Spooky Halloween Lanterns from Tin Cans

Note from Cheri: These Halloween lanterns are easy to make from ordinary tin cans. They look great lined up on a brick wall (as in our photo) or hanging at various lengths around the yard. Small votive candles, placed inside, provide a spooky glow. Filling the cans with water and freezing makes it easy to punch out the Jack O'Lantern designs, or anything else your imagination can conjure. Experiment using different sized cans and candles for variety.

You Will Need: empty tin cans, cleaned and labels removed black permanent magic marker hammer nail ornage spray paint black paint and paint brush OR black permanent magic marker wire for hanging the lanterns wire cutter small votive candles

For each lantern, take a black permanent magic marker and draw the fac of your Jack O'Lantern on the can. Fill the can 3/4 full with water and freeze until frozen solid. Remove can from freezer and while still frozen, take the hammer and nail and punch small holes to outline the design of your Jack O'Lantern face. Be sure to punch two holes at the top so you can make a wire hanger. Allow ice to melt (you can speed the process by holding your cans under hot water). Dry cans completely. Spread newspaper out on floor and LIGHLTY spray paint cans with orange spray paint, allow to dry completely. Take a black permanent marker or black paint and a paint brush to color in the features of the face. Allow paint to dry completely. Take a length of heavy wire (coat hanger wire does the job nicely), and fashion a hanger, much like you would have on a bucket. Place votive candle inside and you're ready to go. FFabulous Foods Halloween Store Get everything you need to create professional looking carved pumpkins: tools, patterns, pattern creating software and more, plus ultra cool Halloween decorations, party accessories and much more. Click here!