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    Home » Home Decorating » Fall & Halloween Decorating

    Published: Sep 19, 2021 · Modified: Oct 1, 2021 by Rachel

    Easy DIY Halloween Lanterns for Outdoors

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
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    These DIY Halloween Lanterns are both weather resistant and flameless! Learn how to make these simple and mess-free glowing luminaries to create a spooky path to your door.

    Flameless outdoor luminaries with jack-o-lantern faces in grass with title.
    Contents show
    1 Supplies and Notes
    2 How To Make Halloween Lanterns Step by Step
    3 Quick Tips
    4 Halloween Lanterns

    Every October, I get so excited for all the season of fun decorations! From fall to Christmas, it is festival of crafting, decorating, and general mayhem to enjoy every second of the season. But let’s focus on Halloween first, shall we?!

    I wanted to get a little crafty one Halloween and dress up the front entry way. I’ve always loved the look of glowing Halloween lanterns with spooky faces, but worry about the problems with having them outdoors.

    So I went to the local hardware store in search of something that would be weather resistant for outdoor use but still super cute for my Halloween luminaries. And a-here we go!

    Psst… Check out my favorite Halloween decorated Porches or the big list of Easy Halloween Crafts for more inspiration!

    Supplies and Notes

    Here is an overview of the supplies and materials you will need to make the luminaries. Links are included for examples.

    • White Blank Corrugated Plastic (the kind you use for yard signs)
    • Metal Stakes
    • A thin X-acto knife or craft knife (must be very sharp!)
    • Black Acrylic Paint made for outdoors
    • Optional: Stencils and a Silhouette Cameo or Cricut Machine – I used these jack o’lantern stencils for my pumpkin lanterns.
    • Flameless Candles – best if a few inches tall to light up the center of the luminary

    Tip for Sizing: For these luminaries, I used white yard signs. The plastic makes them rain resistant, while being pretty cheap. I cut the signs in half lengthwise first, so they measured 10×20.

    How To Make Halloween Lanterns Step by Step

    There are printable instructions at the bottom of this post, but I thought I would include a few tips as we go along.

    Step 1: Cut the Plastic

    I cut a razor tooth edging along the top of each lantern.

    After deciding which side would be the front, I carefully cut only the outer layer of the corrugated board – aka don’t cut all the way through both sides. This allowed me to bend it around to form a box. I taped the edge with clear scotch tape to attached the two sides.

    In case you are interested, my measurements for the front and back were 7 inches, and the sides are 3 inches each.

    Cutting the edge of a Halloween luminary with a craft knife.

    Step 2: Decide and Paint Your Design

    I built a witch’s potion shop theme for the front door, so I designed a set that says, “ENTER IF YOU DARE”, but on the backs are some simple and fun jack-o-lantern patterns that I purchased here. So you are sure to be greeted on Halloween no matter how you come to our house.

    While you can use a sharpie, waterproof exterior paint will give you the best blackout and sharp lines. A sample can of exterior black paint from the hardware store or a small craft paint bottle is all you need.

    White outdoor pumpkin luminaries with black jack-o-lantern faces on wooden deck steps in daylight.

    Step 3: Set Up Outdoors.

    I put 3 flameless candles in each Halloween Lantern to give them a good glow, but you could also use battery powered string lights like these.

    Lastly, I couldn’t have these spooky guys flying away on me if a breeze came up! If you buy actual yard signs, you may be able to use the metal “H” stakes that come with them. However, I purchased these wire stakes to secure them in the ground. They are 9-guage steel, the same as the stakes that come with the signs and a perfect fit!

    Halloween lanterns lit up at night in the grass. White with black accents- jack-o-lantern and Enter if you dare message.

