Light up the night: upcycle an old lantern into a light up house
An old glass-sided lantern transforms into a cozy light up house with a paint marker. When the LED candle lights up, the lantern house gets truly cozy.
Light up house—instructions:
- lantern
- stirring sticks (from paint supply stores)
- cardboard
- white marker
- hot glue gun
- scissors or pruning shears
Light up house—supplies:
1. Begin by measuring the lantern roof. Draw the roof’s base pieces onto cardboard according to your measurements, then cut them out. Remember, the lantern may not be perfectly square, so not all roof sides are the same length.
2. Cut the wooden stirring sticks to match the size of the base pieces, and glue them onto the cardboard. Trim them at an angle so they align with the roof pattern. Use a triangle ruler if needed.
3. Secure the finished roof sections to the lantern in a few spots with hot glue.
4. The edges of the cuts may be slightly uneven, so glue another set of sticks cut to the right length over the angled seams.
5. Paint the façade of the house in your chosen style using a white paint marker. It’s easiest if you first draw a pattern on paper cut to the size of the lantern’s side.
6. Attach the paper inside the lantern with adhesive putty and trace the façade with the marker. Let it dry.
