How to Cheaply Light Up Your Outdoor Party

Create a warm glow at your party with inexpensive votive candles

Create romantic lighting for an intimate party or light up the backyard for an outdoor bash. Whatever the reason for your party, create a variety of cheap lanterns with candles to create a wonderful glow. From recycled jars and cans to store bought glasses and votives, you can create your own outdoor mood lighting.

Things You'll Need

• Recycled glass jars
• Votive candles or left over candles
• Fishing line or wire
• Wine or champagne glasses
• Platters

Instructions

1. Collect jelly jars, canning jars or any type of glass jars to make outdoor lanterns. Use the same size jars or mix the sizes. Wrap fishing line or thin wire around the tops of the clean jars then tie them at varying heights to low tree branches. Put votive candles inside and light them. Keep the candles a safe distance from the leaves.

2. Remove the label and wash soup, bean or vegetable cans. Use a can opener to punch triangular holes along the rim of the can. Lay the can on its side on a work bench and use a nail and hammer to punch holes in the sides, in a pattern or at random. String wire from the sides of the can if you want to hang them from the trees. Metal lanterns can also sit on your table or at the perimeter of your party area. Put a votive or tea candle inside and light.

3. Create romantic lighting with a collection of inexpensive or garage sale find stemware. Mix or match wine, champagne or martini glasses. Put a votive candle in each glass and arrange the lights on your table in sets of three or five. The glow through the stemware will create a soft, lush light.

4. Serve up centerpiece candlelight on a gilded platter. Search dollar stores and garage sales for pretty plates and platters. Line the plate with tumbled pebbles, sand or decorative marbles and arrange candles, votives and tea lights on top. Place in the center of each table and light at dusk.

Tips & Warnings

• Never leave candles unattended.

• Don't put candles where they can catch something on fire when it burns down.