Last Updated on February 11, 2013 by Kristi Linauer
Is it too early for winter projects? I hope not, because I have a really easy one for you today! And when I say “really easy”, I mean that anyone can do this, and it takes just minutes. It took me about 20 minutes to gather my supplies and make these two snowy winter candleholders, and it just takes glass jars, painters tape, Mod Podge, and Epsom salt.
First I taped off my design. Of course, you can do any type of design, but I chose to stick with very simple, very easy stripes on the tall jar. On the small one, I didn’t want any design at all.
I used a paint brush and applied a generous amount of Mod Podge all over the jar.
And then I sprinkled the whole thing with Epsom salt. I removed the tape before the glue dried.
Quick, easy, and pretty. In dim light, the light from the candles makes the Epsom salt glimmer beautifully.
I think these look great on their own, but I also think they’d look beautiful incorporated into a winter tablescape.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
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59 Comments
Laurie @The Finishing Touches
November 15, 2012 at 12:02 pmGorgeous! Love the striped one!
Barbara O'Brien
November 15, 2012 at 12:06 pmBeautiful. I’ll be making some of these for winter tablescape.
Margaret Pereira
November 15, 2012 at 1:56 pmThey look lovely. Going to make them for sure…thanks for the inspiration.
[email protected] beautiful life
November 15, 2012 at 3:23 pmAbsolutely beautiful! I love them, Kristi!
amy
November 15, 2012 at 7:05 pmLOVE the stripped candle holder. I plan on doing this soon as gifts. Thanks for sharing!
Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon
November 15, 2012 at 8:07 pmThese look amazing Kristi! Love the stripes!! 😉
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
November 15, 2012 at 8:09 pmLove them – a row of them along a walkway would be amazing!
Kelly
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living
November 15, 2012 at 8:26 pmWhat a great idea! And so easy too. Thanks for the tutorial!
Barbara @ DIY Home Staging Tips
November 15, 2012 at 8:51 pmWay to go, with another easy project. I’ve been wanting to do something shimmery and wintery with epsom salts since reading about how easy they are to work with. Thanks for the idea.
Cindy
November 15, 2012 at 9:24 pmVery pretty.
I’ll bet they would look great using glitter. I think fall colors would be pretty too.
Colleen
November 15, 2012 at 10:27 pmCute! I have been thinking about what to do with all my clear glass vases, I do not know how I ended up with so many. This is a great idea.
cindy daigle
November 15, 2012 at 11:38 pmThese are so simple but so elegant. Why can’t I use my brain & figure these things out? lol But thank goodness for you! Surely do appreciate all of your gorgeous inspirations – they keep me going and they give me faith in myself. Thanks again and you have such great talent!!!!!
Karen Bunting
November 16, 2012 at 5:21 amWould love to do some of these for gifts but how well does the Epsom Salts stay on the jars – worried that it will come off when wrapped and unwrapped??? – but GREAT IDEA!
Thanks.
Kristi Linauer
November 16, 2012 at 9:35 amI think it would probably be okay if you just put a layer of bubble wrap around it.
Dale
July 19, 2014 at 5:34 amThese are probably questions but here goes …can they be washed? If not, can it be reapplied if washed? Also, do you have to use a certain kind of glass to put a candle in it?
Kristi Linauer
July 19, 2014 at 10:07 amNo, it can’t be washed. It’s probably one of those things you’d use for one season only. And any glass jars should be able to hold a candle. Just be sure that the flame isn’t right up against the glass.
Lisa
December 13, 2014 at 8:48 amHello i love this idea! I did a wine bottle and my question is, can you use clear coat spray to keep the salt from falling off? How long will the salt last?
Kristi Linauer
December 13, 2014 at 9:48 amI had a wreath that I used salt on, and it lasted me one winter season and still looked great. It lasted longer than that, but I gave it away, so I don’t know how or if it’s holding up now.
You can try the clear coat, but I would imagine any kind of clear coat will reduce the sparkle of the salt.
Ellen
July 24, 2017 at 9:07 amWhat about using something like sand instead of epsom salt would the sand stay in place so you could wash them ?
Recreateanddecorate
November 16, 2012 at 7:49 amThanks! I love these and wil have to share!
Stephanie
November 16, 2012 at 8:22 amIf I did this on a hurricane, but didn’t want it to be permanent, how would I remove the ModPodge later?
Kristi Linauer
November 16, 2012 at 9:31 amJust soak it in warm water and it’ll come off. 🙂 You have to top coat Mod Podge in order to make it waterproof, so as long as you just use Mod Podge and salt, it’ll come off later.
Sara
November 16, 2012 at 8:33 amHow well would this be on plastic containers to put “Christmas Candy” in, or wine glasses?
Kristi Linauer
November 16, 2012 at 9:34 amI wouldn’t use it on any thing that will be handled a great deal. But if you’d like to try it, you would have to coat it with a waterproof sealer after the Mod Podge has dried. But Mod Podge on its own isn’t waterproof, and it’ll come off of glass quite easily under warm water.
Sue
November 16, 2012 at 5:18 pmThis is something I can do! They will look great in a variety of sizes on my mantle. Thanks Kristi!
Jean
November 16, 2012 at 11:13 pmThese are beautiful!!!
Kitty
November 17, 2012 at 10:27 amI’ve done the same sort of thing using one ply of a decorative napkin. Glue it to a jar or florist vase then sprinkling with clear glitter. Makes great gifts!
Jets Jewelry
November 19, 2012 at 8:44 pmMy God, do you ever sleep. Your brain is on overdrive. Bravo. Beautiful for Christmas
Bj
November 20, 2012 at 8:22 pmFor sure I will be doing this! Thank you for the idea. Never too early for the holidays 🙂
Hugs
Janel
November 25, 2012 at 10:04 amIm curious if anyone has tried to color Epsom salt? I would love to try different colors!
