Add More Spookiness to Your Halloween Decor with This DIY Lamp

Halloween is just around the corner, and some homemade handicrafts would make perfect additions to your seasonal décor, and add a dash of spookiness for more festive flair.

For this month’s Maker’s Corner, we took Morgan Yang, a fifth-grade student at the French International School of Beijing (LFIP), to The SLab workshop, to make Halloween lanterns with the help of art teacher Jen Pohland.

Morgan surprised us with his great imagination and tons of patience, and the results emerged to our oohs and aahs. Morgan just had a younger brother a week before the shoot, and he decided to give this lantern as a gift to his baby brother, for his very first Halloween!

This activity only calls for a few supplies, and is fun to do without too much preparation. If your child is under 6, it’s recommended that all the cutting be done by an adult.

The instructions below are only guidelines. Feel free to encourage your kids to use their creativity and decorate their lantern however they like.

What You’ll Need

– Recycled plastic bowls from Baidu Waimai
– Plastic canvas
– Small LED lights
– Knick-knacks
– Scissors
– String
– Cardboard
– Tape
– Canvas paper
– Glue

Instructions:

1. Wrap the bottom part of the plastic bowl with double-sided tape. Cut plastic canvas into ribbons of about the same width (it doesn’t matter if they’re slightly different). Stick the ribbons onto the bowl, each end at opposite sides. Add more ribbons, weaving them over and under. Cover as much space as you like.

2. Make a small hole in each side of the bowl. Thread a piece of string through the holes to make a handle; adjust the length of the handle to your liking, then tie a knot on the outside of the holes to keep it in place, and cut off any excess.

3. Cut out cardboard or paper to make an evil grin, and make the eyes the same way, or use googly eyes or any other knick-knacks you have. Let your imagination run wild! Put LED lights inside, and you’re ready for some spooky fun.