I have a love/hate affair with Summer.
I love the fact that we can enjoy the goodness of our
garden; plant gorgeous flowers and fill our home with
vases of beautiful blooms.
I love that I can wear flip-flops.
But…
I hate the bugs.
I am highly allergic to mosquitoes.
Just a few bites and I am running into the house
fevered and covered in huge whelps.
This Summer, I am filling our back deck
with layers and layers of these…
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I made these last year, but I used recycled glass jars such as spaghetti
sauce jars and olive jars. That worked fine, but I decided this year to use
some “fancier” Mason Jars.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I wanted the lids of the jars to look more like metal,
( I will explain why later) – so I headed to my leftover spray
paint shelf in the garage and found this…
A few light coats of spray paint did the trick.
The next task was tapping a small hole into the lid so the wick could be
pulled through. The Hubbs helped me out so I could take a pic. 🙂
We used a hole punch that was slightly larger than the wick. Just a few
taps with a hammer pushed it right through. Make sure you tap the
hole from the bottom to the top, because this will actually prevent the
wick from falling back through into the jar. I purchased a package of Soy Wicks,
but any kind of wick will work.
Then, it was just a matter of pulling the wick through the punched hole.
Thanks again, to the fabulous Hubbs for being my model.
😀
I filled the jars with citronella oil…
Then stood back and marveled at how perfectly beautiful they were.
Mason Jars, Blue Oil. Perfect for Summer!
I love how the spray paint made the silver lids look more like a brown metal.
I made about a dozen of these. We have a large deck. We also have a lot of skeeters.
And trust me, here in Eastern NC – these skeeters have fangs. I’m pretty sure of that.
😀
I decided to use four of the Citronella Mason Jar Candles and create something
for the center of our patio table. Remember that I said I wanted the jar lids to look more
like metal? That’s because I wanted them to match the metal of this basket.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I grabbed this basket from the pantry where it had been holding packets of
instant oatmeal. I made a quick trip to Lowe’s, and purchased a few small plants –
two types of fern and vinca.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
First, I lined the basket with some plastic bags.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
{Recycle, recycle, recycle!!!}
Then, I added a layer of my specially mixed potting soil.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
Then, I added the plants all around the outer edge, leaving the inside open.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
Finally, I nestled the four citronella-filled mason jars in the center of the basket.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I love the idea that it is a “living” centerpiece and does double duty fighting
off the dragon skeeters. I could have easily stopped there, but me being me…
(the Queen of More is More- haha!) I added some moss.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I could say that I love the added texture. And, that I love the extra punch of
bright green. But, honestly – I simply love moss.
😀
My sweet granddaughter insisted on adding her own little touch, too…
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I couldn’t resist nestling in a small chalkboard sign, for all of those
advanced skeeters who learned to read.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
And this is what I ended up with…
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
This gorgeous burlap-lined Skeeter Fighting Basket.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I love how the ferns look lush and Summery.
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
I am hoping these Citronella Mason Jars do the trick and I am able to
enjoy a little more of Summer than usual. Whelp-free!
DIY Citronella Mason Jar Candles by The Everyday Home
And I love how they help add candle-lit ambiance to the back deck at night.
If you liked this idea…check out these other
porch and patio posts…
10-Budget Friendly Deck-orating Ideas!
Back Deck Ideas at The Everyday Home
15 Clever Brick Ideas at The Everyday Home
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Thank you for spending a few minutes
of your day here with me.
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xxoo, Barb
What a great job you(and your husband) did on those mason jar citronella candles. They really look beautiful and I love the way you used them in the centerpiece.
View CommentMosquitos do a job on me as well. I also get those awful feverish whelps. Have you noticed that the people who are the most affected by their bites seem to be the ones they are most attracted to. They home right in on me by droves and I really hate to hear them buzzing around my body. I think I am going to try making some of these candles to use when I am spending time outside. Thanks for sharing!
Its is miserable feeling isn’t it. I feel sometimes I am a prisoner in my own home from June thru September. I am going to try some mosquito plant around the deck too. I know what you mean about being a “chosen” one. My husband can sit right beside me and not get one single bite and in minutes I am eat up. I have three grandchildren, one seems unaffected and two are just like me. 🙁 Thanks so much for stopping by. BTW, I am going to edit my post. I don’t think the soy wicks work as well as regular cotton wicks, plus you will use them outside so the harm will not be as bad if you were inside. Good luck.
View CommentTHEY LOVE ME, and my bites itch incessantly for many weeks. NOTHING helps, either, nothing!
View CommentWhat a cute idea, Barb! The plants look so pretty surrounding the candles. My oldest daughter gets bitten the moment she sits down, while the rest of us do just fine. I may have to make some of these with some of the leftover jars in the pantry!
View CommentGorgeous!! I love your ideas! I’m skeeter-bait too so this will be something on my to-do list. Thank you for your wonderful blog ~ I love it!
View CommentI love your Mason jar candles! May I ask where you found the blue citronella oil, Barb?!
View CommentAt Dollar General. 🙂 I wasn’t sure what color it was, and was pleasantly surprised when it came out blue. It’s in a dark, black-ish bottle. Hope this helps. 🙂
View CommentThank you! I’ll have to check our Dollar General out!
View CommentThis is adorable AND a great way to keep those ugly bugs away!! I’m definitely going to try and make this for my porch! Thanks for sharing!
View CommentThese are so pretty, I just hope they are effective as well! Very cute and simple idea and they look so pretty and summery. Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to try it out.
View CommentThank you so much for sharing your wonderful creativity on The Inspiration Board at homework. I loved your project and featured you.
View Commenthttp://www.carolynshomework.com/2015/06/the-inspiration-board-spotlight-208.html
carolyn ~ homework
Oh that is so sweet. Thank you so much. See you next week. 🙂
View CommentBarb-
How do you keep the candles lit? Ours went out as soon as the wick got down to the lid.
View CommentMosquitoes zero in on me too as do chiggers and fire ants. My family and friends get no bites while I am slapping and scratching every minute I’m outside. I’ve gotten to the place that I just want to be a hermit and stay inside. I’m going to try your citronella candles and pray that we both have good luck with them! I’m tired of smelling like deet, vinegar and whatever else I read about or someone recommends.
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