HALLOWEEN LANTERNS CRAFT

Source: erinspain.com

Give mason jars the seasonal, spooky treatment with some ghost and jack-o’-lantern designs!

Materials

• Mason jars (you can use an old pickle jar or pasta sauce jar)
• Tissue paper in your choice of color (green for Frankenstein would be cute too!)
• Black cardstock or construction paper
• Mod Podge (or another all-in-one glue/sealer/finish)
• Sponge brush
• Scissors
• LED tealight candles

Directions

• First, cut your tissue paper to fit around your jar. It’s okay if you overlap the edges, and it’s not necessary to cover the bottom of the jar.
• Apply a very thin layer of Mod Podge all over your jar with a sponge brush, working quickly since it starts drying quickly. Wrap your tissue paper around the jar, smoothing as much as possible with your hands. Do not expect it to end up smooth – it will be textured. Wrinkles are fine, just press them down as smoothly as you can and try to press out the bubbles.
• Use your scissors to snip away excess tissue around the rim, and continue to press the tissue down with your fingers.
• While the Mod Podge is drying (10-15 minutes or so), work on cutting out your black paper to create eyes and a mouth. Dab some Mod Podge on the spots where you want your eyes and mouth to go, and glue them to the lantern.
• Use your sponge brush to paint on another thin layer of Mod Podge all over your jar, this time on top of the tissue paper and eyes/mouth. Allow it to dry, then screw on the ring part of the lid.
• Place an LED tealight candle inside to light, and you’re done!

Spark Creative Learning!

Attributes and Characteristics: Did you make a ghost or a jack-o’-lantern design, or something different? Is your lantern making a scary, happy, or sad face?
Fine motor skills: Was it tricky to cut out the mouth and eyes for your lantern?
Sensory awareness: What texture does your jar have before you add Mod Podge and tissue paper? What does it feel like after you apply the tissue paper? How does the light appear through the tissue paper?