Dollar Store Frame Lantern

I love the dollar store! Whether it’s picking up a few necessities, a birthday card or gift bag, candy for the movies, giving the kids a few bucks to spend, or even finding some cute decor items I find myself there a lot. I can’t count the number of times I’ve used supplies from there to create crafts and home decor. Today’s theme is Dollar Store Crafts and I am looking forward to seeing what my fellow crafters come up with. Come join along.

Welcome to the third annual 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Stop by every day from December first through the twelfth for new ideas you can use to make your season brighter!

Meet Your Hosts

They have all been busy as Elves creating, decorating, cooking and crafting tons of new ideas for you to try this holiday season!

Shirley~Intelligent Domestications I Alli~An Alli Event I Michelle~Our Crafty Mom I Marie~DIY Adulation 

Erlene~My Pinterventures I Beverly~Across The Blvd. I Debra~Shoppe No. 5 I Victoria~Dazzle While Frazzled

Megan~C’mon Get Crafty I Michelle~Michelle James Designs I Amanda~Domestically Creative

Deborah~Salvage Sister & Mister I Jeanie~Create & Babble I Sherry~Olives & Okra

Jenny~Cookies Coffee & Crafts I Emily~Domestic Deadline I Bonbon~Farmhouse 40 I Susanne~Pearl Street Designs 

Leanna~Of Faeries & Fauna I Pam Larmore~P.S. I Love You Crafts I Kelly~North Country Nest I Marie~The Inspiration Vault

Gail~Purple Hues and Me I Lynne~My Family Thyme I Karen~Dragonfly and Lily Pads I Trisha~Blowing Away Out West

Tomika~Life In Pumps I Rachee~Say it, “Rah-Shay” I Ra’Nesha~Queen ThriftyLorrin~Embrace The Perfect Mess 

Jaime~Love Jaime I Serena~The Weekend Jaunts I Terri~Christmas Tree LaneJessica~A Southern Mother 

Sam~Raggedy Bits I Rachel~Smart Mom Smart Ideas I Surya~The Busy Mom Club  I Cyn~Creative Cynchronicity

Valeria~Val Event Gal I Yami~The Latino Next Door I Jeannee~Centsably Creative I Tania~Little Vintage Cottage

 Lauren~Wonderfully Made I Vanessa~DIY 180 I Kimberly~A Wonderful Thought I Kim~Everyday Parties I Erica~Erica Ever After

Today I am showing you how I created this cute frame lantern.

glowing lantern

While I was walking the aisles of the dollar store looking for inspiration I found this cute polka dot tissue paper and started thinking of ways I could use it. You all know I love polka dots. Could I cover a notebook with it? Hmmm…maybe. What about using it to make a wreath? Possibly. Then I walked by the frames and remembered seeing lanterns made from them and something I always wanted to try. The tissue paper would create beautiful panels for the battery powered candles to glow through. Perfect!

supplies for lantern

I just needed a few more materials like super glue, school glue, and lights.

Frame Lantern Supplies

 

  • 4 frames (I used 5×7″ frames)
  • tissue paper
  • super glue
  • school glue 
  • sponge brush
  • battery powered lights (I used both to create a brighter glow.)

Frame Lantern Instructions

 

  • Remove the frames from their packaging and remove all of the backs and fillers from the frames.
  • Super glue the glass to the frames and let dry.

gluing glass onto frame

  • Super glue the four frames together to form a box. Let dry. (You could add your tissue paper to the glass before doing this, but I wanted to make sure the box would hold together before doing that.)

box for lantern

  • Cut four pieces of tissue paper that fit the glass. I cut one of the frame pieces to make a pattern first.

cutting tissue paper

  • Starting with one side brush some glue on the glass and adhere the tissue paper into place. Then brush more glue over the top. I used a clear glue, but you could use a white glue or Mod Podge for this.

gluing tissue paper to glass

  • Repeat on the other three sides. I knew the tissue would crinkle and I like that look. If you would rather have something that lays flat you will need to work with the paper and smooth it out.
  • Stand the lantern up and let dry.
  • I added a little snowflake I found at the dollar store, but you could add ribbon or any other decoration piece the dollar store has plenty of or nothing at all.
  • All done. Now just add your lights.

glowing lantern

It turned out better than I imagined it would and I’m thrilled with the pretty glow it gives off. I could see using several of these along a walk way for a party or as table decor. Where would you use something like this?

pinterest share lantern

On a side note….I’ve been hearing lately that there are some that are not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. I’ve been there so I understand. Here are some ideas I had when it happened to me.

Ways to find the Christmas spirit

Be sure to visit our fellow 12 Days of Christmas Bloggers below for even more creative ideas this holiday season!

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop 2018. Intelligentdomestications.com

Dru About Dru

There are so many things I could say but I will just start with the basics. Mother to 4. Grandmother to 11 (Yes, 11. All under the age of 9.) I am a former Army wife and we spent 15 years traveling around the world. It was such a thrill to have seen so many places and meeting lifetime friends. I spent many years working in the craft industry and love getting together with friends and creating. I have a lifelong love of thrift shops, antiques, and yard sales.

Comments

  1. Such a fun and clever idea. I never would have thought to do this! Love it.

  2. I love how you added the polka dot tissue paper to the lantern. It’s adorable

  3. Love it! Really clever.

  4. The polkadot paper is so cute. Great lantern

  5. Avatar Jack Wissom says

    Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for the dollar store. It’s also my go-to place for a variety of needs, whether it’s essentials, movie snacks, or adorable decor pieces. I go there often and have lost count of how many times I’ve used their materials for crafts and home decor projects. I look forward to creative ideas on this discussion board post. If you have good ideas but do not know how to correctly formulate them in a post, contact the discussion board post service and get help in writing and structuring your text.

  6. Avatar Henry Larry says

    Your frame lantern is a genius way to transform simple dollar store items into a beautiful decor piece. The step by step instructions make it seem so easy to create and I am excited to make one for my home.
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