Inspired by this product that was out of my summer entertaining price range, I set out to cut my own glass, only to find that unless you are a glass professional or have a contact on the black market you cannot actually buy a small circular glass cutter (booo!).

Instead, I found a couple small washers, and a bag of leather strips at my local craft store. They worked out perfectly. The result is a pretty and very affordable summer glass lantern. I just love how it came out:) You can hardly tell the glass isn’t cut!

To make the faux cut glass lantern I glued one small strip of leather around two washers (pick these up for about ten cents each at a hardware store). Then used a small ring of hot glue to attach the washers to my glass vase. Any glass vase will do (be sure the top opening is wide enough to fit your candle in. I dropped a small votive in and watched it brighten the space right up.

The lanterns are perfect for brightening up our deck for the coming season of BBQ’s and they look just as nice in a windowsill or on a coffee table indoors. I’m even thinking they would make great hostess, teacher, or Mother’s Day gifts. Whatever your reason for making one, enjoy!

PS. More summer DIY projects.