Halloween Crafts
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Make a CommentHalloween Crafts:
Jolly Golly Pumpkin Doll
Toddler Pumpkin Art
Halloween Luminaries
Recycled Lightbulb Witch
Egg Carton Bat
Pumpkin Ivy Bowl
Tin Can Halloween Luminaries
by Jane Lake
It's easy to make tin can luminaries to light your walkway or front steps on Halloween. Add a coat hanger wire and you can hang them up, if you like. Just recycle those old tin cans and make a variety of Halloween designs.
There are two basic methods you can use for punching the designs. You can work directly on the tin can, using the ridges on the can as a measure to keep things evenly spaced. Or you can draw your design on paper first, then use the paper as a pattern by wrapping it around the tin can and punching directly through the dots on the paper.
You will need:
Instructions:
1. Clean and dry the tin cans, fill with water, and freeze overnight. The ice provides support for the can as you drive in the nail holes.2. It is possible to punch a design directly into the tin can. You can mark where you plan to punch the holes with a marker, because the lines will be covered by spray paint later.
- If you are using a paper pattern, cut paper to fit around the can, then draw your design on the paper.
- Remember that simple shapes are most effective for punched designs.
3. Lay a thick towel on your work surface to absorb the melting ice and to prevent the can from rolling as you work.
4. Place a tin can on the towel. If using a paper pattern, wrap the can in the paper and tape the pattern in place. If drawing the pattern directly on the can, use a fine marker (in the the same color that you have chosen for the spray paint) to draw the outline. 5. Use the hammer and a large nail to punch the holes. If you're making a hanging luminary, remember to punch two holes at the top, on either side of your design, to take the hanger.
6. Immerse the can in hot water to melt the remaining ice.
7. Make sure the can is perfectly dry before applying spray paint to the sides and bottom of the can.
8. If you want to hang the luminary, cut a length of sturdy wire, or use a length of wire from a coat hanger, and bend it into an arched hanger shape. Bend up the ends and insert them into the two holes that you placed at the top of the can.
9. Place a votice candle or tea candle inside the can. Light with a long fireplace matchstick, or a barbeque lighter.
I make a paper stencil. Poke holes in paper where I want holes in can, then use a Sharpie to make the dots on can. After I am done punching holes, I use rubbing alcohol and cotton ball to remove sharpie marks. Krylon spray paint works great to cover cans. Just be careful because lighter color paint wont cover printin on can from manufacturer. Just made a bunch of these with leaves on them(painted, brown, red and orange) for my best friends bridal shower.
this has some ingenious directions that i would not have thought of, like freezing the can full of water, hammer and nails...
really reminds me of how much we depend too much on "advanced" tools and the like :) i'm definitely going to try this around when the holidays start. thanks for these ideas ;) i'll recommend this website, for sure
ive just made one they are seriosly very efecrive
Its cand of hard to not get the paper wet though.
i think its a wonderful idea
so what its easy
I am a new house wife on a strict budget. I love decorating for halloween and other holidays. These wonderful ideas make it much easier to have a cheap festive celebration. thanks for your great ideas.
These are great, fun to make and inexpensive ideas. I love your sites and visit them often. My grandchildren are five and eight. Your creativity keeps them busy for hours.
Thank-you ! Marty
No need to wait til Halloween, you can make different styles for year round decorating. Works great for inexpensive summer night parties.
If you are using paper as a wrap, how do you keep it dry? How do you keep the ice from getting it wet?
