DIY Halloween Decor: 12 Mason Jar Lanterns to Haunt Your Home 🎃👻🕯️

Boo! 👻 Halloween is creeping up, and you know what that means—time to transform your home into a haunted haven! And what’s better than easy, budget-friendly decor? Mason jar lanterns! These little glass wonders are perfect for crafting eerie, glowing accents for your porch, party, or even a midnight séance (if you dare).

Best part? You probably already have most of the supplies lying around. And if not, I’ve got affiliate links (at no extra cost to you!) to help you grab what you need fast. So grab your glue gun, summon your inner mad scientist, and let’s make some spook-tacular Halloween mason jar lanterns!

Glowing Ghost Jar Lanterns 👻

Perfect for: Porch decor, mantelpieces, or a ghostly tablescape.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars (I love these Ball Mason Jars)

• White chalk paint (or mod podge + tissue paper)

• Black permanent marker or vinyl cutouts

• LED tea lights (Battery-Operated Tea Lights)

Step-by-Step:

1. Paint the jar – Coat the outside with white chalk paint for a faded, ethereal look. Let dry.

2. Draw ghostly faces – Use a black marker to add spooky (or cute!) expressions.

3. Light it up! – Drop in an LED tea light and watch your phantom glow.

Pro Tip: For a no-paint option, wrap jars in cheesecloth and glue on googly eyes

Witch’s Potion Glow Jars �⚗️

Perfect for: A witchy apothecary display or Halloween party centerpiece.

What You’ll Need:

• Clear mason jars

• Glow sticks or LED lights ( Color-Changing LED Lights)

• Plastic spiders, eyeballs, or bones

• Green/purple food coloring

• Twine or lace for sealing

Step-by-Step:

1. Fill with “potion” – Add water and a few drops of food coloring.

2. Drop in creepy extras – Toss in plastic bugs, glitter, or fake fingers.

3. Seal & shake! – Close the lid, wrap with twine, and crack a glow stick inside for an eerie glow.

Picture this: A row of these on your Halloween table, bubbling under blacklight!

Haunted House Silhouette Jars 🏚️🕯️

Perfect for: Creating a shadowy, haunted village effect.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Black cardstock or adhesive vinyl

• Scissors or Cricut ( Cricut Machine)

• Tea lights

Step-by-Step:

1. Cut out spooky silhouettes – Think haunted houses, bats, or leafless trees.

2. Stick them inside the jar – Use glue or static cling.

3. Light it up – Place a candle inside and watch the shadows dance!

Extra eerie: Use flickering LED candles for a ghostly effect.

Bloody Handprint Jars 🩸✋

Perfect for: A horror-movie-worthy entryway.

What You’ll Need:

• Red acrylic paint

• Mason jars

• Fake blood (optional, but fun!)

Step-by-Step:

1. Dip & press – Coat your hand in red paint and slap it onto the jar.

2. Let dry – Add drips with a brush for extra gore.

3. Light it – A red LED inside makes it look freshly… ahem… acquired.

Bonus: Add glow-in-the-dark paint for a chilling effect at night!ws dance!

Extra eerie: Use flickering LED candles for a ghostly effect.

Spider-Web Covered Jars 🕷️🕸️

Perfect for: A haunted porch or creepy-crawly tablescape.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Puffy fabric paint or hot glue (Tulip Puffy Paint)

• Plastic spiders (Creepy Spider Set)

• LED tea lights

Step-by-Step:

1. Draw your webs – Use puffy paint or hot glue to create intricate spiderwebs on the outside of the jar. (Tip: Start with a star shape and connect the lines!)

2. Let dry completely – If using glue, this takes about 10 minutes.

3. Add spiders – Glue a few plastic spiders crawling up the side or dangling from the web.

4. Light it up! – Drop in an LED candle for an eerie glow.

Pro Tip: Use glow-in-the-dark paint for webs that shine at night!

