DIY Solar Mason Jars {On the Cheap!}

Hello, I'm a Ball jar girl.  It's just who I am.  I love em... especially blue ones with the wire & glass lid closure.  Maybe it stems from my mom & dad both going to Ball State {the college in Indiana named for the Ball family - yes, that Ball family that created the jars}.  Anywho, I love em.  See...  

My mom mentioned seeing solar light lids for mason jars a while back {she checked online & didn't like the price, however}.  Ever since then I've had the idea in the back of my mind to create my own... & the other day I finally did it!  These would make wonderful Mother's Day gifts - can't wait to gift some to my mom!

Here's what you need: solar lights {the Dollar Tree ones work best}, mason jars {I recommend Ball, of course}, wire {I used 20 gauge from Michael's}, wire snippers/pliers

Here's what you do:

Make sure the solar lights will fit into the mouths of your jars.  The jars above worked perfectly for this, with just a little wiggle room around the light.  Carefully take the bottom pipe portion off the solar light - an unscrewing, twisting motion works well to do this {you could make a wind chime with all the leftover pipes - I'm ever recycling =)}. 

 Next take some wire & wrap it around the top of the clear bulb of the light {making a circle with two ends coming from it}, making sure you have enough wire on each side to come up over the top of the light & drape over the lid & crimp.  Take an extra piece of wire, that is again, long enough to come up over the top of the light & drape over the side of the lid & crimp down, & twist it onto the circle - so you have 3 wire strands coming from the circle {see below}.  

Next, place your light {with the wire holder} into your jar, keeping the three strands up & out of the jar.  Finally, carefully bend {or crimp} the wire ends over the lip of the jar - this way if you need to replace a light/battery or clean the jar, it can easily be removed & replaced.  

Place your jars outside & let the sun do the rest!  You could bring the jars inside in the evening for cozy indoor lighting, too.  

Love & Light,

-Bess-

"No one lights a lamp & then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

-Matthew 5:15-16 NLT