Make pretty winter luminaries that appear to be covered with freshly fallen snow using snow texture paint! Oh so gorgeous and perfect for the holidays, they are very easy to make. They will look great all lit up on your holiday table, on the mantle or even lining the walk to your door. I’ll show you how to make some luminaries just like this!
Make Beautiful Snowy Winter Luminaries
If you aren’t like me and you don’t wander around your yard in the spring picking up pinecones, you can always buy pinecones at the craft store. Yes, it’s spring when pinecones fall from trees, even though we commonly associate them with autumn.
HINT – if you love luminaries but would rather buy them instead of making them, there’s a big selection here on Etsy.
Pinecones fall in spring to release seeds for new trees, just like any other tree releases seedlings. So don’t want until fall to go pinecone hunting or you may only find ones that have been obliterated by the elements and the occasional lawn mower. I was trying to think of alternatives to pinecones and I was thinking that dried orange slices would be really pretty too!
Snow texture paint is thick and usually applied with a palette knife. You can use a paintbrush or even a craft stick, and you’ll see in this tutorial that I use my fingers too. Whatever works.
For these winter luminaries I used Glistening Snow-Tex
I’ve made a lot of different luminaries but these are definitely among my all time favorites. The Sno-Tex dries nice and hard, so once you’re done you can move them around if you need to. I just love how wintery and festive they look! In fact, I think a few holly berries would be a really nice touch too.
I went a little crazy with pictures of these winter luminaries, but I just couldn’t decide on my favorites.
So you’re getting them all!
To make these winter luminaries you will need:
To start I covered the rim or each jar with some lace.
On one of them I wrapped the entire rim with twine, on another I just tied some twine around the top. Do whatever makes you happy. That’s what I do.
You can add the pinecones by gluing the to twine and then to the jar, or glue them directly onto the lace near the rim. Again, whatever works!
Stir up the Snow-Tex, here I’m using a palette knife…
And here I’m using my fingers. I just find I have more control this way. Do whatever works for you. Put some Snow-Tex on the pinecones, then around the rims of the jars as well.
I added some epsom salts to the jars, about an inch or so, then put a candle down inside. I didn’t want to bump the drying Snow-Tex, so I used some tongs to carefully add the candle. Now all you have to do is let the Snow-Tex dry for an hour or so.
Another option is to add the epsom salt and the candle first, then decorate. The only issue would be that you couldn’t really pick the jar up and turn it in different positions without messing up the snow and candle. Either way would work though!
There, aren’t they beautiful?
These winter luminaries are one of my favorite Christmas decorations this year!
More Christmas and winter luminaries:
- Glitter Christmas Luminaries
- Glow Stick Ice Luminaries
- Paper Snowman Luminaries
- 5 Minute Winter tree Lanterns
- Glittery Santa’s Belly Jar
- glass jar
- 2 pinecones
- Lace
- Twine and/or baker's twine
- Hot glue gun
- Snow-Tex
- Epsom salt
- Candle
- Wash and dry jars.
- Glue lace around rim of jar.
- Tie twine around rim of jar.
- Attach pinecones to lace using hot glue.
- Decorate pinecones and top of jar rim with Snow-Tex.
- Add epsom salt to jar and insert candle.
At the time this article was written, I was a DecoArt Core Blogger. I was compensated for this post, but have always loved DecoArt products! Therefore, all opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
Amanda Formaro
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I make soy candles in mason jars. I will be making this for the fall and winter fragrance oil collection I carry. Rather then using the salt and a votive candles , I’ll be filling the jar 3/4 way full with 100% soy. I’m soooooo excited about this look!!! Thank you for sharing!
That sounds great, I hope they sell like hot cakes!
What size lace.
The size is totally up to you. I believe the lace ribbon I used was approximately 2-inches in width.
Love these and can’t wait to try!
I do have a question: I want to use “real” candles (like you show) but wonder if there’s a fire hazard with the “snow” and/or the Epsom salts?’
Thanks!
Christy
I don’t believe there is a fire hazard with the salt. I did not encounter any problems. However you can use LED candles if you are uncomfortable using the real ones :)
Oooooo I LOVE these!!! I’m definitely making them. My suggestion would be to put the Epsom salts and candle in first then add the snow paint. This way you won’t be taking a chance on messing it up. Can’t wait to make this ?
Be sure to let me know how your winter luminaries turn out, Christine! :)
I love these. Gotta make some for next Christmas. I always have them up on my walls in my front yard on Christmas Eve (I live in NM). They are so much Christmas. Thanks.
Beautiful! Bookmarked this for next winter to make for friends.
Do you use a lighter fluid lighter or long match to light your candles? I just wonder if this would be mailable….maybe send the epsom salt and candle wrapped separately. Or maybe don’t mail at all. LOL
The snow texture paint should hold up if you wrap them carefully. I would suggest using bubble wrap. And yes, wrap the candle and epsom salt separate. I used a long lighter, can’t think of the name, they are used for lighting barbecue grills :)
I’M Making these at xmass to put on my table along with dried flowers from my yard.
Hope they turn out beautiful and you love them!
Hello Amanda,
What kind and/or width of twine did you use jute? hemp? coated? They are beautiful!
Hi Debbie. To be completely honest, I have several sizes and types of twine and just grab whatever I think will look good. Sorry, that’s probably not the answer you were after.
Where can I find snow-Tex ??
There is a link in the post to buy it on Amazon. Otherwise craft stores have it and Walmart may have it as well.
What did you fill the bottom of the jar with? Looks like sugar.
Hi Trish. It’s stated in the instructions in the post. It’s epsom salt.
What size pine cones do you recommend buying?
Hi Ana! I think mine were around 2-3-inches :)
Love your craft ideas. We always do Christmas crafts at our Thanksgiving gathering. Looking forward to many more ideas. I’m sure we will do this craft and probably some others.
Awesome, thanks Cindy!