    Quick Tips

    • Instead of corrugated plastic, I have seen milk jugs, plastic jack o’lanterns, and actual glass lanterns used.
    • Paint applied in 2-3 layers will give the best blackout for your design. I have not used a sharpie, so I would test first but I hear they are waterproof for this sort of design.
    • These hold up great for years. I have used them for 3 years and they are in great shape. They have sat in rain, wind, and heat with no problem.
    • Waterproof flameless candles that are a few inches taller work the best. I trim the wax around the top to get maximum glow.
    Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

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    More DIY Halloween Decorations

    Dancing witch diy outdoor decorations standing in a circle around a cauldron.
    Halloween Witches
    4 stacked jack o'lanterns lite up in the dark.
    Halloween Stackable Pumpkins
    Halloween yard sign with witch's apothecary shop motif hanging on a frame.
    How To make Outdoor Signs
    Collage of porches decorated for Halloween..
    Best Halloween Front Porches

    PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative on Instagram! You can also stay in touch with me through following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and subscribing to the newsletter!

    Halloween luminaries back and front made for outdoors.

    Halloween Lanterns

    These DIY Halloween Lanterns are both weather resistant and flameless! Learn how to make these simple and mess-free glowing luminaries to create a spooky path to your door.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Project Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Author: Rachel
    Cost: $10

    Tools

    • X-acto Knife

    Supplies

    • 1 White Corrugated Plastic Sheets
    • Metal Stakes
    • Black Outdoor Paint
    • Jack-o'-lantern designs
    • 2 Flameless Candles
    • Clear Tape

    Instructions

    • Cut the plastic to the size you want. Cut a decorative edge with an X-acto knife if you wish.
      Cutting the edge of a Halloween luminary with a craft knife.
    • To fold, cut a straight line top to bottom through the top layer of corrugated plastic only – do not cut through both layers.
      Cutting the edge of a Halloween luminary with a craft knife.
    • Paint the designs on the front and back if you choose. Allow to dry completely. Tape the two loose edges together so that it makes a box.
      Painting a jack o lantern face on a Halloween lantern.
    • Place the lanterns where you wish. If on the ground, push thin, long stakes through the channels into the dirt to keep from tipping over. Place flameless tea light or candle in the center of the lantern and turn on.
      Halloween luminaries back and front made for outdoors.

    Notes

    • Instead of corrugated plastic, I have seen milk jugs, plastic jack o’lanterns, and actual glass lanterns used.
    • Paint applied in 2-3 layers will give the best blackout for your design. I have not used a sharpie, so I would test first but I hear they are waterproof for this sort of design.
    • These hold up great for years. I have used them for 3 years and they are in great shape. They have sat in rain, wind, and heat with no problem.
    • Waterproof flameless candles that are a few inches taller work the best. I trim the wax around the top to get maximum glow.
    Tried this Project? Tag me Today!Mention @CravingCreative or tag #CravingSomeCreativity!
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    1. Heatherp says

      October 01, 2021 at 11:27 am

      I’m planning on doing these for Halloween this year and using my cricut to cut the Jack-o-lantern faces using black vinyl. I did want to clarify one thing that another commenter asked but don’t believe was answered. When you cut one of these out of the corrugated plastic and you fold it up to make the open-ended box, there is one side edge that won’t be attached. Did you use glue or what? I’m afraid to use a tape or anything like that bc it may show through.

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        October 01, 2021 at 7:25 pm

        You are so right! I did forget to mention that and I will edit it now. I taped the one side together with clear scotch tape. I haven’t noticed it show through.

        Reply
      • NinaBean says

        October 01, 2021 at 9:56 pm

        I am considering a bead of hot glue or E6000. Think this will hold on the corrugated plastic?

        Reply
    2. NinaBean says

      September 21, 2021 at 7:48 pm

      Two quick questions: Do these have a bottom, and how do you seal the open edge of these?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        September 22, 2021 at 7:36 am

        These are meant to be waterproof so they have channels throughout the corrugated board that allow them to dry out well. So I didn’t create a bottom or top or seal them at all. Although I don’t live in a particularly wet climate, I have not had any problems with things getting stuck in the channels. The stakes keep them in place. Also, the measurements for me are because I used 20×20 yard sale signs and cut them in half. Therefore, they are 10 inches tall and the sides are 7 and 3 inches wide each. However, there isn’t any other reason for those specific measurements. Hope you love them as much as I do!

        Reply
    3. Frani says

      October 25, 2019 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      These luminaries are the CUTEST!!!! Love that they are waterproof! You are so so clever!!! ♥

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        October 26, 2019 at 11:56 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply

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