How To Create A Halloween Lantern

A Halloween lantern adds a nice touch to your garden. What is even better is that it is easy to make and the materials you need are very affordable.

To make a lantern, you will need a pair of metal scissors or rotary cutter, paint, light, a black marker, wood and some empty paint canisters.

Before you make holes on the canisters, draw a witch's face so this can serve as a guide when you cut this using the rotary cutter.

When you are finished paint this using whatever you color you like. Since it is Halloween you better use black, orange or red. Once it dries, nail the top portion with a long piece of wood so you can place this in the ground. The last thing you have to do now is put a bulb inside so people will be able to see it at night. If you don't want to put this on a stake, you can just line up a few of these together.

Since lanterns are usually hung, you can also suspend this in mid air by using some string and hanging this to the ceiling.

If you don't want to use an empty can of paint, you can use a pumpkin or a watermelon instead. Since the project is going to be messy, make sure you are wearing an apron.

With a sharp knife, cut into the fruit and clean it out. You don't have to throw the contents away since you can use it to make a salad or for some other recipe so just set this aside.

When you are done, cut a hole for the eyes, nose and mouth. Now clean up your work area and finish it off by placing a candle on the center. Now light it and place this outside your house or on the dinner table.

Since fruits like a watermelon or pumpkin rots easily, it is best to make it at least the night before Halloween.

Another Halloween lantern you can make is out of paper mache. You will need a balloon for this and once you get it, inflate it to correct size. To create the paper mache paste, mix water, flour and craft glue together.

When it is ready, dip newspaper strips into the mache and glue this all around the balloon. Let it dry overnight and then pop the balloon. You will notice that the paper mache will pull away from the balloon so it will still resemble the original shape of the balloon.

To make the lantern stand on its own, crush the bottom portion a bit. With a pencil, mark the area where the nose, eyes and mouth will be. Cut these out using a craft knife or a pair of scissors. The last thing to do now will be to color it so take out that spray can and use it.

When it's dried, put a battery operated light bulb or one that has to be plugged in the center. Never use a candle as this could burnt the lantern.

Making a Halloween lantern is easy and you can make one on your own. You just need the materials and then follow the instructions. Once you get the hang of things, you can make modifications so each one produced is unique.