DIY Farmhouse light – with a mason jar

Ever since I saw these lights at my favourite little shop I’ve wanted them, aren’t they awesome!? I posted this photo on Instagram when I was there just before Christmas, the fact that it was just before Christmas though… I just couldn’t justify spoiling myself by getting one.

It’s funny how things work out sometimes, I’ve joined in with 11 other talented bloggy friends and we are participating in a 12 month creative challenge, every month for the next 12 months we will be creating something DIY with different materials, this month’s material is Mason Jars, anything mason jars. I knew instantly what I wanted to make, a DIY farmhouse light – with a mason jar.

This mason jar to be exact, it’s an antique replica mason jar that I’ve had for so many years I don’t even remember when I got it, it’s been sitting on top of my cupboards collecting dust and grease for the whole time… basically it was begging to be used. I snapped this very fast photo while we were setting up the scoring process, you can see our glass cutting practice pieces on the right, the technique we used is awesome and worked perfectly every time (more on that later).

I’m very happy with the way this DIY farmhouse light has turned out… it really adds a nice farmhouse vibe to this coffee station in our kitchen.

Now on to the DIY part…

The items you will need on hand:

Eye protection

Gloves

Face mask (I’m sure I was being over cautious but better safe than sorry)

Kettle

Cold running water

Ikea lighting kit (approx $10)

A mason jar (as mentioned above I used an antique replica jar and this specific mason jar had a solid metal screw top)

Glass cutter/scorer

Clamp

Drill with sharp bits

Sand paper (220-600 grit)

Wire cutters

Dremel

Glass cutting steps:

1. Clamp the glass cutter down onto a very secure surface that will not move.

2. Ensure the height of the cutter is where you want it relative to your mason jar.

3. In one movement press your jar very hard into the cutter and turn it all the way around until it meets where you started. Try very hard to make this only one move and do not go back over your score, this will weaken your glass and may cause it to break or crack where you don’t want it to break.

4. This is what your score line should look like, again press hard and turn against glass cutter just once.

5. Boil water in a kettle, over a sink pour the hot water DIRECTLY over the scored line only, turn it as you pour. You may need two people for this part, turn it a couple of times under just hot water.

6. Have your cold water running, take your mason jar and run the cold water DIRECTLY over the scored line only, turn the jar as you run cold over the scored line, turn it a couple of times under just cold water.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until your glass separates, in this case the bottom of our jar just dropped into the sink, it was a very nice clean cut.

**Some of things we learned while scoring the glass, you will need to press very hard, we found it very helpful to clamp the glass cutting tool down onto a very secure surface that would not move. Score in just one move, make sure not to go back over your lines as this may cause cracking where you don’t want it. Pouring your hot and cold water on the scored line only will stress the score line and not the surrounding glass, again this lessens the chances of your glass breaking where you don’t want it to.

Fitting cover to light kit steps:

1. Use the inner ring of light kit to determine the hole size for the top of your cover (inner ring is the ring that screws onto the light socket and holds the light shade onto the light).

2. I used a pencil crayon to trace this circle onto the top of the metal top.

3. Drill small holes closely together following the circle.

4. Follow the circle all the way to where you started.

5. Use wire cutters to snip the small spaces between the holes and remove the center piece completely.

6. I used a dremel to even out and smooth the edges of the open circle.

7. I drilled vent holes all around the very outer edge, this will let any heat from your bulb escape safely.

Sanding your cut glass:

1. The tools I used, 220 & 600 grit sandpaper, a face mask, gloves, a soft cloth and eye pro.

2. Start sanding the cut edge of your glass with 220 until any imperfections are gone.

3. Finish with the 600 grit until the edge is very smooth to the touch.

When everything is cleaned up, assemble your new light and enjoy!

This challenge was a lot of fun & I am in love with how this farmhouse light turned out!

Now it’s time to see what my Canadian blogging friends have created, be sure to visit their DIY mason jar projects for some major inspiration.

From the top left, they are:

Upcycled Mason Jar Planter from Sustain My Craft Habit

Mason Jar Fairy Lights from Brooklyn Berry Designs

Mason Jar Travel Cup from Fresh Crush

Mason Jar Oil Lamps from Life Is A Party

Mason Jar Farmhouse Light from Vin’yet Etc.

How to Store Your Sewing Thread Stash in Mason Jars from Time With Thea

How to Turn Old Toys Into Snow Globes from Woman In Real Life

Hanging Mason Jar Craft Storage from The DIY Mommy

DIY Mason Jar Terrariums from New House New Home

Sewing Kit in a Mason Jar from Mommyzoid

Hot Toddy in a Mason Jar from PMQ For Two

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser from Fresh Crush

Thanks so much for stopping in!