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.
Psssttt… you can PIN THIS for later if you’d like to save the idea to Pinterest! Hover over the image below and you’ll see a “Pin It” button pop up for you.
Love this idea! We did a glow stick in our real pumpkin this year. You can’t have a Ninja Turtle pumpkin without it being the right color mask!
Some of the best ideas are the simplest!
I love how easy and reusable this is, plus it looks awesome at night!
Awesome! You rock!
Great idea! I have lined our walkway with painted mason jars (ghosts/pumpkins) with candles inside…however every year one or two get broken by over zealous trick or treaters. I like this idea, easy and safe 🙂
These are oh so cute! Maybe ill stock up on them after Thursday!
You may be the one person who can get me crafting because you’re ideas are so elegant & simple! Great stuff.
Super cute!!!! My neighborhood growing up always did a Santa’s highway around Christmas…this reminds me a little of that! And Jen’s photo is a riot in the middle of this post…just a few left.
That’s super cute!!! This will be great!! Love it!!
Ohh, I might have to go pick some of those up and decoupage them or something fun. Pumpkins all around!
Great idea! I love how easy and classic this project is. I featured it on my blog and directed folks to you. Thanks for sharing.
Such a fun idea! I love those pumpkin buckets:)
So I have been doing this for 5 yrs and didn’t like turning on all the tea lights so I bought the solar light at the dollar store. I put two in Worked great and even where I live here in Minniesnowda haha.