How to Make Halloween Ghost Jar Lanterns: Cheesecloth Ghosts and Tissue-Paper Luminaries
To make a Halloween ghost jar lantern, drape cheesecloth soaked in a 1:1 glue and water mix over a foam ball set on a mason jar, let it dry for 24 hours, add a face, and set it over battery-operated fairy lights. For a quicker, no-ghost option, decoupage tissue paper onto a jar, add a black paper silhouette and light it with a flameless tealight.
Jar lanterns glow from the inside, which makes them a good fit for porch steps, mantels and dinner tables, and a set of battery fairy lights is the easiest light source to find. Below are two published builds, one soft and ghostly and one a simple silhouette luminary.
Which jar lantern should you make?
| Build | Look | Light source in the tutorial | Dry time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheesecloth ghost lantern | A draped ghost over a jar, “spooky-cute” | Battery-operated fairy lights | 24 hours (Making Lemonade) |
| Tissue-paper luminary | Colorful glow with a black silhouette, such as a cat | A tealight | Not stated (One Little Project) |
What do you need for jar lanterns?
- A 32 oz mason jar for the ghost lantern; One Little Project suggests 16 oz jars for its luminary
- Cheesecloth, school glue and a 3.8 inch foam ball for the ghost
- Battery-operated fairy lights to light it from inside
- Tissue paper, matte Mod Podge and black paper for the luminary
- Flameless flickering candles as a light source for the luminary
- A black paint marker for the ghost face
How do you make a cheesecloth ghost lantern?
- Protect your workspace. Lay down wax paper.
- Mix the stiffener. Combine equal parts glue and water.
- Build the form. Set the foam ball on top of the jar as the ghost’s head.
- Drape the cloth. Cut three layers of cheesecloth long enough to reach from the top to the table, dip them in the glue mix and drape them over the form. Adjust the bottom edges for the look you want.
- Secure the top. Making Lemonade uses a brad at the top.
- Let it dry. It takes 24 hours.
- Add a face and light. Draw features with black paint or marker, put fairy lights in the jar and set the ghost over it.
The post suggests making a whole ghost family for a mantel or centerpiece.
How do you make a tissue-paper mason jar luminary?
- Clean the jar. Wipe it with rubbing alcohol on a cotton round.
- Cut the silhouette. Print an outline, such as a cat, and cut it from black paper.
- Decoupage the tissue. Brush Mod Podge on the jar and layer overlapping squares of tissue paper.
- Add the silhouette. Glue the black paper shape to the side of the jar.
- Finish the neck. One Little Project adds glitter around the jar neck with Mod Podge to seal it.
Stickers, paint markers or vinyl decals are listed as alternatives to the paper silhouette, and smaller 8 oz jars need a scaled-down template.
Should you use real candles or LED lights?
The luminary tutorial ends with “place a tealight in the jar” and does not discuss flame safety. Our recommendation, not the source’s, is to use flameless candles inside paper-covered jars, since tissue paper, glue and cheesecloth are flammable. The ghost lantern’s fairy lights already avoid the issue. If you want flickering light, our guide to DIY floating candles covers another flameless-friendly approach.
Safety note: Do not put an open flame inside a jar covered in paper or fabric, and keep lit candles of any kind away from decorations and children. Check each product label for use and care instructions.
Where should you display jar lanterns?
Group them in odd numbers on porch steps, along a path or on a mantel. Keep paper-based luminaries dry, since the tissue and paper will not tolerate rain. To tie them into a larger setup, see our home haunt lighting guide and add a few at the edge of a graveyard scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a cheesecloth ghost lantern take to dry? Making Lemonade says to let it dry for 24 hours before adding the face.
What size jar should you use? The ghost lantern uses a 32 oz mason jar. One Little Project suggests 16 oz jars for its luminary, with 8 oz jars needing a smaller template.
Can you use LED lights instead of a candle? Yes. The ghost lantern is built for battery-operated fairy lights, and flameless tealights are a safer substitute in the luminary.
What glue do you use for the ghost? Making Lemonade mixes equal parts Elmer’s glue and water to stiffen the cheesecloth.
Can jar lanterns go outside? The sources do not say. Paper and cheesecloth versions are best kept dry and under cover.
Want more cozy glow? Light your home haunt or browse DIY Halloween ideas.
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