I saved jars for months so I could make these Flickering Spider Lights for Halloween. They’re simple to make, look great lining a walkway, and are an easy, inexpensive way to add spooky mood lighting to your yard or porch.
I planned to create a line of these jars to light a walkway on Halloween night. The finished jars glow with a soft, flickering light and contain little rubber spiders perched inside webbing for a fun, eerie effect.
What do you need to make these Flickering Spider Lights?
You’ll need jars — mason jars work well, and you can also upcycle pasta sauce or pickle jars after removing labels. Choose as many jars as you want to light your path.
Rubber spiders in various sizes create the focal point inside each jar. Look for inexpensive packs at craft or dollar stores; a dozen or two will cover a walkway.
For lighting, remote-controlled LED tea lights are the easiest option. They allow you to turn all the jars on and off without opening each lid. Sets typically include a small remote and multiple lights. Rechargeable sets are also available if you prefer to avoid replacing tiny batteries.
You’ll also need two spray paints: black (for painting lids) and frosted glass spray (to give the jars a soft, translucent finish). Finally, pick up some fake spider web material or polyfil stuffing to position the spiders inside the jars.
How do you make Flickering Spider Lights?
The directions below describe the supplies and steps to make about a dozen jars — enough to line a short walkway. You can scale the quantities up or down depending on how many jars you want to make.
Supplies:
- 12 upcycled jars — labels removed (or mason jars)
- 12 remote control tea lights
- 2 bags of white spider web material (or polyfil)
- 2 dozen rubber spiders (dollar store spiders are fine)
- 1 can of frosted glass spray paint
- 1 can of black spray paint
Directions:
If you’re using upcycled jars, soak them in hot, soapy water for about 15 minutes to loosen labels. A stiff brush and a little elbow grease will remove remaining adhesive. Rinse and dry the jars thoroughly before painting.
Make the Spooky Jars
A couple of days before Halloween, spray-paint the jar lids black (or a dark brown) and let them cure. Then, apply frosted glass spray paint to both the inside and the outside of each jar. The frosted coating often looks subtle at first, but it dries to a pleasing, opaque finish. Allow the jars to dry completely — 24 to 48 hours is usually enough.
How do you add the spiders and spider web to the jars?
Once the jars are dry, place a remote-controlled tea light in the bottom of each jar. Instead of trying to glue spiders to glass — which often doesn’t hold well — tuck a small piece of the spider web material into the jar and press a spider into that fluff. Cut 4–5 inch lengths of webbing, gently pull them open to create volume, and press a spider into the material on one or two sides. Slide the webbing with the spider into the jar above the light so the spider appears suspended in the glow.
Screw the painted lid onto each jar and test the lights with the remote. The frosted glass will soften the LED flicker for an atmospheric, candle-like effect without the fire risk of real candles.
Place the jars along your walkway, porch steps, or on a table for a Halloween display. Because the lights are remote-controlled, you can switch them all on and off as a group. For outdoor use, keep in mind that jars may collect moisture; if you expect wet weather, position them under an overhang or bring them inside after the evening’s festivities.
Tips and variations
- Mix spider sizes and positions for a more natural, creepy look.
- Experiment with colored frosted spray (amber or green) to change the mood of the light.
- For a weather-resistant option, use battery-operated LED lights that are rated for outdoor use and place a small silicone gasket under the lid.
- Make smaller versions for party table centerpieces or larger jars for a bolder display.
More DIY Halloween Decor Ideas
- Easy Halloween Yard Decor
- DIY Voodoo Skeleton Queen Door Decor
- DIY Dollar Tree Spell Book
- Spooky Halloween Spider Web Wreath
- Easy DIY Scary Outdoor Halloween Sign
Halloween Treats to Make
- Halloween Spider Treats
- How to Make Vampire Kiss Cookies
- Halloween Peanut Butter Ghost Brownies with Fudge Frosting
- Monster Mash Halloween Cheesecake Bars
- Easy Halloween Treats: Monster Toe on a Stick