Step 1 Gather Materials
Gather all materials.
DIY Paint Can Lights
Brighten your backyard celebrations with these DIY paint can lights. Using empty paint cans, a drill and some LEDs, you can light up your summer evenings.
Skill Level: Beginner
Time:
-
There are 6 steps to completing this project:
-
-
-
-
Step 2 Freeze Cans
Fill the paint cans with water and put them in a freezer until the water is frozen solid. This will help your lanterns keep their shape when you start making holes in them.
-
Step 3 Create Stencils
Cut the paper to fit the size of your paint cans. To create a pattern for drilling the holes into the cans, draw or trace the design you want your lanterns to have onto a sheet of paper. Create copies for however many lanterns you plan to make. Tape the patterns onto the frozen cans.
-
Step 4 Drill Pattern Into Cans
Wearing eye protection, drill the designs on your patterns into each can. Be sure to brace the cans securely while they are being drilled so they don’t roll or slip. Once the design is all transferred, remove the partially-melted ice from the cans and dry them out. Be careful of sharp edges around the holes drilled. Remove any jagged metal using plyers or metal file.
-
Step 5 Paint & Let Dry
Apply an even coat of spray paint/primer to each can. Add additional coats if necessary, and allow the cans to dry completely (at least 4-6 hours) before using them.
-
Step 6 Add Candles
Place an LED candle in each can and light them up!
