DIY Glowing Pumpkin Mason Jar Luminaries for Kids

Bring a little extra glow to your Halloween decorations with these adorable pumpkin mason jar luminaries!

This simple fall craft transforms an ordinary glass jar into a cheerful glowing pumpkin using tissue paper, glue, and a battery-operated tealight. Children can tear the tissue paper, brush on the glue, and design their own silly, sweet, or spooky pumpkin face.

Place the finished luminaries on a mantel, windowsill, covered porch, or beside your apartment door for a festive Halloween decoration the whole family can enjoy.

A Simple Halloween Craft for the Whole Family

Pumpkin luminaries are easy to customize, making this a wonderful project for children of different ages.

Younger children can practice tearing and placing tissue paper, while older children can design and cut their own jack-o’-lantern faces. Every pumpkin will look a little different—and that is part of the fun!

This activity also gives children opportunities to practice:

• Fine motor skills

• Creative decision-making

• Color and shape recognition

• Following a sequence of steps

• Patience while layering and drying

• Pride in creating a decoration for the family home

Materials

You will need:

• One clean mason jar

• Orange tissue paper

• Mod Podge or clear-drying decoupage glue:

1. 1. For luminaries displayed outside, Outdoor or Water-Resistant Mod Podge would be the better choice. 
   2. For indoor use a simple mixture of clear drying white school Glue - two parts glue to one part water serves nicely as a budget friendly substitute.

• A paintbrush or foam brush

• Black cardstock or construction paper

• Child-safe scissors

• A battery-operated LED tealight

• A small cup or bowl for the glue

• Newspaper, parchment paper, or a washable mat to protect the work surface

Optional decorations:

• Green ribbon or twine

• A small paper leaf

• Green cardstock for a pumpkin stem

• Additional tissue paper in yellow, red, or different shades of orange

Step 1: Prepare the Jar and Work Area

Make sure the mason jar is clean and completely dry. Remove any labels and check the jar for chips, cracks, or rough edges before giving it to a child.

Cover the table with newspaper, parchment paper, or a washable craft mat. Pour a small amount of Mod Podge or you glue mixture into a cup or bowl so children can reach it easily.

An adult should handle the glass jar when working with very young children.

Step 2: Tear the Tissue Paper

Invite your child to tear the orange tissue paper into small pieces.

The pieces do not need to be the same size or shape. Uneven edges will overlap and create a beautiful textured effect when the luminary begins to glow.

Tearing paper is also an excellent way for young children to strengthen the small muscles in their fingers and hands.

Step 3: Brush Glue onto the Jar

Use the paintbrush or foam brush to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to one small section of the jar.

Working in sections keeps the glue from drying before the tissue paper is added. It also makes the jar easier for children to hold and decorate.

Try to avoid putting glue around the inside rim of the jar.

Step 4: Add the Tissue Paper

Place the tissue paper pieces over the glue, allowing the edges to overlap slightly.

Continue brushing glue onto the jar and adding tissue paper until the outside is completely covered. Gently brush another thin layer of Mod Podge over the tissue paper to help seal it in place.

One layer will allow more light to shine through. Two layers will create a deeper orange color and a slightly softer glow.

Do not worry about little wrinkles. They add texture and make each pumpkin unique.

Step 5: Let the Jar Dry

Set the jar aside and allow it to dry completely.

The tissue paper may look cloudy or milky while the glue is wet, but it should become clearer as it dries.

Drying time will vary depending on how much glue was used. Placing the jar on parchment paper will help prevent it from sticking to the table.

Step 6: Create the Pumpkin Face

While the jar is drying, draw a jack-o’-lantern face on black cardstock or construction paper.

Your pumpkin might have:

• Triangle eyes

• Round eyes

• A toothy grin

• A surprised expression

• A friendly smile

• A silly or crooked face

An adult can cut out the shapes for younger children. Older children can draw and cut their own designs using child-safe scissors.

Once the jar is dry, attach the face pieces with a small amount of Mod Podge. Brush a light layer over the shapes to seal them in place.

Step 7: Add the Light

Place a battery-operated LED tealight inside the finished jar.

Turn down the room lights and watch your pumpkin glow!

The overlapping tissue paper creates a warm, softly textured light, while the black paper face stands out like a traditional carved jack-o’-lantern.

Decorate Your Pumpkin Luminary

Add a piece of green ribbon or twine around the top of the jar to represent a pumpkin vine. Children can also cut a leaf or stem from green cardstock and tuck it beneath the ribbon.

Create several luminaries with different expressions and arrange them together as a glowing pumpkin family.

Children might enjoy making:

• A happy pumpkin

• A sleepy pumpkin

• A surprised pumpkin

• A silly pumpkin

• A friendly monster pumpkin

• A pumpkin inspired by their favorite storybook character

You can also combine orange, yellow, and red tissue paper to create a colorful fall luminary that can remain on display throughout the autumn season.

Turn It into a Creative Challenge

Encourage children to think beyond the traditional jack-o’-lantern face.

Ask questions such as:

• What expression will your pumpkin have?

• What happens when you add another layer of tissue paper?

• Which colors glow the brightest?

• Can you create a face using only circles or triangles?

• What would a pumpkin from an imaginary world look like?

These simple prompts help turn a seasonal decoration into an open-ended art and learning experience.

Important Safety Reminder

Always use a battery-operated LED tealight inside the luminary. Never place a real candle or open flame inside a tissue-paper-covered jar.

Children should be supervised when working with glass jars, scissors, glue, and small batteries. An adult should inspect the jar before the activity and handle any difficult cutting.

Keep button batteries and battery compartments securely closed and out of reach of young children.

Display Your Glowing Pumpkins

Once complete, place your luminaries somewhere the family can enjoy them. They make lovely decorations for:

• A mantel or bookshelf

• A family dinner table

• A covered front porch

• A windowsill

• An apartment entryway

• A Halloween party table

• A cozy reading corner

They can even provide a gentle glow while your family reads favorite fall and Halloween stories together.

Create a Little Halloween Magic

The best seasonal crafts do more than decorate the house. They give families an opportunity to slow down, create something together, and build memories around the kitchen table.

With a few simple supplies, children can transform an ordinary mason jar into a glowing Halloween decoration they will be proud to display.

Turn on your pumpkin luminary, choose a cozy story, and enjoy a little handmade Halloween magic together.

Create. Play. Learn.

Craft inspiration:

This project was inspired by Carissa Burk’s recycled jack-o’-lantern luminaries from Creative Green Living. Visit her original tutorial for additional tips and the accompanying video.