Baby Jar Chandeliers

Full Disclosure: This was my hands-down favorite DIY Project I did for our wedding; however, it was also the most difficult and time consuming (as well as injurious!). So difficult, in fact, that I told our photographer to try and get them in the most pictures so I could justify the time I spent making them. Here is the picture of our finished result:

I'm showing you it finished first to try and incentivize you to try it. I still would have done it over again if given the option, it was just tedious and I'm particular, which didn't help.

Step 1: Calling all baby food jars! I put out (on facebook) a request that all my lucky new-parent friends and family save glass baby food jars. In hind-sight, I probably would have included the word clean in my baby food jar post. :)

Step 2: Clean baby food jars. Yes, I did get some that weren't so much as rinsed out, but you'll be happy to know that you can recycle the lids and the jars can run through the dishwasher.

Step 3. De-Glue where the label was. I tried many methods and this is what worked: 1. Boil water and 1tsp vinegar with jars. 2. Rub rubbing alcohol on what residue is left. and 3 (because I'm particular) use a razor to chip of what's remaining. Please please be careful.

Step 4. You will need to buy:

• Small ball link chain (you can buy them by the spool in bulk online)& connectors
• Silver color wire
• Circular cooling rack (you can buy them from kitchen supply stores online)
• Wire-cutters (if you don't already have them)
• Small s Hooks

Step 5. Determine how long you want your candles to hang. For me, I wanted them to be at varying lengths between 1.0-2.0 feet away from the cooling rack. So I cut lengths of chain in pairs between 2-4 feet long. Then I would take 2 chains the same length and attach them to the baby jars by wrapping wire around the jar+chain about 4 times. Using the wire cutters, I would twist the ends of the wires together to keep it extra tight and tuck in the sharp ends (this is where the injuries came from, so be careful!)

Step 6. Loop the chain and use the connector to close the loop to the opposite end of the chain so it's like a jar necklace. Do the same with the other chain on that jar. Then put an S hook on your cooling rack and hang the jar on the opposite side of the "s" hook. Attach as many jars as you wish! For me it was 8-10. You're going to want to spread them out evenly or it will be hard to have the entire chandelier sit level.

Step 7. Like I said previously, I'm particular, so I had to re-situate every jar multiple times...but when I was finally done, I filled it with black rock from an aquarium store (cheaper) but you can find other options or another inexpensive items might be sand or soil so long as it's not flammable. (Now that I think about it - it would be cool to grow herbs from there...). Drop in the tealight, light-up and enjoy!

I used a plant hanger (shepard's hook) to hang them at the ceremony. Or atleast I attempted to. It rained on my wedding day, so they put them in some pots that had plants in there... it was haphazard at best, but I still loved these little trouble some chandeliers.