I've been redecorating my dining room but doing so on a very tight budget. Like $100 budget. I can't wait to show you the before and after! For now I'll share this little project that only took me 30 minutes. Just take DOLLAR STORE frames and turn them into this gorgeous hurricane lantern! I used only 5 frames for a total of $5 per lantern! And since I had these frames on hand already I technically spent NOTHING!
See the tutorial below!
They look great as centerpieces.
You could also try using various sizes of frames for a variety of lanterns all grouped together.
I included some lantern ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Scroll down below for tutorial!
These also look amazing on a front porch!
Great for weddings!
Paint the frames gold
Or white.
Photo Source unknown
Fill with seasonal items like pumpkins
Or just plain string lights
Add a crosshatch
Skip the pyramid top
Okay! So here's how you do it. So easy.
Materials
5 Dollar Store frames of the same size
Hot Glue (or gorilla glue if you want your lantern to be sturdy)
Pair of Needlenose Pliers
Curtain ring or heavy rope
Heavy Black Marker
Buy some dollar store picture frames. I had these on hand. I got the paper inside from a cute paper stack at Hobby Lobby. But I had bought wayyyy too many. So I took 10 from my pile for this project which will make 2 lanterns.
Remove paper backing.
Fold down the tabs to secure the glass to the frame.
Start hot gluing! Glue four frames together on each side to form a cube. If you want your lantern to be a bit more sturdier then use gorilla glue. You'll have to let it cure for 24 hours though:-( I'm not that patient. Plus, I'm not going to be moving mine around very much.
Voila! Now you could stop here if you want and I've seen a lot of Pinterest posts that do but I wanted something more like the photo on the right.
So I took another frame and broke it down. If you wanted to use the glass from the 5th frame and have a glass cutter (which I don't) you can cut that glass to the size of the inside bottom and hot glue it in place.
I removed all the metal with a pair of needlenose pliers.
I used a dark black marker and colored the back of the frame.
Then I used a chop saw and cut the other two longer pieces the same length as the shorter two pieces at a 45 degree angle on the ends. If you don't have a chop saw you can just use a miter box and hand saw.
Then I hot glued the pieces to the corners of the top of the cube. They should lean towards the center since your edge is cut at a 45 degree angle. If you are using gorilla glue I recommend gluing the 4 pieces of the pyramid at the point first, letting it dry overnight, THEN gluing it to the 4 corners of your cube.
Have the 45 degree point meet in the center at a point and hot glue in place. All four pieces should meet at the top like a pyramid.
Now for the finishing touch! If you have a curtain ring it works perfect! Just clip or hot glue it to the top. If you don't have a curtain ring to spare you can also use a heavy rope. Like in the photo to the right from Home Goods. You could also use a plain plastic shower curtain ring and spray it black.
Like not spending money? 
18 {comments}:
This is AMAZING Kathleen! I seriously want to make a few of these lanterns! You are brilliant! I'm pinning and sharing too!
That is so smart! They turned out great!
What an awesome idea!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks so much for this! I love these lanterns and I don't know why I didn't think about doing this! Off to find frames and my glue...
What a great idea. They are beautiful.will have to make a run to the $ store. Have two other things, but they have been out. Hope they won't be out of this.
What a great idea 💡. Thank you for sharing. Hope they have these, need a couple other items and they have been out of them.
This look great! Quick question - how did you make the bottom, or isn't there one?
What a great idea Kathleen!
I've been wanting a large Lantern to decorate my porch for Spring and find your post was just wonderful!!!That Lantern paired up with some pink tulips and voila, my porch will be from drab to Fab lol... I can't wait to have a quick trip to the dollar store tomorrow :)
@JoannaThere isn't a bottom.
Wow, this is AMAZING!!!
Incredible, love, love this. How smart you are. Would love to have some of those great lanterns at Target or wherever but SS doesn't leave lot of fun money to buy much (especially with month after month of 5 week months, ouch). What an awesome idea.
Get paid this Wed. so can buy some frames at $tree. Can hardly wait to try this. Can mix it with other lanterns have collected, this one will be the focus lantern. Will need to buy 5 frames each month to collect a few lanterns.
Hope it's as easy as you make it look to assemble. Your lanterns look incredible with your goodies staged in them.
Have wonderful week
@Kathleen Frances
One can hot glue the cardboard backing of the frame to the bottom after it is cut to size.
Hi there,
I absolutely love this idea, but I have a quick question for you. At the part where the pieces of the fifth frame meet like a pyramid, you seem to have something sticking in the center of them that you've attached the curtain loop to, what is that? I'm hoping to make a few smaller versions of these for my bridesmaids to carry down the isle, so I want to make sure the handle is sturdy. I'd also love to make quite a few of these to decorate for my wedding, it'd save me a bundle.
Oh my gosh! I love this, and it was really awesome that you added the different styles, colors, and shapes! Totally inspired I going to have to try it =]
-Jill
Thanks so much ... They are precious! I will try this one ,as I love lots of lanterns ....especially at Christmas . Wish I had the talent to think of these things... Keep them coming . Thanks again .
Best to you,
Gig I
I must make one (or more!) of these! I'm sick and tired of cleaning the cat fur off the current (tired) dried flower arrangement. The repurposed picture frame with glass will protect whatever is placed inside--making de-furring easier. Love my kitties, but the flying fur drives me nuts!
;)
Love this! How did you attach the ring to the top?
Wow it's amazing Stuff.
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