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Home » Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration: Mummy Luminary

Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration: Mummy Luminary

Published September 16, 2017 15 comments >>

I love flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices for holiday decor. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks just like a Pottery Barn candle holder for less than $3.00. 

Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration -Learn how I make this easy Mummy Luminary that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder but cost much less! This post uses affiliate links. They don’t cost you a thing and help us bring you creative projects. Read more in Policies & Disclosures.

Catalog Love… and Hate

Each season you can find me drooling over the holiday catalogs from my favorite upscale decorating companies such as Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, and West Elm. I adore their home decorating style, I hate paying high prices for holiday décor.

I’d rather skip the $30 Halloween garland and save my money for big décor items that have more impact (I’m currently saving for a massive ottoman).

Still, a girl can dream… and the fall Pottery Barn catalog had me captivated with its creepy Halloween Pumpkin luminaries, vintage Burlap Banners, and spooky Mummy candle holders. I had to put the catalog down and walk away before my budget was blown!

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

 Knock Off Halloween Decoration

An upcycling idea stuck me while I was serving Healthy Chicken Tacos for dinner (inspiration strikes in the weirdest places).  Somewhere between the avocado and tomatoes I realized that my favorite salsa is packaged in a jar that is nearly identical to the shape of the Pottery Barn Mummy Luminary.

I double checked the dimensions online and then decided to transform a few jars into an easy homemade Halloween decoration for my mantle!

Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration -Learn how I make this easy Mummy Luminary that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder but cost much less!

I love this knock off project because it uses basic craft supplies and recycled glass jars. Our garbage service stopped recycling glass, so I am always happy to have a use for some empty jars.

Mummy Luminary Supplies

  • Glass jars, approximately 3.5-4″ diameter 5.5″ high.
  • Cheesecloth, approximately 3.5 x12 inches per jar (cut while still folded)
  • White glass paint or acrylic enamel paint
  • Modge Podge (matte version) or school glue
  • Black Vinyl or Paper
  • Foam brush, 1 inch

Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration -Learn how I make this easy Mummy Luminary that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder but cost much less!

Mummy Luminary Directions

  1. Peel off labels and clean jars. Use nail polish remover to remove the printed on expiration date.

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

2. Paint the inside of the jar with white paint and cure according to paint directions. (You can also paint the with school glue, as long as they won’t get wet.)

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

3. Cut the cheese cloth into 1.5-2 inch wide strips that are 12 inches long.

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

4. Paint the outside of the jar with Modge Podge.

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

5. Wrap the jars with the cheesecloth; make sure it sticks to the Modge Podge. Crisscross the cheese cloth “bandages” around the jar a few times to make it look more like a mummy. Make sure to wrap some over the lip of the jar and under the bottom edge. (Reserve one piece of cheese cloth for step 8).

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

6. Cut out black eyes. Download the PDF pattern or Silhouette cut file in my free printables library. Place the eyes about 1/3 of the way down the jar and 1-inch apart. Stick them to the jar while the Modge Podge is still wet.

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

7. Use the final piece of cheese cloth to wrap the jar, draping it over a portion of the eyes.

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

8. Allow the jar to dry and light with a battery operated votive candle.

I love Halloween flipping through home decor catalogs for seasonal inspiration but can never quite convince myself to pay the sky-high prices. Learn how I make this easy homemade Halloween decoration that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder.

Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration Savings

The original Mummy Luminaries sell for $24.50. My knock off version saves 90% off retail price!

Easy Homemade Halloween Decoration -Learn how I make this easy Mummy Luminary that looks like a Pottery Barn candle holder but cost much less!

The knock-off version costs:

  • Modge Podge (matte), $0.50
  • Cheesecloth $0.50
  • Glass Paint $0.75
  • Black vinyl or paper $0.50
  • Foam brush, $0.20
  • Total cost – $2.45

That’s what I call a win-win-win… I get a great new homemade Halloween decoration, save money, AND recycle!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mar

    September 24, 2017 at 7:32 am

    Very cute!

    Reply
    • Bren

      September 25, 2017 at 4:33 pm

      Thanks, Mar!

      Reply
  2. Christy Roppel

    October 28, 2016 at 2:58 pm

    Hi! Love these! I have a question though: Why do you need to paint the inside of the glass? If you left it “clear” wouldn’t it show the candle better?

    Reply
    • Bren

      October 28, 2016 at 7:20 pm

      You don’t have to paint the inside of the jars if you like more light. I wanted a muted glow so I painted the inside of the jars.

      Reply
  3. Heidi

    October 23, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    doing these for a 4th grade class halloween party – thank you Bren for taking the guesswork out. I bought Krylon Frosted Glass Finish spray paint to coat interior for frosted look vs. painting all 25 by hand w/ foam brush. Also bought Spritz googly eyes with self adhesive sticky at Target in 10 counts at Target. Bought 1/2 pint Ball canning jars as I did not have 25 glass jars – but will now begin saving for next year’s class party for our younger child to avoid buying jars next year.

    Reply
    • Bren

      October 24, 2016 at 9:38 am

      What a great idea, Heidi! I hope they project goes well.

      Reply
  4. Melanie

    September 8, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    I have a railing around the front porch that is just screaming for this idea! Question??? Does anyone know where to get the electric tea lite candles?

    Reply
    • Bren

      September 8, 2016 at 9:59 pm

      I have never seen electric tea light candles. I buy battery operated ones at the Dollar Tree, Target or Michaels.

      Reply
    • Melanie

      September 8, 2016 at 11:59 pm

      Yeah, that’s what I meant ” battery operated” tea lite candles. Thanks for the correction and the 411 on where to obtain said battery operated tea lite candles.

      Reply
      • Bren

        September 9, 2016 at 1:12 pm

        🙂

        Reply
  5. Clarissa

    September 8, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    I love these little guys! Easy Peasy too! 🙂

    -Clarissa @ theviewfromhere.is

    Reply
    • Bren

      September 8, 2016 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks, Clarissa! They are very easy! (And I am glad I am not the only person who says easy peasy! 🙂 )

      Reply
  6. Kevin

    October 30, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Those are great. I think a googly eyed variation would also be fun.

    Reply
    • Bren

      October 30, 2015 at 2:46 pm

      Thanks Kevin, you’re right google eye would be fun!

      Reply
  7. Lisa (@retrohousewife5)

    October 23, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    These are adorable and I love that they are upcycled!

    Reply

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