Frosted Christmas Luminaries with Faux “Snow”!

Use textured epsom salt and Mod Podge to make these gorgeous mason jar Christmas luminaries! These are easy and so pretty for winter.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you’ll be able to make these. You’ll be adding epsom salt to your mason jars with Mod Podge and then embellishing.

Imagine a winter evening spent snuggling under a blanket while snow gently falls against a dimly lit street. It’s a beautiful setting that inspired this easy-to-make DIY project.

When it’s cold outside, it’s nice to bring the warmth inside with the festive glow of candlelight from a beautiful Christmas candle holder.

This post is for those who are looking to create one-of-a-kind candle holders to compliment your holiday decor this year. These Christmas luminaries will not only make your home look festive, but also provide a show stopping spark of holiday light when gathered together!

These mason jar luminaries do just that by using Mod Podge to add a frosted look to mason jars and the flameless candles add a soft glow. They look great on a table or holiday mantel.

Did I mention they take under an hour to make? And they’re easy enough for beginning Christmas crafters? I can’t wait to show you how these Christmas mason jars are done!

Christmas Luminaries

Gather These Supplies

• Mason jars
• Mod Podge Satin
• Epsom salt
• Fir branches – collected and trimmed to size with scissors
• Small wood slices
• Twine
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Flameless candles
• Paintbrushes
• Spoon

There’s a three step process to this project. You’re going to prepare the jars, then Mod Podge and salt them, and then add the embellishments. It’s relatively easy!

Prepare the Jars

Before you get started, read my post about Mod Podging on glass. Basically you’ll need to make sure that the jars are washed and clean so that the Mod Podge sticks. You have two options:

1. Clean the glass with mild soap and warm water and let dry
2. Clean the glass with rubbing alcohol and cotton balls (or similar) and let dry

The reason for the prep is because oils and dirt can get onto glass and stay there, and they can cause problems if you try to Mod Podge the glass. By “problems,” I mean the Podge won’t stick. So please clean the glass before moving on!

Mod Podge and Epsom Salt

I used Mod Podge Satin for this project. You can use any formula really, but I recommend either Satin, Gloss, or Matte. You won’t see the finish of the Mod Podge, so it doesn’t really matter.

Put your epsom salt out on a plate on your work surface.

Paint a medium layer of Mod Podge on the jar in consistent, quick strokes. You want to work quickly because Mod Podge starts to dry pretty quickly, and you don’t want to have to do a bunch of layering of the salt. It will get clumpy on your final Christmas luminaries.

Roll the jar in the epsom salt, all the way around. Push down slightly. Bring it up out of the epsom salt.

Use a spoon to pour salt over areas of the jar that may not have gotten salt.

You can also use a small paintbrush to add to blank areas and then sprinkle a little salt on it. Just be careful not to add too much Mod Podge. Clumping salt doesn’t look great, especially with votives.

Keep in mind that if you miss a few areas, it will be hardly noticeable! Let your Christmas luminaries dry for several hours.

Adding Embellishments

Cut a length of twine that is long enough to wrap around the jar mouth around 6 – 7 times.

Start wrapping. Tie it once at the halfway point, then tie it again at the end. Tie the twine into a bow.

Use a hot glue gun to attach the branches to the front of your Christmas luminaries. Then place the small wood pieces on the front.

Place the LED tea lights into your new mason jar luminaries for a warm glow! You can also use real tea lights if you like, given that the epsom salt and Mod Podge are on the outside of the jar.

Add a warm and cozy glow this holiday season with this easy-to-make, time and budget friendly Mod Podge project. Bring one as a hostess gift to your next holiday party or set them in your window to cast a soft snow-inspired glow. Happy holiday crafting!

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If you enjoyed these frosted mason jar luminaries, I’d love for you to check out these other craft ideas:

• Mason Jar Crafts: 60+ Unique Ideas
• Snowman Hot Chocolate Jars Make Great Gifts!
• Dollar Tree Christmas Crafts for Gifts or Decor
• Santa Mason Jar for Christmas Gifts or Decor
• Mason Jar Lanterns with a Faux Beach Glass Finish
• How to Make Cool Luminaries on a Budget