Summer Craft for Kids to make simple Tin Can Lanterns

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With long warm evenings we’re spending time in the garden after dark and although we have some solar lights I love having candle lights in the garden especially as we have some citronella tea lights that keep the bugs away. Tin Can Lanterns are great to make and a perfect summer craft for kids to do.

Materials for making Simple Tin Can Lanterns

Tin Can Washed
Screw
Small Hammer
Water

Looking for more Summer Craft Ideas for Kids – try some of our Summer Themed Paper Plates Crafts that you can make together

How to make Simple Tin Can Lanterns

Start off by removing all labels and glue from the tin can and clean thoroughly. Then it’s filling it with water and freezing it (it makes it much easier to hammer into if it’s got solid ice inside instead of nothing.

Once the ice is frozen take out the tin can and either use a drawn design that you can punch along or just use random holes. With T (3 years old) random holes were much easier but I do love the look of a set design.

We used a screw to form the holes – I tried using my craft punch but it wasn’t sharp enough to pierce the holes in the tin can with the ice inside and without the ice the tin collapsed after a few hits. The screw pierced the tin fantastically and produced a neat hole as well.

T is used to hammering and at times held the screw and the hammer working together at other times I held the hammer whilst she pierced the tin can. It’s good to combine the two as works on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination – each hammer hit wasn’t as hard as it would be with an older child but with more hits, she was able to pierce the tin.

Once you have covered the whole tin or set out your design then submerge in warm water and the ice will melt. Add a tea light either a normal one or an electric one and then enjoy on an evening.

Why not combine with a BBQ and try some of our Great BBQ Recipes

• Homemade Lemonade
• Watermelon Recipes for Summer
• Italian Tart
• Grilled Pork
• Kids made BBQ Skewers
• Fajita Seasoning ideal for BBQ’s

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Cerys Parker

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Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, high school teacher and mum. Realising that life doesn't have to be put on hold and you don't just have to survive whilst the kids are young she shares ideas to inspire you to LIVE with the kids, with activities to do together, recipes to cook and enjoy and family travel to make memories to last a lifetime.

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