Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Super Easy Halloween Lanterns

I have a super easy and fun project to share today. Last month, I bought some small paint cans with the intentions of making some Halloween lanterns for my kids. Sunday, I decided I better get to it if I was going to get them done in time! I cut some vellum just a hair over 3 3/4 inches tall by 11 inches for each lantern. I removed the handles and then rolled the vellum pieces and put them inside the lanterns. I marked where the handles were on the vellum, removed the vellum, and then punched the holes for the handles.

I used Palette Noir ink to stamp images along the entire strip of each piece of vellum. I used images from both the Spooky Sweets and the Spooky Sweets II stamp sets. I dried the ink by heating the images with my heat gun.

I rolled each vellum sheet slightly and put them back in the paint cans. Then, I lined the holes up and put the handles back on. No adhesive necessary because the vellum isn't going anywhere anyway.

Then, I decorated the top of the lanterns. I cut some white and black circles using nestability dies. I stamped the pumpkins and sentiments and added the circles to the top of the lanterns. I did not do any other embellishing on the outside of the lanterns because my kids are way too rough on things and ribbon wouldn't last. I plan on letting them carry these lanterns on Halloween so they have to be functional.

To light them up, I just put a glow stick inside and put the lid back on. I love how they turned out and they were so easy and quick to make. My kids packed them all over the house Sunday night and can't wait to take them with them when we go trick or treating Friday.


Another view of the lanterns. If you decide to make up a Halloween lantern, I would love to see it! Be sure to leave me a link.

signature
Recipe
Stamps: Spooky Sweets, Spooky Sweets II (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: black (SU), white (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: vellum (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: noir (Palette), pumpkin pie (SU), ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: heat gun, hole punch, nestability circle dies

19 comments:

Jaymerz said...

Niki this is GENIOUS!!! I love it I may have to find some of these paint cans.

Anonymous said...

What a cute and creative craft!! These are great!
~Lacey

Unknown said...

These are fabulous - love them - brilliant idea for the wee ones.

Mary said...

What a neat idea! Thanks for sharing!

Gina Sisco said...

Love these. Was just looking at the glo sticks today, why didn't I buy !!!

Anonymous said...

Very cool idea Niki.

Unknown said...

Very neat project Niki! What a great idea for trick or treaters! :)

Julie-Ann Wells (Jewels) said...

Those are really cute Niki!!

Debbie Corbari said...

Niki...this is FABULOUS! OMG I just LOVE this idea!!! Hmmm...Now I have to figure out where I can get some paint cans QUICK!

6 wacky women said...

Really great idea. I just love them!
Take care
Karen

Kelly said...

That is so cute! I bought one of those paint cans not long ago and haven't done anything with it yet....I'm thinking a Christmas lantern. Another thought for the light might be those battery operated candles - I have one I'll have to try out.

Thanks for sharing!!

Kimberly Crawford said...

COOL!!!!!!!! LOVE the glow stick idea!!!!!These are really fantastic, Niki!

Anonymous said...

It's so adorable... In France, Haloween is not a great event like in USA so I will never can find such lanterns :-)
This project is a total success!!!!

C'est super adorable. En France, Haloween n'est pas un évènement comme aux USA, je ne pourrais jamais trouvé de telles lanternes :-(
Ce projet est une totale réussite !!!

Carole

Unknown said...

Niki = Clever.

Geny said...

These are so cool, I will definitely have to make one for Jacob, IF I have time before Friday!!!

Chris Scrappin and Stampin in Texas said...

OMG Nikki,
I would have never thought of that, and I have a few cans around..Super cute, and TFS

You are always so kind to share your awesome ideas!

Amy said...

Oh wow! Your lanterns are fantastic!

Debbie Olson said...

Niki, this is darling as well as safe--what a great idea to use glowsticks!

mel m. m. mccarthy said...

What a stunning idea and super easy, just as you said! Love this! Hope it's ok that I'm linking you up. :O)