Today we are celebrating the Winter Solstice, the beginning of winter and the darkest day of the year. We made watercolor Solstice candle lanterns (inspired by Garden Mama), one painted in hues to remind us of the night and wintertime and one painted to invoke thoughts of warm days and sunsets. Both are brightly burning in the center of our nature table today to cast some light on this shortest day of the year, reminding us that each coming new day will bring a bit more sunshine and daylight. We welcome all the fun and adventure that this Winter will bring, but I am already looking forward to those longer brighter days after these gloomy Winter storms pass.
We painted watercolor paper with liquid watercolors – Sutton chose the warm colors of sunsets, and Sawyer picked blues and purple to represent nighttime and darkness.
After the painting were dry, I rubbed them with enough oil to soak through to the back of the paper and left them overnight to dry. I should note here that we ran out of watercolor paper after the first painting that the boys did, so we finished up with textured Bristol which actually took the oil better and became the most luminous and translucent.
I rolled the paintings around mason jars, glued them into a cylinder shape, and left the jars inside to weigh the seams down until the glue was dry.
Light some tealights inside the mason jars, and you will have gorgeous lanterns to illuminate your day. Happy Solstice! May you find warmth and light in these dark Winter days 🙂
Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Happiness is Homemade has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Heidi’s warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable. Heidi is also the author of Homemade Bath Bombs & More and DIY Tie-Dye.