Halloween Crafts: Tin Can Lanterns

Decorate your porch and steps this Halloween with these fun tin can lanterns. Design your own patterns and enjoy this project.

To make your tin can lanterns you will start with empty, clean food cans. Any size or shape will do. Go ahead and peel the labels off of them. To make your cans easier to work with, fill them up completely with water and put them in the freezer. Later, when you're hammering on these cans the solid ice inside them will keep the cans from collapsing while you work.

While your cans are freezing, use one of the labels you removed as a template so you know how much space you have to work with. Keep in mind that some of your tin can will not be facing front all of the time. You may only want to decorate the side that is going to show. If you're planning to hang them though, you can make your design go all the way around. As they swing in the wind, people will have an opportunity to see all of the sides.

As you create designs for your tin can lanterns think in term of dots; in fact, by using a thick tipped magic marker you can actually tap out the pattern of dots to see how your finished design will look. Once your cans of water are frozen you will begin transferring these patterns onto the cans. Using an old towel to keep the can from rolling, set the can and the towel on your workspace and use a nail and hammer to tap out the dots of your design.

You can lay your paper template directly over the can and tap through the dots you've drawn or you can set it to one side as a reference while you work. Either way, you want to be careful to only tap your nail so that it just breaks through your can. It is not necessary to make a large hole; it only needs to be big enough for light to show through.

Roll your can as you work until your design goes as far around the can as you want it to. If you're planning to hang your tin can lantern you will also need to remember to put a nail hole in two places along the top rim of your can so that you will be able to string them up. Those two holes will need to be just a bit bigger; be sure that you'll be able to thread string or wire through them.

By now your ice should be melting, and should slide out of your can in a block. If it doesn't, you will need to let them set out for a little while until you can get the ice out. Once the cans are empty; use a bit of hot glue to attach a votive candle to the bottom of each can. If you are planning to hang your cans, use an untwisted coat hanger to go through the top two holes. You can also use a bit of craft wire for this part. But don't use string or yarn, because the heat of your candle may burn through it and cause your cans to fall.

Hang your tin can lanterns outside or set them up along the walkway to your home, and then light your candles. Your cans should be heavy enough not to tilt over in the wind and the metal of the cans should never get hot enough to pose a danger. However, whenever dealing with open flame you need to be sure that you are in a place where you can keep an eye on your candles all time. Safety first!

Have a Happy Halloween!

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