How to make a Diwali Lantern

• Choose Your Paint Colors: Decide on bright, festive colors like red, orange, yellow and pink or you can go for soft pastel tones depending on your Diwali décor theme.
• Apply the Paint: Stir the paint thoroughly before starting. With a foam brush, start applying the paint from the bottom of the jar upwards to ensure even strokes.

• Technique for Translucency: To give your DIY Diwali lantern a translucent effect, use a very light coat of paint. You can dilute the paint with water for an even more transparent look.

• Technique for Opaque Jars:  If you want to give the jar a more opaque finish, apply the paint in thin and even coats rather than one thick coat to avoid drips and uneven texture. Let each coat dry completely before applying the next. This could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the thickness of the paint and the ambient temperature.

• Paint the Inside: Pour a small amount of paint inside the jar and twist the jar around to spread the paint evenly. Turn the jar upside down on a paper towel to let excess paint drip out and then let it dry.

After your base coat of paint on the jar has completely dried, it's time to enhance the look with some intricate details using silver or gold paint over it.

• Choose Your Paint: Select high-quality silver or gold dimensional or acrylic paint. These paints are thicker and can be applied directly from the tube to create a 3D effect or with the help of a fine brush for detailed work.
• Plan Your Design: Before starting, plan out your design. You should sketch your ideas on paper first. Consider Diwali-themed motifs like diyas (oil lamps), fireworks, lotus flowers or traditional Indian patterns. Swirls and abstract patterns also add an elegant touch without being overly complex.
• Prepare Your Work Area: Lay down newspapers or a plastic sheet to protect your working surface. Have a cup of water and some paper towels close by to clean your brush when switching between colors or correcting mistakes.
• Drawing Designs: Gently press the tip of the tube or your brush against the jar and start drawing. If you are using a brush, keep your strokes even and fluid. For dimensional paint directly from the tube, then use gentle consistent pressure to create a smooth design. Don’t rush; take your time to carefully draw the designs you have planned.
• Let It Dry: Depending on the thickness of the paint and the atmosphere, the drying time can vary. Generally, allow the painted jars to dry for a few hours in a safe place where they won’t be disturbed. 

• Measure the Wire: Begin by measuring how long each piece of craft wire needs to be, considering the distance from the wooden board to where you want the jar to hang. It’s advisable to allow extra length for securing the wire.
• Cut the Wire: Use a wire cutter to cut the craft wire to the measured lengths. Make sure that each piece is cut cleanly to avoid any sharp edges.
• Wrap the Wire: Take one end of the wire and tightly wrap it around the neck of the mason jar.

The wooden top acts as a stable base for your mason jar lanterns. Painting and decorating the wooden top adds a harmonious look to your Diwali display.

• Selecting the Wood: Choose a flat and smooth piece of wood with a 12-inch diameter to hold your mason jars. A pre-cut wooden plaque or board found at craft stores is ideal for this DIY Diwali lantern project.
• Drilling Holes: Before painting, carefully measure and mark six equidistant points on the board where the mason jars will hang. Ensure that the jars sit in an upright position on the board, with their openings facing upward. Using a drill, create holes at these marks. These holes can be used to secure the jars.
• Painting the Wood: Choose an acrylic paint color that matches or contrasts appealingly with the colors you've used on the mason jars. Apply the acrylic paint with a foam brush or a soft-bristle paintbrush for even coverage. Paint the edges and a little beneath the bottom edge to create a professional appearance.
• Apply Multiple Coats: To give it a rich, opaque look, you need to apply several coats of paint. Wait for each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next. Thin coats are preferable to thick ones as they dry faster and there’s less risk of drips or uneven texture.
• Decorating with Dimensional Paint: Once your base paint has dried, it’s time to add decorative touches. Use dimensional paint to create patterns or designs on the wooden top that are in sync with the designs you've painted on the jars. This could be anything from dots and swirls to Diwali-inspired symbols like lamps, paisleys or lotuses.
• Allowing Designs to Dry: Dimensional paint can be thicker so leave plenty of time for it to set. A dry, slightly raised feel to the paint indicates it is dried properly.

Assembling your lantern involves securing the mason jars to the prepared wooden top with precision and care.

• Attaching to the Wooden Board: Hold the wooden board prepared earlier and take the free end of the wire connected to mason jars through these holes from the top downwards and wrap it firmly. Once wrapped, secure the wires' ends beneath the underside of the wooden board.

• Spacing and Height Adjustment: Distribute the jars evenly around the circle to maintain a balanced look. Experiment with the wires' length before securing them to create an effect.
• Final Adjustments: Once all jars are attached to the board, gently adjust their positioning to ensure they hang evenly and securely. Make sure that the wires are fastened tightly to withstand movement without letting the jars collide with each other.

Adding illumination to your lantern is what brings its beauty to life. 

• Choose the Right LED Lights: Select a string of LED lights that is long enough to reach around all jars with some excess.
• Test the Lights: Before weaving the lights through the jars, ensure they're working by testing them.  
• Begin Weaving: Start at the end of the LED string closest to the battery pack or plug. Secure this starting point to your wooden board using a small piece of tape.
• Weave Around Jars: Carefully weave the string in an in-and-out pattern around the jars, allowing the lights to drape gracefully between them. Use the flexibility of the LED wire to wrap or dangle the lights for the desired effect.
• Distribute the Lights Evenly: Aim for a balanced distribution of light. Make sure that each jar has an adequate amount of illumination, with LED bulbs positioned to enhance their painted designs. This can be achieved by adjusting the spacing of the bulbs as you weave and ensuring there's a light within, above or just below each jar.
• Secure the Lights: At points where you want the string to stay in place, you may want to secure the lights to the wire or jar with transparent tape. This can help to make sure that the light distribution remains even and prevents the lights from bunching up.
• Conceal the Power Source: Strategically place the battery pack or the end of the plug-in wire so that it doesn't detract from the aesthetic of your lantern. If using a battery pack, it can often be hidden on the top side of the wooden board or in a concealed position behind the jars.
• Double-check and Adjust: After you've positioned all the lights, step back and look at the lantern from different angles. Adjust any lights that are wrapped too tight or too loose and move any bulbs so that every jar looks just right.

• Power the Lights: Turn on your string lights, and watch as your lantern comes to life with a warm, inviting glow.