Easy and Inexpensive Halloween Crafts

One of our favorite, easy, inexpensive crafts to make for Halloween is a luminary. This can be done using any kind of heavy, metal can, ( a larger can of the size which holds tomato sauce or fruit works well) A can with ridges works fine too, but remember, using a smooth can will allow you to possibly add more to the design. Also be careful to choose a can that has a removable label as those with printed on labels tend to bleed through any paint put upon the can.

Materials:

Can (empty, clean and dry)

Paint of a flat black color.

Design for front of can

Wire for handle ( or any other non flamable material)

Spray finish paint

Hammer and nail

Soft cloth or hot pad to protect surface then punching holes in can

To begin:

Open, empty and rinse the empty food can and remove the paper label. If can smells of food, soapy water may be needed to further clean it. If there are any sharp edges left on the inside, hammer them flat. For added safety, steel wool can be used to better smooth the edges of the can.

Use the hammer and nail to make holes into the can filled with ice. By following the lines and leaving spaces between the holes at regular intervals, the design will become clear as the pattern is taken away. Remember, the closer the holes the easier the design will be to see. Between 1/4 inch and 1/ 3 inch usually work well.

Fill the can with cold water, leaving at least 2″ of space at the top. Place it in the freezer to freeze solid. You must allow room at the top, because the water will expand as it freezes. If you do not leave this space it can cause the bottom to bulge, making it unusable as a luminary. Leave the can in the freezer until it’s solid, usually between 4 hours and 24 hours depending upon the size of the can used.

Remove the can, and use rubber bands to hold the plan in place or tape your drawing to the container. I find that using packing tape and placing the pattern so it overlaps into the inside of the can works well to stabilize it for the next step. Place the can on some form of cushion such as an towel, thin rag, cardboard or even a thin pillow to protect the surface you are working on.

When finished, allow the ice to melt naturally (or if you are in a hurry, you can use warm water to loosen the ice) and empty the can. Thoroughly dry the can and set aside. The next step is to paint the can with a flat black paint. One we use is called “wrought iron” and it is a paint that is indoor/outdoor in design. Using a disposable foam brush allows you to cut clean up time.

If holes in the luminary happen to clog, they can easily be opened after the paint dries with a toothpick so don’t worry at this point.This allows us to use our luminary on the porch or inside, whichever meets our need at the time. However, if you are concerned with chipping the paint, wait until after you punch the holes into the can before painting. It really comes down to personal choice in the order of painting.

Place a votive candle in the bottom, securing it with melted wax or placing it in a small amount of sand. That done, enjoy your creation!

Note: this craft should not be attempted by small children without parental aid and candle should not be lit without adult supervision. IF you desire extra security from fire, you may substitute a glow stick for a candle. Another word of Caution. If wire is used as a handle for this craft, be aware that it becomes very warm when a candle is used as well.

Therefore, it is strongly suggested that the wire not be used as a handle to carry this craft around. This is actually a craft meant to be placed on a table and thus not used as a mobile deoration. Plan accordingly with the use of this craft in mind when designing your luminary.