Buy or DIY: Crafty String-Light Lanterns

We're firm believers that string-light usage is not limited to a single season. (Miss out on the warm and fuzzies? Nonsense!)

We're always on the hunt for new ways to use them to brighten our daily lives, and this idea is one of the easiest we've found: just pop a battery-operated strand in a rustic Mason jar, then sit back and enjoy the glow. These mini lanterns make for mighty impressive night lights, chic party centerpieces and practical-yet-pretty outdoor party decor.

The best part? The possibilities are endless, but the effort is as minimal as you want it to be. Here are your options.

Buy: Pre-Made Mason Jar Fairy Lights

If you want quick, these nifty little guys (pictured above) take the hard work out of a DIY work of art. You'll get a pre-made pack of lantern love that contains a set of 12, 32-ounce, wide-mouth Ball Mason jars with silver lids and 12 6.5-foot strands of fairy lights.

This bulk route is the way to go for bigger decorating challenges: line 'em up down the center of your dining room table during your next dinner party, or use them to light a path to the porch for the trick-or-treaters.

Shop them: Mason Jar Fairy Lights, Set of 12, $94.95

DIY: Create Your Own Version

If you want to get crafty with things, just follow this simple DIY to make your own fairy lights:

Step 1: Snatch up a pack of Ball Mason Wide Mouth Quart Jars.

Step 2: Pick your pleasure when it comes to lighting. Just be sure the strands are battery-operated and less than 10 feet long to guarantee a good fit. We like these copper wire strands because you can bend them any which way you want and they'll stay put, plus they come with a remote for ultimate ease. Here are a few more options:

• Soft Pastel Colored String Lights
• Classic White and Silver String Lights
• Funky Multi-Colored String Lights

Step 3: To assemble, just fill your jar, tape the battery pack under the lid on the inside so it's out of sight and voila! A custom creation to brag about.

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