You will love making these fall leaf lanterns and the added glow and twinkle of candlelight they bring to cozy fall nights! By using real leaves, a recycled glass jar and a little Mod Podge you can create glowing autumn lanterns that bring a bit of fall magic inside. It’s a sweet, hands-on craft and a fun way to preserve the pretty colors of fall leaves!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
We loved going on a fall leaf scavenger hunt and found the perfect, colorful autumn leaves to make our leaf luminaries. This is a perfect activity for kids preschool aged and up and makes the most adorable fall decoration!
This nature activity pairs well with our leaf scavenger hunt activity and these leaf identification cards! We have been loving using real leaves in our crafts this fall and these leaf luminaries have to be one of my favorite crafts for fall!
If you’re looking for more crafts to do with your fall leaves you could learn how to make leaf prints or try this fun leaf spray painting activity!
Materials Needed
- Real fall leaves, pressed and dry
- Glass jar (mason jars or recycled jars are perfect)
- Mod Podge
- Paint Brush – Could also use a foam paint brush
- Battery tea light or fairy lights
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step One: Collect & Press Your Leaves
- Go on a nature walk to collect leaves of all different colors
- Press your leaves by placing them between paper and under heavy books for a day or two- this site has a great tutorial on how to press leaves
Step Two: Prepare Your Jar
- Wash and dry your glass jar (removing labels if you are recycling a jar)
- Jars can be any size, it is fun to make a variety of sizes to see how they look when completed
Step Three: Apply the Leaves
- Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the jar
- Gently press a leaf onto the jar, holding it until it sticks completely
- Brush another layer of Mod Podge over the top of the leaf to seal it and repeat the steps for the next leaves
- Let it dry completely
Step Four: Add the Light
- Place a battery powered tea light, fairy lights or a flameless candle on the bottom of the jar
- Watch your leaf lanterns glow!
Tips For Success
Use thinner leaves, thicker ones don’t stick as well. I also had more success with smaller sized leaves.
Make sure your jars are completely clean and dry before applying Mod Podge. You can also use rubbing alcohol to clean your jar if you’re having trouble getting your leaves to stick.
Keep the Mod Podge layers light and even so the color of the leaves can shine through and there are no globs of mod podge once it’s dried.
Ways To Use Your Autumn Lantern
- Place outside for a sweet candlelight glow at night time
- Use as a center piece for your Thanksgiving table
- Give away as a DIY gift for a neighbor or loved one
- Place in your window sill and enjoy the colors it makes when the sun shines through your jar
Why We Love This Craft
- It is a really nice way to slow down and enjoy the fall colors as you search for the perfect leaves
- It is a great way to encourage creativity and work on fine motor skills in younger kids
- It is really fun for kids of all ages and they love seeing their final product glow!
We loved making these fall lanterns, if you enjoyed this craft as well we would love if you shared them with us on Instagram @foxfarmhome!
Pin For Later
Too fun! I actually have all of these items, can’t wait to do this with my kiddos.
If you make them we would love for you to share them with us on Instagram!