How to Make DIY Creepy Oui Jar Lanterns

Halloween is just around the corner. Get a head start on some DIY creepy Oui jar lanterns now. These are a mini version of some Mason jar lanterns you may have seen on Pinterest.

I saw some of these and visited the website to learn how to make them. The post was really vague and never really explained how to create your own version. After brainstorming for a couple of days, it finally dawned on me that these had to be made using tissue paper.

Creepy Oui Jar Lanterns

(We are an Amazon affiliate and may receive a small percentage of any sales through the links in this post at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting this website!)

Supplies needed:

Empty, clean Oui yogurt jars
Orange spray paint
Black acrylic craft paint
Tissue paper
Printer
Mod Podge

To create these spooky decorations, you’ll need a few empty, clean Oui yogurt jars.

Paint a Basecoat on the Jars

First, you need to paint the yogurt jars. It’s a good idea to use cardboard to protect your grass from overspray. The cardboard is also sturdy enough to support the glass jars.

How to Make DIY Creepy Oui Jar Lanterns — Paint the jars upside down.

Place the jar top down. This will prevent the top rim from being painted, but it will appear as if it is. The inside will be free of any paint. Spray light coats of the paint as you turn the cardboard around. Then, let the paint dry for a couple of minutes and repeat until the jar is completely covered.

Mod Podge Tissue Paper

The first thing you need to do is cut a 3-1/8 inch strip of tissue paper. Next, sketch a face on the tissue.

Sketch a face on the tissue strip.

Use sharp scissors to cut slits in the eyes and mouth.

Then, cut slits from the center of the eyes to the outer edges. Cut through the center of the mouth and between each tooth.

Brush a square of Mod Podge onto the side of the jar. Then, lay the tissue paper face down on top of the Mod Podge. This is one time that wrinkles are welcome.

Brush Mod Podge onto the jar.

Lay the tissue face over the Mod Podge.

You’ll want to work quickly at this point before the Mod Podge dries. Use a small flat brush dipped in Mod Podge to gently push the excess tissue to your pencil lines on the eyes, mouth, and teeth. If the glue is drying too fast, or you can’t move the tissue easily, dip your brush in a little water.

Push the tissue from the center to the outside of the eyes.

Push the tissue paper to the outer edges of the eyes and teeth.

With your flat paintbrush, apply more Mod Podge to the bottom edge of the tissue paper and wrap it over the curved bottom edge of the Oui jar.

Use more Mod Podge to secure the tissue paper to the bottom.

Use a flat paintbrush to push the edge off of the rim.

Then, use the paintbrush with more Mod Podge to gently push the tissue paper off the rim and to the outside of the jar.

Push the tissue paper back on t.he eyes and mouth

Glue down the middle, fold, and twist.

Once you have pushed the tissue paper back to reveal the eyes and mouth and secured the paper around the rim and bottom, add twisted paper to add details. Just cut a half-inch strip of tissue paper. Then, apply Mod Podge glue down the center of the strip with a paintbrush. Fold the strip in half and roll it between your forefinger and thumb to twist it.

Create the Facial Features

Add forehead lines that look evil.

Fill in the teeth with more twisted paper.

Use a piece of twisted tissue paper to create a forehead line that takes your happy face to an evil face. Create exaggerated features like big eyes or crooked smiles. See the picture above.

Then, repeat the process to add definition to the eyes, the mouth, and teeth. Fill in the teeth with more twisted paper.

Paint

Begin dabbing paint onto the tissue paper with a sponge.

Continue dabbing black paint onto the jar.

Once dry, you can paint the jars with black or dark purple acrylic paint to give them a mysterious, eerie feel. For a distressed look, dab a sponge into black acrylic paint and dab onto the jar.

Add Embellishments

Cut the bat off the ring and adhere to the cheesecloth.

Adhere the bat to the cheesecloth band.

Next, you’ll want to add some embellishments. I used black paint to color a black cheesecloth strip.

Use black paint to color the cheesecloth.

If you have it, you can use black lace or tulle around the top of the jar. Secure it with a little hot glue. You can also attach small plastic spiders or bats for extra creepiness.

Place a battery-operated tealight inside each jar for a safe, flickering glow that mimics candlelight. Arrange your lanterns along a windowsill, porch, or mantel to create a Halloween atmosphere.

These mini lanterns will cast a haunting glow, perfect for setting the mood on Halloween night. Happy crafting! I have a couple more of these to finish before Halloween.