Recycle Glass Jars

When I was a child during the late 1950's early 1960's I remember collecting jam jars and selling them for a few pennies. I have not idea what they were used for but they were probably sterilised and recycled.

These days I hate throwing glass jars away but after a while I need to have a clear out because they just take up too much room. However more recently I have been thinking about how I can use the jars, rather than putting them in the bin and I came up with a novel idea for the garden.

Whilst looking at the jars I thought a good idea might be to try and make them into lanterns. Taking three jars I washed them thoroughly and left them to dry. I then took a thin permanent marker and drew  various patterns on the jars. Using paint I filled the pattern area and left the jars to dry. I varnished the jars to prevent the paint running when it rained. Once dry I placed one on a table and with the other two I tied wire around the lip of the jar and hung them from a tree. I put a little drop of water in the base of the jars and then put in a tea light. Once lit the lanterns looked lovely reflecting the various colours. 
hope that you enjoy creating. 
take care Pat 
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