Beaded Mason Jar Lantern…plus more Camping Fun!

How many of you enjoy camping with your families over the summer?  If you fall into that category, today’s post is for you!  My friend Heather over at Twin Dragonfly Designs is putting together a Camping Blog Hop filled with activities, ideas, crafts, printables, packing lists and more, and she asked me to join in the fun.

Before we start, though, I have to come clean.  Honestly?  I. hate. camping.  I’ve been there, done that, hated it.  Let’s just get that out in the open.  My idea of “roughing it” is having to sleep on a pillow that isn’t mine and not being within 15 minutes of a Starbucks.  I don’t like bugs, I don’t like wild animals, I don’t like porta-potties, and I don’t like not having my modern conveniences.  Ugh.  That being said, I *did* come up with a fun craft you could make and use while camping with the kiddos.  {Or, if you share my camping sentiments, you could make and use these at home for an outdoor party, which is much more my style!}

TIME REQUIRED: 5 minutes
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: easy, kids 3 and up can do it with supervision and a little bit of help
SPECIAL TOOLS/SKILLS: none

Materials:
– glass jar
– wire and wire cutters
– beads {mine are Faceted Beads provided by Craftprojectideas.com}
– candle

Step 1: Cut a piece of wire that is longer than you want the handle to be and wrap one end of it around the jar lid.  Wrap the end of the wire around itself a few times to secure.

Step 2: Place a bead on the wire.  Then, make a small loop.  Continue beading and looping until the wire is almost full.  You can do any kind of pattern for this part that you like; you can do several beads before you loop, you can do all beads and no loops, or anything you prefer!

Step 3: Wrap the other end of the wire around the jar lid to secure it in place.

Step 4: Place your candle in the jar and put on the lid.  To keep the candle from sliding around, I used uncooked rice in the bottom of the jar.  You could also use corn, birdseed, small rocks, or anything else you like.

All that’s left to do is hang it in a tree and let it illuminate your campsite!

If you don’t want to use real candles, that works too…just get some of those little battery operated tea lights or votives and you’ll have a flame-free glow!

Are you a camper?  Is this something your family would create and use?

If “roughing it” is your idea of a good time, you might want to check out these posts from some other fabulous bloggers…get ready to be inspired!

Campfire Spinach Dip – Twin Dragonfly Designs

Printable Camping Checklist – 733 Blog

What to Pack for a Camping Trip – Nest of Posies

Camping Activity Bags – Creative Capital B

Homemade Fire Starters – Dukes & Duchesses

Camping Survival Kit – The Benson Street

Camping Charades – The Joys of Boys

Outdoor Camping Kitchen – Echoes of Laughter

Blackberry Cobbler – Gingersnap Crafts

Tin Foil Packet Recipes – Growing Up Gabel

Best Pie Iron Recipes – Nap-time Creations

Camping With Kids – The Joi Project