Now I dont know about yours but my garden is blossoming into summer. I love to sit in my garden on a summers evening, the smells are wonderful, we have bats come to call, just sitting watching and listening as evening begins to fall. I totally agree that right now it is still a little cool! however thats when I light he fire and and light my candles. I love having candles on especially in the garden. I hang my lanterns around the trees and bushes and slowly they twinkle turning the garden into a little fairyland.
Although I am not ashamed to say that over at Katie Craig we have a selection of candles & lanterns for you to chose from I still like to make my own and I thought I would share this one with you.
You will need
- Tin
- Hammer
- Nails
- Take a used tin wash thorougly and take off the label, fill with water and place in the freezer – this will stop the tin becoming dented when you do your design
- Once the water has frozen, remove form the freezer and draw your design, or if you prefer you can do an abstract design.
- Now use the hammer and nail to puch holes along your design ( I found a larger nail more useful – as the light shone through the slightly larger holes easier) – you will end up with a design on your can that will resemble a dot to dot pattern
- If you want to hang your lantern puch a hole in either side of your can to enable you to thread a wire through
- Once the ice has melted adda tlite light and enjoy. If you are using these at the table do ensure that as always your candles and lanterns sit on a heat reisitant surface.
I have made these lanterns every summer for many years – I seem to remember making tham as a child! and now I make them with my children. The ones that are in the picture we made last summer and they have been used all winter – I rather like the way they have rusted – for me it adds to the effect.
Enjoy making your lanterns – ours are hanging out with the fairies! Where are you going to put yours?
Take care, thank you for reading until next time
Katie x
