The lantern parades to Saint Martin are allowed again this year! If your child doesn't yet have a lantern for November 11, 2021, get to work this weekend and make one together. You will find one with usVariety of ideas and instructions, for which different materials are used. In this article we show you how you can make the lantern out of milk carton and decorate it as you wish. Let's go!
Children love upcyclingand will certainly be thrilled with this craft project! You use empty milk cartons to turn them into pretty lanterns for the upcoming St. Martin's Day. This is also a great last minute idea that takes very little time.
It's actually not hard to make a lanternto make from milk carton. You just need to follow some simple steps. First of all, it is important to wash the milk carton well and let it dry. The easiest way to do this is to cut off a part (for example the bottom or top).
Next, the milk carton is painted. It is worth first applying one or two coats of white paint as a primer and only then using other colors.
Then draw motifs of your choice on the pack and cut them out. If you wish, you can stick tracing paper in any color to the inside at this point.
To make the lantern light up, you also need to put a lamp inside. To do this, it is better to cut off the spout and guide the light through the resulting hole. If you have completely cut off the top side, this step is skipped.
We have now collected some interesting upcycling ideas and instructions for St. Martin's Day with which you can use the unusable milk cartons.
Make an autumn leaf lantern out of milk carton
For this project, in addition to milk cartons, you will also need box cutters, white tape or white paint, hole punch, string, contact paper, autumn leaves and LED tea lights.
And this is how it works:
First, use the utility knife to cut four rectangular sections from each side of the milk carton. Then use white paint or white tape to make the outside of your lantern a solid color.
Then cut out eight pieces of contact paper that are a few millimeters larger than the cut rectangles. Stick the contact paper to the inside of the box with the adhesive side facing out. Reinforce the sections on the inside edges with tape.
Then decorate! Let each child decorate their own lantern as they wish by carefully pressing the colorful leaves onto each side of the milk carton. Then cover the sides with the remaining four sections of contact paper to secure the leaves to the lantern.
Punch holes in the top of the milk carton and tie the string as a handle for the lantern. You can make a piece of tape to keep the top of the lantern closed.
If you don't have an electric lantern with a light available, insert an LED tea light into the milk carton. All that's left is to hang the lantern on the stick on St. Martin's Day and your child is ready for the move.
In addition to milk cartons, you can also use many other materials. See youHere are 6 quick ideas!
Make your own lantern houses with tetra packs
These pretty cottage lanterns with small windows and doors look like they are inhabited by fairies and gnomes. To make similar lanterns yourself, you can check out the step-by-step instructions below. But first collect the following materials:
- leere Tetrapaks
- white spray paint
- double-sided tape
- Lineal
- colored tracing paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Cuttermesser
- Battery operated tea light or lantern stick with light bulb
1. Rinse the milk cartons and let them dry. Then spray the boxes with white paint to cover the print and let the paint dry overnight. Apply multiple coats if necessary.
2. Draw windows and doors on the house and cut them out using a ruler and a sharp craft knife. If you later use an electric tea light to illuminate the lantern, now make an opening on one side of the house large enough for the tea light to fit through.
3. Cut out the tracing paper the size and shape of the windows. Then put some double-sided tape around the edges of the paper and stick it in place on the inside of the box. It's easier if you cut the bottom open on three sides and feed the paper through the bottom into the milk carton. When finished, tape the bottom down with a piece of tape.
The house is finished! To attach the lantern to the stick, punch a hole in each side of the milk carton and make a handle out of wire. Place a tea light in the lantern or use a lantern stick with a hanging light that you stick through the spout into the milk carton.
Great ideas for DIY lanterns for the St. Martin's parade
There are no limits to creativity when making milk carton lanterns for St. Martin's Day! You can paint the rectangular Tetrapaks colorfully, decorate them with beautiful motifs or even transform them into cute animals. Here you will find some more ideas for inspiration.
Simple DIY lantern made from milk carton
For a quick and easy last minute idea, you can cut out the sides and top of your milk carton and simply tape some thin colored paper to the inside.
Make a lantern out of milk carton – cute owl
If your child has oneTier-LaterneIf you want to have it, you can transform the milk carton into the selected creature. For example, this owl would be a super cute and simple idea at the same time.
Make Minion lanterns with empty milk cartons
Is your child a Minions fan? Then you can upcycle the empty milk cartons and make fun lanterns out of them.
Making lanterns for the St. Martin's Day parade is part of our workList of ideas for children's activities in November. The children will have a lot of fun participating in the crafts. If you're looking for ideas for fun things to do with the kids this time of year, be sure to take a look at our suggestions.
