How to Craft Outdoor Lanterns

Turn a plain can into an outdoor lantern.

Outdoor lanterns create glowing ambiance for any garden and can provide illumination for a relaxing evening on the patio or an outside romantic dinner. Lanterns are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and price ranges. If you don't want to spend money on a new one, craft an outdoor lantern yourself. There are many design ideas and materials to choose from--such as jars, wood and metal cans. A colorful metal can lantern may add charm and just enough glow for your outdoor lighting needs.

Things You'll Need

• Nicely shaped leaves
• Sheets of vellum paper
• Permanent black marker
• Masking tape
• Metal cans (not soda cans)
• Sand and water
• Towel
• Hammer
• Nails
• Spray paint in white and other color
• Copper wire
• Votive candles

Instructions

1. Clean any labels or particles from a metal can and fill it with a mixture of sand and water. Put the can in the freezer until the mixture is frozen. The solid mixture causes the can to swell, protecting it from denting when you start hammering on the surface.

2. Make your design template by selecting a leaf, and tracing around the shape on vellum paper using a permanent marker. You may also choose to print a leaf template and cut out the figure.

3. Remove the can from the freezer. Tightly wrap the leaf-shaped vellum paper around the can and tape it down. Make sure the tape stretches to both ends of the paper to adhere it in place.

4. Protect your work space by laying a folded towel across the area. This also stops the can from rolling around. Lay the can on its side on the towel. Using a hammer and sharp nail, begin punching holes along the lines of the leaf template, piercing through the can. (You may choose to use an electric drill instead.) Have several sharp nails available; they dull quickly from the pounding. Once the leaf design is complete, punch two holes directly across from each other at the top of the can.

5. Remove the vellum paper from the can. Place the can upside down in a bowl and allow the frozen sand mixture to melt. Empty the bowl and thoroughly rinse the can. Allow it to dry.

6. Spray paint the inside of the can white by aiming the spray paint about 3 inches from the top of the lantern. Select a different color of spray paint and cover the outside of the lantern with at least two coats, allowing the paint to dry between coats. (You may choose to add a clear protective coat to seal the paint.)

7. Add wire for hanging the lantern by cutting 24 inches of wire and inserting the ends into the holes at the top of the can. Twist the ends of the wire together. Place a votive candle in the center of the can and hang the lantern outside.

References

• Gardenersworld.com: Make tin can lanterns
• Finegardening.com: How to Make Garden Lanterns