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It might be a bit of an understatement to say that Mason jars have been having a moment. From vases to wine glasses and trendy lunch containers, its seems people have found 101 uses for the humble canning jar.

Here’s another: outdoor chandelier. The jars look pretty when they’re strung up with lights, are durable enough to be left outside for the season and in my twist on the outdoor fixture, you don’t need electricity to brighten your patio every evening.

You will need

7 wide-mouth 500 ml Elegant Mason jars;

7 solar-powered LED landscaping lights (they come in a variety of sizes, so bring a jar to the store to ensure a good fit);

3.7 metres of silver small-link chain (comes precut in a box at most hardware stores);

1 ball of polypropylene twine;

15 silver key rings;

1 metal snap hook with ring;

needle-nose pliers, ruler, scissors, lighter, canning rack;

epoxy, plastic gloves.

Photos by Barry Fraser for The Globe and Mail

Step 1. Unscrew the lids from the jars and remove the seal plates. Remove the top cap from each light, containing the LED bulb and solar panel, and set the rest aside. Wearing gloves, mix the epoxy in a small plastic container or the bottom of an empty pop can. Using a small Popsicle stick, apply the adhesive around the top of the first lid. Centre the underside of the garden light over top of the lid so that the solar panel is facing up, and press it firmly into place. Repeat with the remaining jars and lights. Allow the adhesive to dry for at least an hour, according to the package directions.

Step 2. While the epoxy is drying, loop the chain around the neck of the first jar and pull it tight. Use needle-nose pliers to open the last link and remove that section from the rest of the chain. Count the number of links and measure out six more lengths of chain, so you have one for each jar. Attach to the necks of the jars by pinching the link around the opposite end of the chain with the pliers.

Step 3. Measure and cut seven 40-centimetre pieces of twine. Lightly singe the ends with the lighter, to prevent fraying. Tie a piece of twine to the first jar by looping it through a chain link and knotting it twice. Slide a key ring over the twine before securing the other end on the opposite side of the jar. Repeat with the remaining jars. Screw all of the tops back onto the jars.

Step 4. Turn the canning rack upside down and thread the first three key rings directly into every other loop. Measure and cut three 25-cm pieces of twine. Tie one end of a piece of twine to the key ring on one of the remaining jars, using a double knot. Tie the other end to a second key ring and attach this to one of the remaining loops on the rack. Repeat with two more jars. Measure and cut one 50-cm piece of twine for the final light. Tie it to the jar, as you did with the others, and attach to the middle of the rack.

Step 5. Measure and separate four 30-cm sections of chain. Attach the chains to the feet of the canning rack. Close the other ends of the chains onto the bottom ring of the snap hook. Then attach your chandelier directly to the corner of a metal awning, or to a piece of heavy-weight twine tied in a loop over a tree branch or pergola (anyplace sunny so the lights can recharge during the day). Then, wait for dusk to see your handiwork shine.