Easy DIY Glowing Pumpkin Lanterns {Day 28}

One of the problems of blogging about one topic for all 31 Days in October is that a few seasonal ideas are bound to sneak in– such as how to make a EASY glowing pumpkin lanterns using materials from Target or the Dollar Store.  Since it took under 15 minutes I thought it would be okay to share within this series.  It’s EASY, it’s QUICK, and it’s DECOR… and if it happens to be pumpkins, such is life.  😉

But back to the glowing pumpkin lanterns.  This idea is SO simple and easy, but truthfully it never even occurred to try it until I spotted it while trick or treating last year.  Simply drop Tap Lights, thick glow sticks, or other flameless lights into cheap plastic pumpkins, and BOOM– you’ve got the cutest glowing pumpkin lanterns on the block!

Here’s a hint: none of the local Dollar Tree stores in my area had the old fashioned style plastic pumpkins.  They’ve upgraded to pumpkin buckets.  Which led to my desperate plea on Facebook, where my Philly gals started posting pics of where I could find them (like this one at Target from Jennifer of PhillyFun4Kids, um, I think they have a few left…)

Also, we tried the skinny glowsticks that sell for $1 a pack but they didn’t work as well as Tap Lights or larger glow sticks.  You really want these puppies to shine.  And they DO, as long as they have a light source on the stronger side.  The skinny glowsticks might work better if you used a whole bunch in each pumpkin.

We use them to line the driveway, welcoming trick or treaters to our home.

*Someone* was only too happy to don her Rapunzel hair and pretend to trick-or-treat for me.

As the sun set, we watched them light up and glow.

Helpful Hint: Plastic pumpkins are bulky and annoying to store because they don’t flatten.  At the end of the season, a great place to store them is UP!  Use hooks along the wall in a basement or garage, or string the handles and hang from a rope across the wall.  They may need a little dusting next October, but you won’t waste an inch of shelf space.

Seeing the lanterns glowing and ready for the big night really got us in the mood for some trick or treating.  What are you or your little ones going as this year?

Easy DIY Glowing Pumpkin Lanterns is Day 28 in the 31 Days of 15 Minute Decorating Ideas series.  Subscribe in the header to get each quick decorating idea delivered to your inbox daily, and find of the rest of the 15 minute decorating ideas series here.

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