How to Make a Tin Can Lantern

• A can, any size

• A wire hanger

• Votive or tea light candle

• Hammer

• Towel

• Marker

• Nails of different sizes

• 20-inch wooden dowel (optional)

• Small screw in hook (if using dowel)

How to Make

To start, make sure you clean the empty can and pull the label off, removing all the glue. Use the marker to make a pattern of dots of varying sizes. Fill the can with water and freeze it until completely solid (approximately two days). The freezing ensures that the can won’t dent when you hammer in the nails.

Next, lay the can on its side on top of a towel and start hammering the nails through the dots you have drawn. Follow your pattern but make sure to hammer in two holes on opposite ends at the top of the can for the handle to go through. Once done hammering, melt the remaining ice with hot water and screw in the hook to an end of the dowel. Thread the hanger through the two holes you made at the top of the can.

To install the candle, just melt some wax and affix the candle to the hot wax. If you use the dowel with the lantern, your children can carry it around going on their adventures without having to touch the flame.

Variations

If you plan on setting your lantern down on a table for decoration, especially outside, you may want to add sand to the bottom of the can to keep it grounded.

You can paint your lanterns for festivities. If it’s a holiday, you may want to paint the lantern the colors of the holiday or you can even paint characters representing the holiday.

You can get creative. Try hammering a pattern that creates an actual shape or figure when the light shines through it.