I love summer and I love that I finally have a backyard to have parties in! I made these tin can lanterns for a 4th of July party and they looked so lovely that I thought I would write a tutorial to share with you all.
So follow the tutorial below to get started making your own lanterns for your own outdoor summer party!
recycled tin cans
hammer
nail
bailing wire
pliers
spray paint
tea light candle
Step 1: Remove labels and glue from the cans. I've found WD-40 to be very helpful with removing the glue.
Step 2: Fill cans with water and stick them in the freezer. Leave them in until the ice is solid. This helps the can hold its shape for the next steps.
Step 3: Take your frozen can out of the freezer. Using a hammer and nail, pound a hole near the top of the can. Flip the can over and make another hole straight across from the first hole. These will be used for the handle later on.
Step 4: Make your design. Use the hammer and nail to start punching out a design in your can. You can draw it our before hand or wing it. Either way, they turn out nicely.
Step 5: Once your design is all finished, let the ice melt out of the can and dry it out.
Step 6: Upon turning the can over, you'll notice a big bulge in the bottom. This comes from freezing water in it. But, it can be fixed! Just pound it down with a hammer so that it sits flat.
Step 7: Time to make a handle. Cut a 12 inch strip of bailing wire and curve the end of it to form a hook. Stick the hook through one of the top side holes.
Step 8: Twist the hook around to secure it. Make a hook on the other end of the wire. Stick it in the side hole on the other side and twist it around. There's your handle!
Step 9: Time for some spray paint! Paint several coats on to cover the entire can and handle. I used Krylon Indoor/ Outdoor paint and it worked great.
Step 10: Once the paint is dry, insert tea light candles and light them up! You're all ready to go!
Reader Tips:
- Azirkah said...To keep the bottom of the can from bulging out, put 2 or 3 inches of water in the can and let that freeze, then top off the can and freeze again.
- Esther en Calou said...... avoid to make holes in the bottom inch of the can. When your candle melts and the holes are made too close to the bottom, the wax will pour out.
- E C Ballard ஃ said...If you have a dremel tool or any kind of flexible shaft, you can use a burr or a very small metal drillbit and you will not need the ice.
64 comments:
Oh so romantic decoration for the garden. I am having just a balcony, but I guess it would be lovely also there :) I am pinning this idea!!
Love those! So simple and cute.
Those are so pretty!
I'm much impressed by ur crafts,they r so easy and creative!!!I want to award u the Liebster Blog award :) and i'm so happy to announce tis to all!!!
These are so cute!! And I love the colors you painted the lanterns!
I host a weekly Friday link party, I would love for you to join if you are interested.
Have a great weekend!
Ashley
www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
So pretty! Thank you for sharing your tutorial! :)
These look awesome - & so easy! Thanks for sharing your project - visiting from Craftionary link up :)
So beautiful and they look fun to make as well! I think I'll start saving some cans and I've marked this to my favorites!
Love the colors you painted the cans. So cute! Visiting from Shabby Nest.
These are SO lovely!! What a fun project. I'm adding this to my To-Do List on pinterest : )
What a lovely idea for lanterns! So pretty!
oh, wow! I love these! Great color choices, and they look so gorgeous all lit up! Wouldn't they be pretty for a wedding? Or a summer garden party? I'd love for you to share them here if you get a chance:
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2012/07/shine-on-fridays-36-and-giveaway.html
Beautiful! I love the colors!!!
These are awesome! I was just telling my son today that we need some color out in the backyard! I'd love to make a bunch of these and hang them on the fence!
Those are amazing! Thanks for sharing such a great tutorial. I'm pinning it right now. :) Enjoy!
Megan
These are adorable. I absolutely love the idea. Very fun! Jodi @ www.meaningfulmama.com
Oh, these are lovely! I love the idea of taking something you'd normally throw out and turn it into something beautiful! So creative. :)
These are really amazing! Great job!
Found you on 36th Avenue.
Blythe
www.thedesperatecraftwives.blogspot.com
Thanks for linking to TAke-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Crafts - you were featured today!
--Mandy, www.SugarBeeCrafts.com
These are so creative and resourceful! I love the colors. I found your link on THe Shabby Creek Cottage and I am now following you.
Have a great weekend!
Angela
such a great idea!! love how it turned out!
I have always loved these type of lanterns. I think painting them aqua and lime took them to a whole new level.
THese are so lovely! I would love to feature this on Reduce, Reuse, Upcycle. Feel free to stop by and grab a featured button. Thanks.
Very interesting idea! Thanks for the hint with frozen water;)
love it!!! new follower:)
Love it. Was looking for something to do with my grandkids during the holidays and this is just what I was looking for. Something we can do together, something light so they can take it back on the plane and something we can make personal. Thanks for the fab idea.
What a fun way to light up a summer evening! Love them!