Kristi Linauer
November 25, 2012 at 10:07 amEvidently you can dye it with food coloring. I just googled it, and there were lots of different sources. That would be very pretty on this project!
settedesign
November 26, 2012 at 7:00 amI just did a jar craft project on my blog and then I see this- very cool. I am impressed with all your creativity. I’m in Italy would Mod Podge be the same as a water-based glue?
The section on changes in use of dressers is fantastic.
cheers
Kristi Linauer
November 26, 2012 at 9:14 amEvidently you can make Mod Podge with glue and water: http://www.babblingsandmore.com/2011/10/homemade-mod-podge.html
Lauren
November 29, 2012 at 11:28 amLove these ideas. I’ve used jars before as candle holders and I’ve always loved the look.
Rhetta
December 16, 2012 at 8:03 pmI love your site. I view it constantly. I think you’re an amazing decorator and a creative genius. I made the snowy candle holders for Christmas gifts. Thanks!
Dria
December 27, 2012 at 9:03 pmThose are so unique, I know Christmas is over but I am so inspired to try this, they are so wintery looking you can use these until spring! Very nice job indeed!!
How To Make Beautiful Snowy Candleholders From Jars
February 27, 2013 at 6:36 am[…] How To Turn Jars Into Epsom Salt “Snow” Candleholders (Luminaries) […]
Kristi Dodson-Skinkis
April 27, 2013 at 1:57 amI was going to make these for a gift. The store I went to didn’t have mod podge..I tried to substitute. Spray adhesive doesn’t work so well. I had a good soak with the Epsom salt though!
Megan
July 28, 2013 at 4:32 amHi,
I have been making these in baby food jars for a while now, however they are not as pretty, i love your idea with the tape.
How do you manage to stop the epson salts from drying out and turning white?
Kristi Linauer
July 29, 2013 at 5:29 pmI’m not sure. I’ve never had a problem with Epsom salt drying out and turning white. Perhaps because of the humidity here.
Myra
November 28, 2013 at 7:41 pmCan you use glitter in the Epson salts instead of food coloring?
Kristi Linauer
November 29, 2013 at 10:43 amSure. I don’t see why not.
Jan
August 11, 2013 at 5:29 amI made these last year with my granddaughter. We colored the epsom salts with drops of food coloring. They turned out very pretty. BUT the salt has now turned white and fallen off the jars – perhaps because I do live in a VERY humid climate. Next time I’m going to try to seal the salt – maybe spray polyurethane?
Cindy
October 16, 2013 at 4:19 pmI plan on doing this for a banquet, but I would like to know what grain of Epsom salt did you use. I comes in coarse, medium, fine and ultra fine. Which did you use? Need answer fast because I have a lot to do and short on time.
Thanks
Kristi Linauer
October 16, 2013 at 5:02 pmYikes! I actually have no idea. It wasn’t as fine as table salt. But it wasn’t as course as Sugar In The Raw. Somewhere in between. So maybe medium or fine?
maria
November 16, 2013 at 2:48 pmwaar vind ik die Epsom zout en die Mod Podge kol
ben al overal gaan kijken maar hier kenen ze het niet
Shannon
December 3, 2013 at 1:37 amDid you ground up the epsom salt or was it already that granular
Pam Zirbel
December 9, 2013 at 7:44 amLOVE!!!! And…surprise!!!! Epsom salt? Go figure….wow!!!
Cindy
December 17, 2013 at 3:38 pmMade these with my special ed class of k – 5 kids. We had a great time painting on the glue (sorry no hodge podge here), sprinkling on the epsom salts. We let them dry and I hot glued a ribbon around the top. We are using the small flickering battery powered candles. They are darling for Christmas presents for the families. THANKS!
Kaye Skinner
March 28, 2014 at 9:30 pmAre the candles actually sitting in the Epsom Salts too. That is a brilliant idea. I am definitely going to save my empty jars now. Thank for your brillience !
Kristina
October 10, 2014 at 7:49 amI saw this on fb last year and used it as inspiration for our wedding centerpieces. They turned out great! We added a few touches on the inside, layering thin fabric, gems, and a glittery rose, and velcroed a fake tea light to the lid (which we Epsom salted the lid also), but none of it would have been the same without this inspirational DIY! Thanks so much!
victoria
December 7, 2015 at 1:00 amHow did you get the salt to stay on and not flake off when thigh touched the jar? I am using it for table decorations as well but the salt falls off if I touch it. I have been using spray adhesive, does using modge podge realty make a difference?
Kristi Linauer
December 7, 2015 at 11:04 amMod Podge and spray adhesive are two very different things. You need to use Mod Podge.
Lisa
December 13, 2014 at 8:51 amAfter i put the salt on, do i put the modge podge over it?
Becky Hournbuckle
October 3, 2016 at 2:33 pmHow do you light a votive candle in the bottom of a tall jar? With a long match???
Kristi
October 4, 2016 at 10:13 amA long handle lighter –> http://amzn.to/2dOoAUQ*
Elizabeth le Roux
February 1, 2017 at 5:40 pmBeautiful, lovely, thank you!
Connie
September 25, 2017 at 8:04 amThese would be so inexpensive, easy, and beautiful for a winter wedding too. Thanks for the idea!
Edna
December 9, 2017 at 4:23 amI loved this and thought it would be a good craft for our women’s ministries Christmas cookie exchange; however the epsom salt comes off when touched. I Used Mod Podge. Am I the only one with this problem?