DIY Superhero Lantern

Here’s a fun & simple DIY for the summer using ~mostly~ Dollar Tree products! Fun fact: the video below is my first time making it and I thought it turned out pretty cool! I love the DIY lanterns because they’re completely customizable. You can use whatever silhouettes (other superheroes, princesses, shapes, etc.) you want, you can add glitter, use different color tissue paper in one frame - really the options are endless! Plus they make great gifts (the 3-frame one is actually a belated birthday gift for my friend)!

Materials needed:

-Photo frames

-Silhouettes*

-Mod Podge**

-Super glue and/or hot glue gun***

-Scissors

-Foam brush

-Colored tissue paper

-Flameless candle or LED light

1. Take apart your photo frames - you’ll only need the actual frame and the glass piece.

2. Apply mod podge to your silhouette and place it face down on your frame. Use your fingers to softly smooth out any air bubbles.

3. Cut your tissue paper to about the size you need (a little larger is better - you can cut the excess later).

4. Apply mod podge directly onto the glass and place your tissue paper on top. Use your fingers to very lightly smooth out any air bubbles. Cut any excess tissue paper.

5. Place your glass back in the frame and secure.

6. Glue the edge of one frame and attach it to another. Allow some dry time, and then glue the next frame.

7. I chose to use a combination of super glue and hot glue. Super glue is sturdier and hot glue dries quickly. You can use just one or the other - if you use only super glue you’ll need to hold it together or prop it up while it dries to ensure it dries together properly and you’ll need to allow more dry time between each frame.

8. If you’re going to use both, I recommend putting super glue in the middle of where you’re gluing first and then adding hot glue to the top and bottom (similar to what I did for the red spider web frame - just do the super glue first).

9. Add a flameless candle or LED light and you’re done!

10. Avoid using a candle with a flame since there's no backing to the tissue paper - you don’t want to accidentally start a fire!

*I used Google images to find silhouettes and I recommend using something without too many little pieces to cut out - the spider web was a pain.

**Some Dollar Trees carry mod podge - mine did not so I bought that at Target (about $7).

***I already had the hot glue and hot glue gun - not sure if Dollar Tree has them but they are pretty inexpensive at craft stores.

Happy crafting!

Cheers,

Prabha