If I had to list my many weaknesses, my number one soft spot would definitely be holiday decorations.
But considering the steep prices of retail decor, it can be a rather expensive habit to support. Because of this, I often turn to the Internet to find cheap, easy, and adorable holiday DIY projects.
And now that I've found this amazing tutorial, it looks like I'll soon be adding another decoration to my ever-growing collection — and just in time for the Fourth of July!
Not only is this craft super simple, it's also incredibly cheap — if not totally free. To give your house a rustic, patriotic makeover, all you'll need are some old cans, a drill, some paint, and a bit of string.
The end result is a gorgeous, glowing accent piece that the forefathers would definitely approve of.
Will you be giving this patriotic project a shot? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE with your friends and family!
Instead of throwing away her dog's old food cans, blogger Kate decided to get a little creative. She started by soaking the tin cans in a sink of very hot, soapy water.
After scrubbing them thoroughly — both inside and out — Kate let them dry overnight.
The next morning, she grabbed her power drill and headed outside.
By gripping the can tightly, gloves on-hand, Kate got to drilling. She chose to make her holes random, but suggested you try many different shapes, patterns, and sizes.
Once all her cans were drilled, she grabbed her paint and colored each can. She chose to sponge-on latex paint because she likes the rustic look — but spray paint would work fine, too.
After giving each can a generous coat of paint, she picked up a paintbrush and added some fun accents. Any shape or theme will do fine, and it doesn't have to look perfect. Once she was done, she sprayed the cans with acrylic sealer.
The next step was to thread the tin cans. She happened to have rusty wire on hand, so she used that to enhance the rustic look of her cans.
With gloves and pliers, she fastened the wire to her pre-drilled handle holes.
After adding some final touches to her cans, she was done!
Her patriotic lanterns looked beautiful — but they were missing one final touch.
Light! You can fill each one with a tea candle, votive candle, or battery-operated candle. Just remember to always keep an eye on open flame.
The soft glow and old-fashioned look are perfect for a summer's evening on the back porch, don't you think? These are so quick and easy to make, I can't wait to try this myself!
Please SHARE if you love these easy, adorable, all-American lanterns!
