Create Stylish Lanterns With Just Paper Napkins And Jars

Lanterns are a versatile decor item that can add light (and plenty of style points) to practically any room of your home. You'll find a wide variety of lanterns in all shapes, sizes, and colors out there, but sometimes they can come with high price tags. Savvy TikTokers are creating their own lanterns using only a few everyday, inexpensive items, and the results are seriously cute. One of the simplest ideas comes from @hometalk on TikTok, who used glass jars, patterned paper napkins, glue, and puck lights to create unique little lanterns.

In the tutorial, @hometalk buys glass jars from the Dollar Store, but once the pretty, patterned napkin pieces are attached, the type of jar you use doesn't matter much. Consider that you can also easily clean and reuse old glass jars around the house, such as from pasta sauce, jam, and more. As one commenter noted, this will help you save a few extra bucks. If you're looking for more inspiration, you can reuse old tea bags to make beautiful bespoke lanterns.

After gathering the glass jars and paper napkins you wish to use, it's time to get started. If you're reusing an old jar, it might have some leftover residue from the label. You can get rid of sticker residue by pouring a little rubbing alcohol onto a paper towel and then applying it to the surface of the jar. From here, mix together some Elmer's glue and water and apply your glue mixture to the outside of the jar. Then, attach the napkin to the jar, smooth out any bubbles with a paintbrush, and let it dry. You may need to cut the napkins into smaller strips to ensure they fit around the jar without unsightly overlaps.

In the TikTok, the creator uses puck lights to illuminate her lanterns, gluing their base to the inside of the jar's lid. Battery-operated GE LED Puck Lights cost about $10 for a pack of two. However, you can place other flameless lighting options inside your lanterns, such as string fairy lights or LED tea light candles. For a more realistic-looking glow, turn to YIWER flameless candles. These candles feature moving wicks, which imitate the random movements of a real flame.

There are also a few different ways to decorate a lantern and add accessories to make it shine as a decorative item in your home. Of course, the paper napkin design you choose will largely impact your lantern's overall style and look, but you can also tie an eye-catching ribbon around the top of the jar or glue small items, like a sea shell or dried flower, to the top.