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Simple Tin Can Lanterns {Craft Camp}

Posted by Cindy · June 25, 2012 · Last Updated: June 25, 2012

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I am excited to be offering 30 days of fun crafts to keep kids active and entertained this summer! You won’t want to miss a day of these fun crafts for kids from some amazing bloggers! Please be sure to pay them a visit!

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Hi there! I’m Alicia of Mayfly and I’m thrilled to be joining in again this year at Craft Camp! My kids and and I made super simple tin-can lanterns that my mom made with my sister and I when we were little. We used to take them on camping trips. They are so easy and fast, and they are really stunning after dark.

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Here are the supplies you’ll need:

1. a few empty tin cans- we used coffee cans.
2. a hammer or two
3. a few nails of different sizes (to make holes of different sizes)
4. a towel to stabilize the can during hammering
5. a sharpie to plan your design
6. a wire hanger for the handle
7. wire cutter pliers (not pictured)
8. a cordless drill- optional (not pictured)
9. candles (not pictured)

First, draw your design on paper if desired. Both of my kids sketched just a little bit first before they got started with their cans. I think it made them more sure of themselves before they started with the sharpies. Then draw your design in dots on the can in sharpie.

Next find the most comfortable way to hammer the nails into the can to poke the holes. My son (11) tried at first laying the towel and can in his lap. This worked for awhile, but after a bit he moved it all up to the table. My daughter (7) hammered a few, but was nervous about it, so I ended up poking most of her holes for her. My husband Brian, came out with his cordless drill and sped this step up considerably, but really, it wasn’t necessary to get so high-tech. Remember the more holes you poke, the more dramatic the lanterns will be.

My son’s can was a little thinner than the others and got a little “bendy.” He was concerned, but I assured him it wouldn’t matter, and it would look just as good as soon as it was dark. And I was right. But I do remember when we were little, filling the cans with water and freezing them the night before to solve the bending issue. I should have done that this time- oops.

After you think you’ve poked enough holes, it’s time to attach your handles. Clip your hangers and bend them into long loops. Hook the ends through holes in the cans and crimp them into hooks with your pliers. Be sure to make the handles long enough that the heat from the candles doesn’t burn little hands!

Voila! Now you just have to wait until dark to light your candles and enjoy the twinkly goodness…

Thanks for letting us join in on all the Craft Camp fun, Cindy!

12 COMMENTS

Comments

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Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
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Becky Rogers
Sunday, July 15th, 2012
If you fill the cans with water and freeze it before you start, you can poke all the holes you want through the can and into the ice. Your cans will not get "bendy." Just work on a towel and when you're finished let the ice melt completely. Drain the water and you'll have a perfect can lantern.
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Becky Rogers
Sunday, July 15th, 2012
If you fill the cans with water and freeze it before you start, you can poke all the holes you want through the can and into the ice. Your cans will not get "bendy." Just work on a towel and let the ice melt completely. Drain the water and you'll have a perfect can lantern.
Reply
The Vanilla Pig
Sunday, July 15th, 2012
Just love this... We do childrens workshops and I think the kids will love these. They can sit outside and admire the glow! We say "let your creative side shine"

"OINK FOR AN ARTIST"
The Vanilla Pig
Dingmans Ferry, PA
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Helena
Monday, July 9th, 2012
How cool, so imaginative. Thanks for the good ideas. It's winter in Brazil now and I'll try it next summer.
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Vone
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012
The look great. I will put on my list of things to try this summer. I remember seeing years ago about filling the cans with water and freezing them before hammering the holes - I guess it's suppose to make it easier, not sure if it would be or not.
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Debra Kapellakis
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012
Those are beautiful. I like all the photo's too.
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Sleeping Should Be Easy
Monday, June 25th, 2012
I can't believe how beautiful something so simple can turn out. These look gorgeous lit up at night.
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Kara @ Nest Candy
Monday, June 25th, 2012
This was a brilliant tutorial. I made some of these for my rustic college graduation party, and I did not use such simple steps. I also hung mine with twine, but I LOVE the idea of using the wire hangers!
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ReFabulous
Monday, June 25th, 2012
Such a neat idea! I think solar lights or even the tap lights from the dollar store would work well for kids, too. We'll be making these for sure!
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Rachel @ Simple Girl
Monday, June 25th, 2012
Love these! They look like fireflies at night!
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Lizy b
Monday, June 25th, 2012
We just put backyard camping on our to do list for summer! What a perfect craft to get ready!! I can't wait to see my boys faces when I hand them the hammer and nails!! They will be thrilled!
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