How to Make a Glass Jar Christmas Tree

Make This Shining Tree for the Holidays

Glass jars catch the light, that's true, but when you arrange them into a Christmas tree, and add a few personal touches, they grab light and the attention of all your guests. Any glass jars will do, depending upon the size you want the tree to be, but small jars, like baby food jars, are ideal.

Accumulate the jars over a period of time, and when you have thirty-three of them, you're ready to start the project. Arrange the jars to where the bottom of the jar will be the front of the Christmas tree. The open end of the jars will form the backside of the Christmas tree. The jars are actually laying on their sides.

Arrange the jars to where you have one on top, then two under that, and three under that, forming a pyramid of twenty-eight jars. The final row will contain seven jars. Under that place two side-by-side jars, then under them, three more. These final five jars will form the trunk of the tree and the tree stand. As you assemble the jars, hot glue them in place, making sure the glue cannot be seen from the front of the tree.

Fill each jar with something sparkly. It can be pieces of garland, tinsel, foil, sheer glitter fabric, large foil stars or other glitzy choices. Make each jar contain the same color and sparkly item, or make each jar contain different patterns and colors.

Paint all the jar lids gold and allow to dry thoroughly. Cut a "V" shape in the center of each jar lid. The "V" shape will allow you to insert a strand of lights from the back of the tree, into the jars. Lights with battery packs are ideal but any strand will do.

Slide the first lightbulb of the strand into the top jar of the tree. Continue down the tree, placing a light through each lid, then catching the wires on the sides of the "V" cut. The "V" will hold the wires and prevent the light from drooping inside the jar. The lights you use can be tiny tree lights or larger outdoor lights.

If you want you can tie a large, red velvet bow to glue to the top. Wrap tiny packages in foil or glittery wrapping paper and glue them around the tree stand. You can even make a tiny tree skirt from felt.