After making spaghetti last night I decided to use the jar to make a lantern, in order to save what un-bruised skin I have left from the evil countertops that jump out at me in the dark. It hasn't gone through testing yet, since the sun is still high, but I think this was a success story!
First, a list of supplies:
What we see here is some latex paint (peach color), silver craft paint, q-tips, an old (but clean) washcloth, a yogurt container (popsicle stick inside), and a bowl holding a mixture of water and a few drops of dish soap. The only thing missing from the photo is the jar itself. Oops.
So what did I do?
1. First, I used the soapy water to thin the paint that I found in the basement. The yogurt container housed the mixture that I stirred with a popsicle stick, slowly adding water until it was about the consistency of store-bought chocolate milk.
(I'm not sure why I chose drops of soap mixed with water, exactly... I just read somewhere that it works as paint thinner for acrylic paint. Of course, I've also read that unicorns poop rainbows, and I have yet to see it happen, so...)
2. I used the popsicle stick to drip paint onto the outside of the jar, then rubbed the paint around with the washcloth in a circular motion. I was going for a cloudy, rough texture, rather than a smooth one.
3. After the cloudy paint layer was complete I took out the metallic paint and a q-tip. Again, I wanted the end result to be rough in texture, so I used the q-tip to dot the paint onto the jar and into designs, rather than going for more elegant strokes with a brush.
Finally the lantern was dry, and I ran to find a candle to place inside!
The jar's opening, however, was a bit too small to fit the candle... oops.
That was ok, though. Not one to give up, I thought about what would work that was still packed away in the no-man's land that most people would simply call a basement.
I remembered a box of solar garden lights!
I rushed into the basement and made my way through the maze of boxes until at last I found what I was looking for. I held up a solar light with reverence, gazing at it with love.
Then I dismantled it.
Once I decided I had it set up in a way that would be aesthetically pleasing, I brought it to the table so that I could complete my lantern.
And now I anxiously wait for this evening's result.
Walk with me along trails that lead to green, eco-friendly living on a budget. Watch your step!
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