DIY Halloween Lantern

DIY Halloween Lantern featured image

Turn a colored page into a glowing Halloween lantern for your windowsill. This craft is simple, cozy, and perfect after an afternoon of coloring spooky-cute designs.

Time: 30–45 minutes  ·  Best for: kids with a little grown-up help, rainy afternoons, classroom parties

What you’ll need

  • Printed Halloween coloring page (or a blank lantern template)
  • Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
  • Scissors and glue stick or tape
  • A clean jar, paper cup, or small cardboard tube
  • Battery tea light (safer than real candles)
  • Optional: hole punch and string for hanging

How to make it

Step 1: Color your panel

Color the Halloween page with warm oranges, soft purples, and friendly blacks. Leave a few light areas so the glow can peek through later.

Step 2: Trim and score

Cut out the lantern panel. If your design has fold lines, gently score them with a dull edge so the paper wraps smoothly around your jar or tube.

Step 3: Wrap the light base

Wrap the colored panel around the jar, cup, or tube and secure with glue or tape. Keep the seam tidy at the back.

Step 4: Add the glow

Place a battery tea light inside. Dim the room lights and enjoy your handmade Halloween lantern on a shelf or porch table.

Cozy tips

  • Battery lights only — skip open flames with paper crafts.
  • Color on both sides lightly if you want a richer glow.
  • Make a set of three in matching colors for a sweet mantel display.

More crafts & pages

Find more projects in Coloring Crafts, browse Holiday coloring pages, or print a fresh page from the full library.

More Halloween crafts

Keep the scissors busy with more free DIY coloring crafts, or unwind with a printable page.