed, you pass the wire through the small circle you made with the first wire. You can loop the wire around for added support if you like. Then, hook the second end and pinch it closed.
This picture is hard to see, but I connected the ends of the wire on this glass dish side-by-side instead of on opposide sides and looped them together at the top.
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METHOD TWO: Glass jars (jam jars, canning jars, etc.)
Cut a length of wire long enough to circle the mouth of your jar about 1 and a half times.
Twist a loop in one end, and hold it in place under the lip of the jar, pulling the wire around until you reach the opposite side (180 degrees from the first loop) and make a second loop.
Next, pull the wire back to the first loop (creating a full circle under the lip of the jar) and hook the wire around the first loop. Pinch closed with pliers.
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Beth S.
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ani-mals Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:29:53 +0000
I have (or had) a strange collection of big ol' glass beads and I strung them on the handles and made little kinks in the wire to keep the beads in place. They look so pretty with the candlelight flickering through them!
Karen A. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:14:40 +0000
I absolutely love this, excellent idea :)
noura m. Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:35:18 +0000
cute cute cute;p
Blackwidow Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:09:33 +0000
love this ;)
Glitter Pixie Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:31:36 +0000
this is a fab tutorial, i'm gonna be making hundreds of these now for my countryside wedding. fab idea. thanks.
camilaustral Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:45:05 +0000
nice!!
ennaneve Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:47:27 +0000
thanks!! they're actually really easy, unless you get super crazy with the wire (which i did a few times!) :) great for little summer parties, etc.
galinkzoo7 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:55:14 +0000
Yay, good show.
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