Check out the glittered Tea Light Luminaries we made for Valentine’s Day! They’re bright, sparkly, and make a beautiful homemade gift for kids to give to someone special. Best of all, the process is virtually mess-free.
I’m so in love with this Valentine’s Day craft.
I’ve always enjoyed making homemade luminaries — remember our Valentines Votives and Snowman luminaries?
As Valentine’s Day approached I saw glittered tea light luminaries all over Pinterest and wanted to try them, but the thought of glittering the outside of a jar made me nervous. Loose glitter can be a nightmare to manage, and I didn’t want it tracked through the house for days.
Like many crafters, I love the look of glitter but prefer it contained. That’s why I was thrilled when I discovered a way to get the real sparkle without the mess: we glittered the inside of the jar.
The process was fun, the results gorgeous, and not a speck of errant glitter remained when we finished.
Here’s how we made them.
For your convenience, this post originally contained Amazon affiliate links.
Materials
- glass jar with lid
- white glue
- glitter (your choice of colors)
- paintbrush
- Con-Tact Paper (one-sided sticky paper) for the heart cut-out
- battery-operated tea light
Note: Our Con-Tact Paper happened to be green, but clear works just as well — the contact paper is only used temporarily.
Begin by washing and thoroughly drying your jars to remove any residue.
Cut small hearts from the contact paper and stick one inside each jar.
Using a paintbrush, coat the inside of the jar with white glue. Make sure to cover the bottom, sides, and inner rim completely. If the jar has an angled rim that’s hard to reach with a brush, use your finger to smooth the glue into that area.
Choose your glitter colors and pour them into the jar one color at a time. Be generous so the glue will be fully covered and the glitter will adhere evenly.
Replace the lid and tighten it well. Then shake the jar vigorously to spread the glitter over the glued surface.
Inspect the jar to ensure full coverage. Remove the lid — there may be glitter inside it that you can discard.
Tap out any excess glitter into the trash; some jars may have a little leftover, others none at all.
Next, carefully remove the contact paper heart. Gently press the heart with your fingernail to loosen it from the glass and peel it away. Try not to disturb the surrounding glitter; if needed, nudge any displaced glitter back into place while the glue is still wet.
Allow the jars to sit for a couple of hours until the glue is completely dry.
When dry, place a battery-operated tea light inside and enjoy the glow.
They look lovely in daylight, but they truly shine in a dark room with the lights on inside.
Safety note: If you choose to use a real candle, use non-flammable glitter and never leave a burning candle unattended. Battery-operated tea lights are a safe alternative and work beautifully.
And that’s it — a gorgeous, glittery tea light luminary with none of the usual mess.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:
Frosted Glass Jars
Stained Glass Jars with Sharpie Markers
50+ Ways to Use Baby Food Jars
5 Easy Valentines Crafts for Kids
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