These watercolor luminaries are made in a similar fashion to tissue paper luminaries, but you are creating the colors and designs yourself. I created a random pattern for mine, but you could create specific designs like flowers or a sky scene on your watercolor luminaries.

How to Make Watercolor Luminaries

Using a simple watercolor paint palette and ordinary white coffee filters, we will create these beautifully colorful luminaries. This project is perfect for adults, seniors, and even kids. Would make an ideal “mommy and me” type project or great for a craft night with girlfriends!

While all of mine are multicolored, I think these would be gorgeous choosing specific hues. For example, using only blue and green and leaving some areas of the coffee filter white, you’ll create a soothing sea-inspired luminary. On the other hand, using red, yellow and orange watercolor paint will invoke a warm sensation in any room!

Supplies you will need for watercolor luminaries:

• 1 glass mason jar
• 2 white coffee filters
• Watercolor paint and paintbrush
• Mod Podge matte or another decoupage medium
• Large paintbrush or sponge applicator
• Ribbon or twine
• Paper towels

Making your luminaries:

I love the way my luminaries came out. I really do wish I had made some of my coffee filters in just blue and green tones, those would have been very beachy! Luckily this is an extremely inexpensive craft, so I could definitely make more.

And you’ll see I painted a lot of coffee filters. I really ended up needing only one filter for each small jar and about one and a half for each large jar. So I have saved the remaining colorful coffee filters for another project. Maybe I’ll make these coffee filter butterflies with my friend Debra’s grandkids!

1. Lay paper towels out on the work surface.

2. Place coffee filters onto the paper towels and paint with watercolors.

3. Allow coffee filters to dry.

4. Tear painted coffee filter into pieces. The size is up to you, it just makes them easier to attach to the surface of the jar. Smaller pieces (about 2-inches) mean less wrinkles.

5. Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to a small section of the jar.

6. Place a piece of the coffee filter onto the Mod Podge, then apply a thin coat over the top to secure it to the jar.

7. Repeat the last two steps, overlapping the pieces slightly, until your jar is covered (leaving the rim untouched).

8. Apply a final generous (but not dripping) coat of Mod Podge over everything.

9. Allow it to dry completely.

10. Add a ribbon or twine around the rim of your jar, securing with white glue, Mod Podge, or hot glue.

Print Project

5 from 30 votes

Watercolor Luminaries

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

• 1 glass mason jar
• 2 white coffee filters
• Watercolor paint and paintbrush
• Mod Podge matte or other decoupage medium
• Large paintbrush or sponge applicator
• Ribbon or twine
• Paper towels

Instructions

• Lay paper towels out on the work surface.
• Place coffee filters onto the paper towels and paint with watercolors.
• Allow coffee filters to dry.
• Tear painted coffee filter into pieces. The size is up to you, it just makes them easier to attach to the surface of the jar. Smaller pieces (about 2-inches) mean less wrinkles.
• Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to a small section of the jar.
• Place a piece of coffee filter onto the Mod Podge, then apply a thin coat over the top to secure it to the jar.
• Repeat the last two steps, overlapping the pieces slightly, until your jar is covered (leaving the rim untouched).
• Apply a final generous (but not dripping) coat of Mod Podge over everything.
• Allow to dry completely.
• Add a ribbon or twine around the rim of your jar, securing with white glue, Mod podge, or hot glue.