Hi Elise! I just love these! The colors are great! I featured them on my blog today! http://missloviecreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-favorite-things-thursday-on-friday.html Come check it out and grab a featured button if you like!
Love this idea - fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing.
These are so cute. I love the tutorial. I'm your newest follower. I have a link party on Wednesdays, and I would love it if you would link this post. It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/08/pink-honey-beeswax-lip-balm-and.html
I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
www.adornedfromabove.com
I love these! Lanterns are so fun and the colors you picked are darling! Stopping by from TT&J - Have a great weekend!
Amanda
OMG, these are on my list of things to make when I move into a new house next week! I would LOVE it if you'd link up to The Pinterest Project :)
http://adayinthelifeofamomandawife.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-pinterest-project-linky-party-5.html
What a whimsical craft project! I have a thing for tin cans anyways, so these must be made....
I hope you will link up with me here:
http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/2012/08/sweet-saturday-link-party-v-53.html
Lovely! I must do this, now to collect enough cans ..
Wow! So nice!
Freezing the can to hold its shape was very clever!
Awesome! I tried making one recently but it was so tough trying to keep the can from bending, I couldn't find anything to stay in the can as I hammered.......NEVER thought of Ice....Awesome, thank you!!! :)
This is such a fun and economical idea! Thank you for linking to my party!
In love with your version and its colors ! Idea used for my party -> http://madebyisa.canalblog.com/archives/2012/09/07/25000025.html
Many thanks !
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
To keep the bottom of the can from bulging out, put 2 or 3 inches of water in the can and let that freeze, then top off the can and freeze again.
A friend just sent me the link to your fantastic tin can lantern tutorial. I can't wait to make some and am already planning what meals I can make to use maximum tin cans!! Your blog is fabulous!
Leah
Hola from Spain!! love your blog, you have very good taste for many things: blog design,tutos, photos... I posted this tutorial with link at my blog, hope you like it. www.casabelenvejer.blogspot.com.es
I'll follow you. Hasta pronto y gracias!!!
About 15 years ago I made these cans, painted in black as christmas gifts. Worked super well. Just a tip: avoid to make holes in the bottom inch of the can. When your candle melts and the holes are made too close to the bottom, the wax will pour out.
Hi, just want to make you aware of a seller on Listia that is using your images to auction instructions to make these lanterns. I have reported her but the owner of the images she is using must report her to have her auctions removed. The link to her auction is here: http://www.listia.com/auction/7671006-diy-tin-can-lanterns
Has anyone tried using large bulk cans? Perhaps placing a three-wicked candle inside?
Same principle, but I wonder if the effect is lost?
Does the paint melt or burn?
Michelle and Angela, I can't respond to you through email (you are no-reply comment bloggers) so I'll answer here and hope you read it. Michelle, I've never tried large cans, but it would be worth a try. Angela, I've never had seen the paint melt or burn. The cans get hot, but that is it.
I made an owl can lantern 10 years ago when whooooing my now husband (pardon the pun). I kept the can silver, but painted the inside gold to add extra glow. Love the handles idea! I am making these for Independence Day, too!
Hi this is Katie from the Progresso Facebook team. We love your tin can lantern post and we want to share it with our community! Do we have your permission to post a link to your blog on our Facebook page? Please let us know by replying in this thread. Thank you!
Sure, Katie. That would be just fine with me.
@Katie It's funny as soon as I saw this posted, I instantly saw the Progresso commercial with the lady using the cans as curlers in my head.
Elise, wonderful idea! Maybe use citronella candles come spring and summer to help out with night time parties :)
that is so very cool! i think my daughter and i will have to try it!
This is very cute! I love it!
Such a cute idea! Popping over from Craftberry Bush link party.
Oh my gosh! I had totally forgotten about this trick! I'm pinning this! Little Bit from www.DecorateWithaLittleBit.com
They look amazing....I tried this one year and we failed miserably, not sure what I was doing wrong but the cans did not hold their shape at all even though I did freeze them....yours turned out beautiful...thank you so much for sharing..I will try again this year...xo
This is such a good idea, but how do you avoid the sharpness of the holes inside the can from the nail making the holes? I wouldn't want children to get hurt making these. But I love them.
I just love these :) I am going to try using some baby formula cans. I think it would be helpful to have the lids and for them to be centerpieces on tables. Thanks for the great idea.
These are gorgeous! I am going to start collecting can now. If you get a chance, please link this to my linky party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/04/sunday-linky-party-4.html
If you have a dremel tool or any kind of flexible shaft, you can use a burr or a very small metal drillbit and you will not need the ice.
Can I ask to the author or anyone who has tried this, is there not a problem with sharp bits on the other side of the holes?
Niki, yes the cans do have sharp edges on the insides if you try this technique. You have to be careful when putting candles inside them. I haven't tried drilling the holes with an actual drill, but maybe you would have fewer sharp edges that way.
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