I am sometimes guilty of being too enthusiastic about crafts and making things, that can take a little more time to make. Not everyone has the time, nor the inclination. So here have a VERY quick and easy lantern for busy mum and dads (and aunties and uncles and carers). It will take 10-15min max and will look great!
I made this one last year in time “St Martins Day” – a lantern walk traditional to Germany, Austria and many other European countries! All children in Germany make all sorts of different lanterns in school and then on the 11 November come together at dusk and go for a walk with their lanterns and sing lantern songs. Here is modern version of one of my favourite Laterne Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne – Red Ted and I listened to it over and over again (much to The Englishman’s boredom):
I love how this gives us an opportunity to introduce Germanic customs for our bilingual family and yet it still “fits” with British tradition – change the designs on the lantern and you have a fab decoration for Halloween!
So, only final product photos I am afraid, but this is what you do:
Materials: a paper lamp shade (I bought a cheap set of three in Argos, but you can get them in places like IKEA too), black paper, scissors, glue & and a lantern stick. We bought our “light stick” from Germany, from place like this. But maybe have a hunt around the internet for one? (**check my comments below for some alternative ideas, e.g. electronic tea lights or small torches**)
1) Choose a lantern shape – if you can find smaller ones, great, but the “big” ones look fab too.
2) Cut out simple shapes: we did stars, rockets, moon, cat. For Halloween, you can do a pumpkin, witch, cat etc. I haven’t had a chance to do some stencils for you, but Single Mummy has some cute In The Nightgarden ones here and a cat & jack o’lantern one here – go and take a look and make this craft super duper easy and effective!
3) Glue on
4) DONE!
How easy is that?!?!
Enjoy!
For more easy lantern ideas, go visit my fellow bloggy mum Mummy Do That.
I would love to hear about your special family or country traditions – what do you do every year in Oct/ Nov?! Leave me comment and tell me all!!
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miri says
October 22, 2010 at 1:39 pmAdorable!
Chris at Thinly Spread says
October 22, 2010 at 4:28 pmOh they are fabulous, we’ll be doing these when we get back!
Zoe @ Playing by the book says
October 22, 2010 at 8:06 pmWe celebrate Sint Maarten too – the girls make lanterns, come and knock on the front door, sing me some songs and then they get a bag of sweeties 🙂
Red Ted Art says
October 23, 2010 at 7:22 amZoe – 🙂 love that! We do a small Lantern Walk with local German mums… but should that ever stop, we may just have to do the same as you guys!! Love it!
Chris – have fun crafting!
cathy@nurturestore says
October 23, 2010 at 9:39 amThanks for sharing this with the Play Academy Maggy – it’s a great idea for a child’s bedroom lamp too. We observe Stir Up Sunday in Novemeber – baking our Christmas cake and making a wish as we stir it.
Red Ted Art says
October 23, 2010 at 10:49 amOooh, Stir Up Sunday sounds GREAT!! Love it!!
Yes, was thinking of exactly the same thing – decorating lamp like this for Pip Squeak’s bedroom… maybe with tissue paper and butterflies?!
M x
Little Wonders' Days says
October 23, 2010 at 2:34 pmVery cute! What a fun holiday too. We’ve been enjoying evening fall walks, maybe we’ll have to take a lantern with us next time.
Red Ted Art says
October 23, 2010 at 5:09 pmOh, I like the idea of going for lovely walk and then having a lantern to brighten your day!!
Steve Morris says
October 28, 2010 at 1:11 pmThis looks great – but where can I get a lantern stick on a UK high street at short notice. Help please!!
Red Ted Art says
October 28, 2010 at 6:27 pmAaaaah, there is a flaw to my “perfect” plan. I totally forgot the uneasiness of getting lantern sticks. Mmmmh. Let me get back to you, I am going to do a search….
Red Ted Art says
October 28, 2010 at 6:36 pmSteve, here are some possible alternatives incl. UK high street store Argos:
Would an electronic Tea Light do the trick?
Then “Just” attach the lantern to a stick (any stick)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=electric+tea+lights&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=5707443126&ref=pd_sl_2b9lk11fq_b
Or this ladybird torch may do the trick (5.99)
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7250523/Trail/searchtext%3ETORCH.htm
(sorry, takes away the cheapness of this craft, as the lantern sticks are only £1.50 🙁 next year, I will do a giveaway!!!)
Or for 3.99
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7250626/Trail/searchtext%3ETORCH.htm
cartside says
October 31, 2010 at 10:24 pmbeautiful! If I get time, I’ll also blog about the one we made this year, which is also very easy.
We’re lucky, we have a large St Martin’s celebration in Glasgow thanks to a considerable number of German parents here, and they import the light sticks and sell them at the door for, yes, £1.50!
Red Ted Art says
October 31, 2010 at 10:49 pmOh wow! Lucky you! I am in fact “importing” 12 for our playgroup!!! (i.e. one of the mothers is buying and them and bringing them over). Fabulous!
Can’t wait to see your lantern! We are making another (even simpler one) at Playgroup this week! Yay!
Maggy x
Kate says
November 9, 2010 at 5:01 pmHi! I love the song you posted through YouTube! Any idea who’s singing it and/or where I can get a copy??
Danke!!
Red Ted Art says
November 9, 2010 at 5:41 pmThey are called Kuh Katze and you can find them on http://www.kuhkatze.com/ I havent listened to any of their other things, but I would be interested to hear what they are like!! I can’t see the St Martinslied there, but maybe you can email them under their contact section?
Happy Listening!
Maggy
Rae says
September 1, 2011 at 11:59 amLove love love these! Can you tell me where you bought the lanterns? I’ve done quite a few searches for that particular color and no luck. Most of them are stark white. Please help! Thanks!
Red Ted Art says
September 1, 2011 at 12:21 pmI bought ours in Argos (UK store) and I have seen some in IKEA? I think you just have to keep hunting.. sorry 🙁
May says
November 3, 2012 at 8:43 pmThanks for the ideas.
I just looked on Amazon and they sell Lantern Sticks now.
Red Ted Art says
November 4, 2012 at 2:55 pmOooh that is good to know! We have “moved on” to Sticks and electric tea lights. Also works nicely 🙂