Monday 30 July 2012

Turn a tin can into a tealight lantern

Save a can from the recycling bin! Making a tealight lantern is so easy. (And as you can see, getting it to look good in a night-time photo is not.)

How to make an upcycled tin-can lantern
Peel the label off the can, give it a good rinse (unless the aroma of barbecued tomatoes is your idea of al fresco ambience).
Fill the can with water and stand upright in the freezer until the water is frozen.
Take a bradawl (classic approach; I used a big screw) and, with a hammer, bang a pattern of holes through the side of the tin. The ice is there to absorb the impact so that the can doesn't squash when you try to knock a hole in it. Top tip if you use a big screw: wear gloves or wrap the non-pointy end in a cloth because it gets quite sore on the fingers.
Add two holes opposite each other near the top so that you can thread through a length of wire to hang the lantern. Drop in the tealight and light it.
Job done. Light up the night.

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