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Completed Punched Tin Can Lantern resting on a slice of wood and holiday linen against a bright green background.
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5 from 1 vote

DIY Punched Tin Can Lanterns

DIY Punched Tin Can Lanterns are showy holiday lights on the table or front porch. Save and upcycle cans- make several with friends or kids.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Time for water to freeze in can1 day
Total Time1 day 40 minutes
Course: Decorative Craft
Cuisine: Christmas Craft
Keyword: Art and craft project, Christmas Craft, diy tin can lanterns, family fun project, printable tin can lantern patterns, tin can lantern, tin can lantern patterns
Servings: 1 lantern
Author: Shelly
Cost: $2

Equipment

  • Scissors
  • Hammer
  • Wire clipper
  • Needle nosed pliers is helpful to turn wire (optional)

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Clean out and take the labels off a few tin cans from your cooking.
  • Here is the link for the Printable Tin Can Lantern Patterns: FREE DIY Punched Tin Can Lanterns Pattern.
    Print it off and cut the two patterns apart.
  • Tape your pattern around the can. 
  • Fill the can with water up to about ¼ inch from the top.
    Place the can in the freezer and let it freeze fully. It’s best to leave it overnight.
  • Place the nail point on a dot on the paper design. Hammer the nail until it goes through the surface of the tin can. You don’t need to hammer it all the way in or it will be too hard to pull out by hand.
    Repeat this for every dot on the pattern.
  • When finished, tear the paper off the can.
    If you want a handle on your lantern, you need two holes to put the wire through. 
    Tap two holes on opposite sides of the can. They should be about ¼ inch from the top of the can. We will come back to the handles in just a second. 
  • Place your can in the sink or a pan so that the ice inside can melt
  • If the bottom of your can bulged a bit, just gently tap it down.
  • Use wire clippers to cut a piece of wire that is about three times longer than needed for the handle length.
    I added beads to mine just for fun but that is also optional.
    The wire goes through the two extra holes you punched in your tin can at the top. Note: Go from the inside of the can to the outside when stringing the wire through.
  • Thread the wire through the first hole and add a few beads to the end of the wire. Twist the wire on the end. This keeps the beads on and hides the pointed end of the wire for safety.
    Twist the wire so that it stays in place by the top of the can.
    Make twists and circles in the wire wherever you would like for decoration and add a few beads as well if you want.
    When happy with how the handle looks, string the wire through the second hole and twist the wire so it stays in place.
    Add a couple more beads and twists on the other end of the wire. Twist the wire on the end again and you are done!
  • To light up your DIY Punched Tin Can Lanterns you can place a battery lit candle or a string of mini fairy lights. 

Video

Notes

Tip: Place the can on a towel while hammering so it won’t hurt the surface you are working on.