How to Make a Nautical Mason Jar Lamp in 6 Easy Steps

6 Materials
$20
40 Minutes
Easy

Add a bit of coastal style to your porch design with this DIY mason jar lamp made from affordable Dollar Store items. In no time at all, you’ll have one-of-a-kind outdoor light fixtures that bring a warm, inviting glow to your space.


This post was transcribed by a member of the Hometalk editorial team from the original HometalkTV episode.

For more details on this tutorial your can watch the video above.

DIY Mason jar lamps

Head down to your local dollar store and grab some mason jars, wood pallets, rope, and coastal embellishments for this porch lantern project.  

Using hot glue to attach two mini wood pallets together

1. Glue pallets together

The first thing you should do with your mini pallets is hot glue two of them together. Let them sit for just a minute so they can dry.

Laying rope across the back of the wood pallets

2. Add rope

The next step is to take some rope and lay it across the back of the wood pallets you glued together.

Passing the rope over two of the front slats of the pallet

Now flip the pallet over so the front is facing forward. Pull each side of the rope through the space just above the bottom slat. Then pass both sides of the rope over 2 slats and slip them into the next slit and towards the back again.

Passing the rope under two of the slats of the pallet

Now run the rope down the backside under two slats and then pull it back up through the next slit towards the front.

Attaching a mason jar to the mini wood pallets

3. Attach the mason jar

Attach the mason jar to the pallet by adding a bead of hot glue to the back of the jar and securing it to the middle of the pallet. Line up the lip of the jar to the slat where the rope is coming out.  

Attaching the rope to the front lip of the jar

Once the jar is in place, grab one side of the rope and pull it tightly across the jar lip. You can secure it in place with some hot glue. 

Mini pallet crafts

Do the same thing on the other side. 

Knotting the rope

4. Knot the rope and make a bow

After placing the rope around the jar, run it down the back of the pallet under two slats and pull it out at the space just under the last slat. Now, knot the rope.

Making a bow with the rope

Make a cute little bow to finish off the rope. This will also be used to hang the light.

DIY wall lamp

Cut the tails of the rope to whatever length you'd like and add a dab of hot glue to the ends to keep them from fraying. 

Adding white sand to the jar

5. Add embellishments

To decorate the inside of the jar, start by adding some white sand. You don’t need much.

Holding seashells to add to the top of the sand in the jar

Add some small seashells by placing them on top of the sand.  

Adding faux seaweed to the coastal craft

Next, add some faux seaweed. Use a pair of scissors to push the ends into the sand to keep them in place.  

Snipping off the ends of white flowers to glue onto the mason jar lamp

Now that the jar has been filled, it’s time to add some flowers. I chose some white flowers and snipped off the ends so they would lay flat on the pallet.  

Mason jar lantern tutorial

I added three flowers and some more of the faux seaweed with hot glue to the top of the pallet.  

Gluing a Styrofoam starfish to the front of the mason jar lantern

To finish off the coastal craft, I added a little starfish. I found a Styrofoam one that I glued to the front of the jar.  



More lantern tutorials

For more ideas, check out this fun project on how to make a DIY lantern ornament out of waste materials.

Gluing the lightbox to the back of the nautical light

6. Finish with fairy lights

The final step to making the new porch lights is to add some little fairy lights. I filled the jar with the string lights and then used hot glue to attach the lightbox to the back of the pallet.  

Mason jar lamps hanging on a wall outside

Mason jar lamp: mini pallet craft project

This mason jar lantern project is a fun and budget-friendly way to enhance your porch and add a touch of coastal style to your home. The blend of materials and attractive design creates a warm and inviting ambiance in your outdoor space.


It was extremely easy to hang my nautical lights on my porch. You could also hang them by your covered front door to provide an inviting glow when guests enter your home.


I really enjoyed this porch idea and love how the lamps turned out.

My hope is that you'll be inspired to try out this elegant but simple project. You won't regret the very minimal effort you put in.


So, gather your supplies, and have fun creating a stunning lamp that perfectly captures the essence of a seaside retreat. I would love to know how your DIY Mason jar lanterns turned out, so share your creations in the comments.


DIY Mason jar ideas

For more creative ways to repurpose empty glass jars, discover Hometalk's best DIY Mason jar crafts here.

Resources for this project:
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Meredith - Arts & Classy
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  1 question
  • L W F L W F on Aug 22, 2022

    Just wish folks who post such cute ideas would put a photo at the beginning. Then I'd know if I wanted to pursue the idea.

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