Dyed Glass Luminaries from Baby Jars

I was sitting at a little artsy café with my hubby enjoying some decadent chocolate fondue for our 9th anniversary and suddenly  I had this great idea: dyed glass luminaries from baby jars. This was featured in the Simple Summer Magazine Issue here.

As I sat there reminiscing and taking in the past 9 years, thinking through the great moments, the not so great moments, the waitresses interesting accent, the cafés decor, our wedding day, how cute my husband looks……

 

So back to the cute little café decor.

I  noticed that hanging over each table were beautiful brightly colored vases with candles.  I loved it! Sitting there thoroughly engaged in our romantic evening and enjoying our deep and silly conversation, I was also coming up with a list in my head on how I can make a version of these glass vase luminaries myself. Yes, women can be in the midst of a romantic moment and still think about mundane tasks like the grocery list.

In my mind, I toyed around with learning how to blow glass and opening up a cute little shop with beautiful one of a kind glass decor pieces but that idea was quickly replaced with a much more practical one.  Why don’t I just learn how to dye glass?

I have a habit of including my husband in my crafting thought process which I am sure he loves (insert smirk). I interrupted our conversation about our future goals and desires and I asked him “How do you think they dyed those vases?”

His reply was to the point–“I don’t know.”

We carried on with our fabulous anniversary (NO KIDS) evening. Later when I got home looked it up and pretty much everyone’s process was the similar: glue, food coloring and water.

I was already planning an Alfresco Dinner Party so this project Dyed Glass Luminaries from baby food jars was added to the list. To my surprise no one had tried it yet with baby food jars at least that was the results from my online search. So here’s my unique take on it, enjoy!

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Dyed Glass Luminaries from Baby Jars

Supplies:

• food coloring (colors of your choice)
• washed baby food jars w/ lids
• glue (basic white paper glue)
• water

Process:

1. In each jar place 1tsp of glue, 2 tsp of water and 3 drop of food coloring and mix.
2. Place lid on jar and shake around making sure that it’s completely covered.
3. With lid still on turn over and let it drip down.
4. Then once the excess has completely dripped down, remove the cap and turn over to let it air dry (completely dry inside).
5. Wrap wire around the rim and then over for the handle.

It took about 20min and it cost me nothing (since I had all of these items on hand at home).

NOTE: If you notice that the jars are not completely covered then shake it up again and start over with step #2.  Also, if you want your colors to be darker add more food coloring. Play around with the ratios but this is what worked for me. Also, if you are too lazy to take them down after your party and it happens to rain the colors will strip off. Not that I did that, ahem.

They looked absolutely beautiful when they were lit up in the dark! So beautiful, that I used it for the cover of our Simple Summer Issue.

I entered this project in the CSI Project and it won! I don’t think I have ever participated in one of these. Fun times!