How to Make Cheap Garden or Patio Lighting for Your Next Outdoor Party

Evening Garden Party

With springtime in site, we are thinking of renewing our outdoor living spaces to enjoy during the warm months ahead. After spending hours and hours beautifying our yard, gardens, and patios, we like to enjoy them with friends and family. This article will show you how to make cheap and charming outdoor lighting so you can enjoy your garden any time of day!

Things You'll Need

• A small spool or 16 gauge craft wire
• wire cutters / needle nose pliers
• small clean jars (baby food jars are really cute for this project)
• votive candles
• beads for embellishment (if desired)
• Instead of using baby food jars and candles, you can buy small candles, already in jars, at the Dollar store.

Instructions

1. 

   PICK A GOOD SPOT FOR OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING:
   Is there a spot in your garden or yard the feels particularly serene? Perhaps you have a little patio that would serve as a great outdoor entertaining area. Maybe it just needs a little help. Arrange seating or dining furniture to facilitate intimate conversation. Decorate the area with plants and flowers. Make the area very comfortable and pleasing to the eye. It is ready to be used in the daytime. Now, with the addition of some lighting, you have a wonderful spot to enjoy alone, or party at night!

2. 

   FIND OR MAKE A PLACE TO HANG YOUR CANDLES:
   A multitude of glowing candles, hanging from the branches of a nearby tree is glorious, but if you are decorating your patio, you may need to use little cup hooks to hang your candles. The candles will still gently sway in the breeze.

3. 

   GET READY TO MAKE YOUR HANGING CANDLES FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING:
   First, gather supplies and tools. For each hanging candle, you need a piece of wire that is roughly two and a half times as long as you want the candle to hang. You can make the wires for the candles all the same length, or vary the lengths.

4. 

   MAKE YOUR HANGING CANDLES FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING:
   For the simplest version, wrap the wire around the lip of the jar, with a long end of wire and about a 3" "tag" end. Twist the wire to hold the jar securely, then make a loop with the tag end. At this point, you may add embellishments, such as beads, to the wire. Using the pliers, make a loop in the end of the long wire to attach to the loop you made in the tag end. Your hanging candle is done!

5. 

   Pop in a small votive candle. You can also buy citronella candles, if you have a problem with mosquitoes in your garden!

6. 

   Whether you buy candles already in jars or make your garden lights from recycled jelly jars, this is an easy and inexpensive project.

7. 

   This is a simple garden light, made of old jelly jars with a bit of wire.

8. 

   Enjoy your garden or patio in the evening. Eat outside. Bring along some music. This is a great way to enjoy being outdoors and showing off your garden or patio while passing a good time with friends and family.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't burn yourself while lighting candes. Use a long lighter or matchsticks for lighting.

• Blow out the candles before going in the house.

• Don't hang the candles where the heat can catch leaves or branches on fire.

Resources

• garden supplies
• Gardening guide
• Party planning tips
• Home depot