DIY Tin Can Lanterns
By Carey, IW Bride Blogger
My friend Aron showed me this picture of tin can lanterns not that long ago, and I fell in love.
While not the easiest thing in the world to do/make (I guess it’s more tedious than hard), I thought that they would be a wonderful addition to our wedding decor. My sister-in-law-to-be Heather began saving the larger formula cans that she used to feed baby Griffin for the project. She even made one herself to see how long it would take, and how it would turn out.
This is the one she made, and it is beautiful!
So while I was in New Hampshire this summer I began the project a little more in depth. We weren’t really sure where the tin cans would even go until we got to the house. I would love them hanging, but all the trees they could hang from are far from the reception action. Heather came up with another idea of spacing them across the stone wall in front of the house at night time with candles in it. It would be a small glow but so pretty evenly spaced there. Perfect!
I then spray painted them all with a bronze-y rust color. I wanted to take 6 of them home so Nathan and I could make some, too. But I was only allowed to take 2 home. Heather says she will be able to make them all before the wedding, but if not I’m sure we can poke some holes the week of. With 15 people at the house, and a glass of wine it should be fun!
Another sidenote if you ever want to try these yourself: Heather ran into an issue with the can denting in as she poked the holes with an icepick. My father-in-law cut a piece of wood that would fit inside perfectly to act as a structure for the can on the inside. This helped, and the can didn’t dent any longer.
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October 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
I love this project. Just a tip… my friend and fellow blogger did this project for her wedding last year, and she froze them with ice inside to keep the cans from denting. I haven’t tried it myself but it seems like a good idea! Here’s her tutorial with pix…
http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/08/11/diy-can-lanterns/
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Liking the design! Might try this for xmas!
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:50 pm
[...] tin can lanterns [...]
November 17th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Where did you get your designs from? I’d love some winter-esque patterns but I’m having alot of trouble finding any …
March 5th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Love this idea! I’m throwing a western themed 40th birthday for my husband and think these sweet lanterns will be perfect.
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
you can also fill them with water, pop them in the fridge until frozen and then puncture the tin cans. it makes the process a bit longer but it works if you don’t have a piece of wood to work with.
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Thanks so much for the tip yahidith!