Friday, November 30, 2012

Christmas Luminaries

Brighten long winter nights with the twinkle and glow of luminaries. Perfect for parties or everyday enchantment, these simple luminaries warm a winter landscape -- and your spirit.




 Rows of vinyl luminaries along a path


Light the Way
Guide holiday guests to your door or provide a warm “welcome home!” for family members by placing can-style luminaries (about $30 for 30) along a driveway or walk. These 10-inch-tall cylinders are made of white plastic flashing (#233813). Drill holes in the plastic to create your own design -- stack pieces to drill multiples quickly. Tuck the cylinders into the snow or grass on either side of the path and then add candles. The more the merrier!
Christmas


Make Your Garland Glow
Old-fashioned canning jars hang out with prelit artificial garlands (#68764) to add some swag to a plain fence line or deck.
Lighted garland on a fence


Make handles for the jars (about $10 for 12) with 18-gauge wire (#62933). You can cut a single length to wrap the neck and form the handle. Drop in a votive candle and hang from the hooks used to hold the garland.
Good to Know: Luminaries (literally, objects that give light) have a long, multicultural history. But at the center of all the traditions is one simple notion -- lighting the way in the dark of winter.
Canning jar luminary hanging in a tree


Go Galvanized
Give landscapes a touch of rustic style with these simple glass-and-metal lanterns (around $36 for 5). Just attach storm collars (#26361) to jelly jar glass globes (#220231). For a secure fit, seal the collars to the glass with clear caulk (#17417). Randomly scatter your creations across a snowy yard or line them up neatly along a railing or walkway.
Glass and metal outdoor lanterns


Shoot for the Stars
Lend a helping hand to the night sky by adding twinkle to the winter landscape. Make a set ofscreen stars (about $25 for eight) out of canning jars by wrapping each in a square of aluminum screen (#15097). Cut the screen to size and then cinch it in place with galvanized steel wire (#62933). These portable night-lights create enchantment just where you need it: along stairs, railings, and walkways -- even under a bare tree dressed up with clear string lights (#388733).
Screen-wrapped jar luminary


Bonus: Lighted Dowel Star
Bright orange by day, brightly lit by night -- this dramatic star goes together quickly for about $11 plus lights of your choice.
Lighted dowel stick star

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