Autumn Lanterns {tutorial}

These Autumn lanterns are pretty and easy to make. And perfect for Thanksgiving!

First you need to gather some pretty colorful fall leaves.

Make sure they are dried well and not damp from being outside on the ground.

Lay them between pieces of newspaper and stack heavy books on top of them for a few days to press them flat and help dry them out.

Once the leaves are dried a few days later, you can start the work on your lanterns. Gather up your supplies: glass mason jars, mod podge, leaves, paintbrush and candles. (I used Yankee Candle- Harvest for my candles.) You may also want newspaper to protect your table and rubber bands for stubborn leaves.

Coat your jar with a layer of mod podge.

Place your leaves on top and coat with another layer of mod podge.

I broke off the hard stem of my leaves before using them on the jars.

Layer leaves around on the glass, overlapping slightly in a pretty pattern.

Let your jars dry overnight. If needed to back over stubborn edges that want to pop up with mod podge 

and help hold them down tight to the jar using rubber bands. I let my jars dry about 24 hours.

Place candles inside and light them for a pretty autumn lantern.

Happy Early Thanksgiving everyone!