Brighten dark evenings with a light-up bottle, house-shaped lantern, and 6 more DIY ideas
The evenings are getting darker quickly, which calls for atmospheric lighting. Craft a charming retro mushroom lamp, paper lanterns, or create your own fairy-tale world in a light-up bottle!
1. A macramé-adorned lantern
This cozy lantern is a fun project, even if you’re working with macramé for the first time. Simply tie the macramé around a jam jar or any glass jar. The bigger the jar, the thicker the yarn you can use. Check out the macramé lantern instructions!
2. Retro-style mushroom lamp
Mushroom lamps from the 1960s and 1970s have made a comeback on social media. It’s easy to make your own version: all you need is a vase, a bowl, spray paint, and, of course, some lights. The lamp looks beautiful as is, but if you prefer, you can opt for a color-changing LED light. Check out the mushroom lamp instructions!
3. Crocheted flower garland
Turn an ordinary LED light string into something special by crocheting colorful flowers. You can stiffen the flowers in a water-sugar solution for a more defined shape. Get the crocheted bellflowers instructions!
4. Fairy-tale landscape in a bottle
Paint a fairy-tale scene on the surface of a glass bottle and bring it to life with a string of lights inside. Design your own landscape or follow the forest-themed example! Find the light-up bottle instructions here.
5. Floating lanterns
Floating lanterns add a beautiful glow to darkening evenings. The lantern sits on a thick plank, while the cylindrical casing around the outdoor candle is shaped from wire mesh. A brick, a sandbag, or another anchor ensures the lantern won’t drift away. Check out the floating lanterns instructions!
6. House-shaped paper lanterns
These paper lanterns are shaped like houses, made from cardstock with cutouts for doors and windows. Make houses of different heights for variety, and decorate them in your own style. A little paper town looks lovely on a windowsill, on top of a dresser, or along the stairs. Just switch on the LED lights and admire the view! Check out the house lantern instructions here.
7. A lantern made from paper plates
Turn paper plates and a glass jar into a cozy lantern for dark nights. Fold and glue the plates around the jar, then add an LED tea light or a string of lights. These lanterns look lovely on their own or in a larger group. See crafters’ creations and find the lantern instructions at the end of the article! [in Finnish]
8. A light-up letter made from cardboard
You can create an affordable light-up letter that provides gentle mood lighting using a cardboard box and round LED lights. This letter lamp also makes a fabulous gift! Find the light-up letter instructions here. [in Finnish]
