Spooktacular Halloween Lanterns: A Fun DIY Craft for Kids!

Hey there, little crafters! 🎃 Are you ready to make some spooky decorations? Today, we’re creating paper Halloween lanterns that will light up your home and make it extra spooky! These Halloween lantern ideas are simple to create with a few easy-to-find supplies. Let’s dive into this fun lantern Halloween craft!

What You’ll Need:

• Colored construction paper (orange, black, green and white are great for Halloween!)
• Scissors
• Staples or tape
• Permanent markers (like Sharpies) for decorating
• Optional: glitter, stickers, or other decorations
• LED tealight candles (for a safe glowing effect)

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How to Make Your Paper Halloween Lanterns:

1. Get Your Paper Ready:

• Start with your favorite color of construction paper. Fold it in half lengthwise (like a hotdog bun!).

2. Cut Your Lantern Strips:

• With your scissors, make even cuts along the folded edge of the paper, but don’t cut all the way to the other side. Stop about 1 inch from the edge!

3. Form Your Lantern:

• Unfold your paper and bring the two shorter sides together, rolling it into a tube shape. Staple or tape the ends to hold it in place.

4. Add the Handle:

• Use a strip of paper to create a handle at the top. Simply tape or staple the ends to opposite sides of your lantern.

5. Decorate Your Lantern:

• Now for the fun part! Grab your markers and draw spooky faces, silly grins, or even a monster! You can also add glitter or stickers for extra flair.

6. Light It Up:

• Place an LED tealight candle inside your lantern for a safe, glowing effect. Set it on a sturdy surface to show off your spooky creation!

Learn About Light and Color While Crafting!

While you’re making your spooky lanterns, let’s take a moment to learn something cool about light and colors!

The Science of Light:

• What is Light? Light is a type of energy that helps us see the world around us. It moves in straight lines and can bounce off objects, which is called reflection.
• How Do Colors Work? Colors come from light! When light hits an object, some colors are absorbed while others are reflected. For example, a pumpkin looks orange because it absorbs all the colors except orange, which it reflects back to our eyes.

Fun Experiment:

Try this fun experiment while you create your lanterns!

Materials Needed:

• A white sheet of paper
• A flashlight
• Your finished lantern

Steps:

1. Turn off the lights in the room.
2. Shine the flashlight through your lantern.
3. Watch how the colors change when the light shines through!

This experiment shows how different colors affect light, combining art with science for a cool learning moment!

Show Off Your Lanterns:

Place your Halloween paper lanterns around your house or porch to create a fun, spooky vibe. It’s the perfect way to show off your creativity and make your home extra festive for Halloween!

These Halloween lantern ideas are not only fun to create but also a cool way to explore the science of light and color. Have fun making your lantern Halloween crafts, and enjoy the spooky atmosphere they create in your home!