
One of the things I have wanted to try making for a while are those solar mason jar path lights. You've probably seen them around. While everyone's tastes are different, I think they're charming and homey.
Natch, when Target had solar lights on sale for a buck this weekend my first instinct was to hoard them, but I restrained myself and came home with ten.
I pulled out the mason jars from their deep, dark lair in the garage and rummaged around the spare room upstairs for some hot glue, wooden discs, and tissue paper.
I disassembeled the lights which consist of four parts: 1) the top solar part, 2) the clear plastic part that protects the light which I hope to find another use for, 3) pole, 4) spike
I had my 10 year old peel off all of the stickers and stuff. Fun for him.

The top solar part is a bit too small to fit in the threaded jar cap. You have to do a careful balancing act, keeping the light flush with the rim and centered in one hand while using a hot glue gun to keep them in place with the other. I tried to seal them off really well with the hot glue to keep moisture out.

Next, I applied hot glue to the end of the post and stuck it to the center of the wooden disc. While hot glue may not be very durable, it sure does make for quick work. If I make these again, I will probably use E6000 here.

Then, I applied glue to the outer edge of the top of the wooden disc and stuck that to the bottom of the mason jar. (Again, E6000 could and probably should be used here instead.)

Lastly, I cut a piece of tissue paper to the size of the inside of the jar. I kept it about 1/4" shy of the rim so that it didn't move around when the lid was screwed back on. I didn't want to glue the paper to the jar. I like the added depth effect I get when it's loose and I can change it up whenever my fickle heart desires.
Also, these lids are interchangeable with a couple of different jar sizes. The photo below is of a smaller jar (12 oz. wide mouth), where the one at the top of this post is a bit larger (16 oz. regular mouth). I used Kerr jars, but I'm sure you could use any brand.
Another thing, I know that the metal is coppery looking and the lid of the jar is silver. This doesn't bother me enough to paint it with something, but that is always an option.

And here they are in the evening. My boys enjoyed watching them flicker on.

I hope somebody out there finds this helpful and/or inspirational.
P.S. In the last photo the stars on the tissue paper don't show up at all, but they look perfectly fine to the naked eye.
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