Empty glasses are much too good for the glass container! With a little tracing paper and creativity, you can, for example, make atmospheric lanterns out of jam jars in no time at all, which will bathe your balcony in a warm light. You can find out how this works and what you need for the quick craft here!

Lanterns made from jam jars: creative upcycling for the balcony

The days are getting noticeably shorter again, but summer is far from over! Mild evenings on the balcony are made really cozy by homemade lanterns made from empty jam jars, which drive away the onset of darkness with their atmospheric light. The best thing is: You don’t have to be a craftsman to succeed in this quick upcycling, and even small children can enjoy creative crafts.

This is what you need for the lanterns made from jam jars

Step-by-step instructions for an atmospheric lantern

1. Prepare glasses

Once you have scraped the last bit of jam out of the jar, you should rinse the jar thoroughly. To remove the label, place the jar in warm water and add some dishwashing liquid. After a short time the label can be easily removed.

Reading tips: The label won’t come off? Here’s how you can easily remove stickers and labels.

2. Make scraps of tracing paper

Cut out colorful pieces – either geometrically (circles, squares, triangles, stripes) or tear the tracing paper into wild shreds. The lantern made from a jam jar looks particularly pretty if you combine different colored tracing papers.

Extra tip: If you still have an old one Confetti cannon 🛒 If you have it in your closet, you can simply use the snippets from it. Then you save yourself the hassle of cutting it to size.

3. Mix craft glue

Grab a small bowl and mix equal parts water and craft glue. By the way, you don’t necessarily have to use transparent craft glue. The white glue also becomes colorless when it dries.

4. Now it’s time to glue!

Use the brush to apply a thin layer of the glue-water mixture to the glass and place a piece of tracing paper on top. Now work your way completely around the outside of the glass. Overlaps create beautiful color blends. Then seal everything again with a thin layer of glue and water. Now you have to be patient and let the glass dry completely.

5. Insert candle

When the glue has dried, you can place a tea light in your colorful jam jar and enjoy the play of colors of your self-made wind chime!

• If you prefer something more elegant, you can just cover the glass with a layer of tracing paper into which you have previously cut small patterns. The light will later shine through the openings. It’s best to choose tracing paper in a strong color, then the effect will be more effective.
• If desired, wrap some wire around the edge of the glass so that you can hang your homemade lantern.
• Make suitable lanterns depending on the season: use orange-red papers for autumn, snowflake shapes for winter or pastel colors for spring.

Reading tips: Make your own light curtain for the balcony – from recycled glasses

Thanks to this creative upcycling, the glasses that otherwise just take up space in the cupboard become real eye-catchers on your balcony. And the best thing about it: Each lantern is unique – handmade, sustainable and with a guaranteed “wow” effect when lit. Have fun crafting!