Glowing Eyeball Jars 👀💀

Perfect for: A mad scientist lab or zombie party decor.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Green or yellow food coloring (for a "toxic" look

• Bag of plastic eyeballs  Fake Eyeballs

• Glow sticks or LED submersible lights Waterproof LED Lights

Step-by-Step:

1. Fill the jar – Drop in 10-15 plastic eyeballs.

2. Add "preservative" – Fill halfway with water and a few drops of food coloring.

3. Activate the glow – Snap a glow stick and drop it in, or use a waterproof LED light.

4. Screw on the lid – Shake gently for a freaky floating effect.

Picture this: A row of these on a shelf labeled "Specimens" with a "DO NOT TOUCH" sign. 😈

Black Cat Silhouette Lanterns 🐈‍⬛🌙

Perfect for: A witchy Halloween vibe.

What You'll Need:

• Mason jars

• Black cardstock or adhesive vinyl

• Scissors or Cricut

• Chalk marker (optional)

• Tea lights

Step-by-Step:

1. Cut out cat shapes – Silhouettes of sitting cats, arched backs, or moon phases work great!

2. Stick them on – Use glue or static cling to attach to the inside of the jar.

3. Add details – Draw stars or a crescent moon with a chalk marker.

4. Light it – Place a flickering LED candle inside for a magical glow.

Bonus: Pair these with mini witch hats for a full coven aesthetic!

Zombie Green Toxic Waste Jars ☢️🧪

Perfect for: A post-apocalyptic Halloween party.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Neon green food coloring Americolor Electric Green

• Glow sticks 6-Inch Glow Sticks

• "Biohazard" or "Toxic" labels

Step-by-Step:

1. Mix your "slime" – Fill the jar with water and 5-6 drops of neon green dye.

2. Add glow – Crack a glow stick and drop it in (or use LED lights).

3. Label it – Print or handwrite warning stickers for extra creep factor.

4. Display dangerously – Cluster these in a corner with caution tape for maximum effect.

Pro Tip: Add vegetable oil for a swirling, oily toxin look!

Mummy-Wrapped Jars 🧵💀

Perfect for: Quick, kid-friendly decor.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Self-adhesive gauze (Creepy Cloth Bandages)

• Googly eyes ( Assorted Googly Eyes)

• Tea lights

Step-by-Step:

1. Wrap it up – Wind gauze around the jar, leaving gaps for "bandage" texture.

2. Glue on eyes – Stick googly eyes peeking through the wraps.

3. Light it – Place a tea light inside for a soft, mummified glow.

Bonus: Write "Ancient Curse" on the jar in hieroglyphics!

Jack-O’-Lantern Mason Jars 🎃🔥

Perfect for: Classic Halloween charm.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Orange acrylic paint DecoArt Pumpkin Paint

• Black paint or permanent marker

• LED candles

Step-by-Step:

1. Paint the jar orange – Let dry completely.

2. Carve your face – Use black paint or marker to draw triangle eyes and a jagged mouth.

3. Light it up – Pop in a candle and line your walkway with mini pumpkin lanterns!

Pro Tip: Add mod podge for a glossy finish.

Creepy Crawly Bug Jars 🦂🌿

Perfect for: A terrifying terrarium effect.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Plastic bugs  Realistic Fake Bugs

• Moss or twigs Fake Moss 

• Flickering LED light

Step-by-Step:

1. Layer your "habitat" – Add moss, sticks, and bugs inside the jar.

2. Light it – Place a flickering LED inside to cast bug shadows.

3. Seal it shut – Glue the lid for a "do not open" vibe.

Extra creepy: Add a label: "Experiment #13 – DO NOT RELEASE".

Floating Witch Hat Lanterns 🧙‍♀️✨

Perfect for: A magical, weightless effect.

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars

• Mini witch hats Party Witch Hats

• Fishing line

• Fairy lights Copper Wire Lights

Step-by-Step:

1. Attach the hat – Glue a mini witch hat to the inside of the lid.

2. Hang upside down – Use fishing line to suspend the jar from a tree or porch.

3. Fill with lights – Drape fairy lights inside so they glow through the glass.

Picture this: A cluster of these floating under your eaves like a witch’s gathering!

final thoughts

Whew! That’s 12 spine-tingling mason jar lanterns to make your Halloween extra boo-tiful. Whether you’re going for cute, creepy, or full-on horror, these DIYs are easy, affordable, and totally Insta-worthy.

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