Hanging Patio Lantern for 2 Dollars.
Inspired by big designers, i came up with this 2 dollars hunting lantern idea. I shopped most of the supplies from the Dollar Tree store. For the lantern body, I used the famous giant plastic cheese ball jar from Costco after enjoying the cheese balls all together, my kids and me.
I love cheese ball and ended to have lots and lots of jars at home.
you can find the extra big ones at Costco or Sam’s club. You can combine the extra large ones and the smaller ones from the regular grocery stores.
Anyway, ones I had everything in between my hands I started imagining how my lanterns gonna look like and how I will hang them.
I got a black synthetic rope from dollar tree store that I lined all over the jar horizontally and vertically with hot glue.
For the handles I used an old rattan woven basket that i dismantled and covered with the black rope to solidify the handles. Note; the basket is the cheep one we find everywhere at Ross, home goods…
Finally, I drilled the bottom of the jar and insert the solar light for a convenient lighting.
Quick note: in my previous lantern project, some people were worry about the hot glue of it will melt outdoor under the sun. But for me, it didn’t. I leave in Pennsylvania and we do have some very hot days too.
watch the tutorial video for more details.
what you will need:
- Plastic jar, empty and clean (to remove the tag on the jar soak it in water and scrub or use goo gone for faster peeling)
- from dollar tree store: black synthetic rope and solar light.
- hot glue.
- drill
- handle: use old belt, rope, chain…
Prepare the rope: Start by measuring the diameter and the hight of the jar and cut the rope in pieces according to that.
I used 11 pieces of rope for the horizontal loops. And 8 pieces for the vertical ones.
Squeeze hot glue and place the tip of your first rope. Make a loop and connect it with where you started. Use your fingers to measure between a line and another, like 2 fingers or use the measuring tape for 1 inch interval.
I personally only eye bolted it, the lazy way but it worked.
it will be better to start from the same point and end in the same spot for all the rings ( i call them rings). This way, you can hide them easily with the vertical rope and it will look prettier by the end.
Glue on the top of the jar just bellow the neck, two vertical ropes that you already measured and cut. Try to start with the side where the horizontal rings start and end and glue over it to hide the ugly look.
make the same vertical line in all four sides of the jar. That’s means in every quarter you glue 2 rope with a quarter inch space. Like in the picture.
Drill 2 holes in the neck of the plastic jar. They should fit the radius of the handle you want to insert there. So use the right drill head.
i dismantled this rattan woven basket and use it as handles and lantern bottom. I have chosen this type of material because it’s easy to bend and shape for better manipulation.
gently, insert the rattan inside the holes.
Fold and tape with a duck tape the sides of the rattan.
Cover the handle with the rope.
Cover the neck of the jar with the rope. That’s gonna be in two pieces as the handle holes will not allow you to make a one piece rope.
Form a circle with the rattan and cover it with rope.
Put some hot glue around the circle and glue it in the bottom of the jar.
Drill a hole in the bottom of the jar.
Detach the head of the solar light from the body and Insert it inside the hole you made. I had to make two holes with my drill to form a one hole that the light fitted inside it.
I made two lanterns and used 2 jars, 2 ropes and two solar lights.
i love them in both ways, hanged or just on a table or on the floor.
At night, I like to see my lanterns lighting all the time reflecting a romantic atmosphere in my patio.
Resources for this project:
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Comments
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Hinda, GENUINE Charleston sweetgrass baskets are not sold at discount stores, they are too valuable. This is a basket I got at Hobby Lobby. The difference is, on the real sweetgrass baskets, palm fronds are used to tie it together. The ones you get in the store are tied together with plastic or hyacinth straps. You had the "real" one. I lived in Charleston for over 20 years, I know the difference. The "store" baskets are made in China, SE Asia.....the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Taiwan.
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Beautiful! Fantastic idea. On a side note, please take this as constructive observation, I really recommend proof reading before posting, I can tell you from personal experience when I go back and read some of my posts, lol, I say it with love, trust me, really great post, thank you for the idea!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Nice but you said there’s no sun ? How the lights will turn on at nite ?
How has the glue held up in the heat?
I don’t understand where the solar charger is located?