Star Lantern

While looking for a couple of things I needed at the Dollar Tree I noticed that their Christmas decorations were being put out, so I decided to grab a Christmas Tree topper and decided to give it life buy turning into a lantern.

Materials:
1.) Christmas Tree topper- Dollar Tree
2.) Cereal box, or any box you have available.
3.) Hot Glue
4.) Exacto Knife
5.)Spray paint- Smokey Beige, Gold paint, or Rub and Buff ( not included In the picture)
6.) Fairy lights, wooden round beads, round rhinestones
7.)Bubble wrap

Start by taking apart the star topper which is very simple to split in half and remove the bottom part since its only plastic.

Place one of you half stars on top of your box make sure the star fits you don’t want the points to stick out. You will trace the inside star shape of the star and not the outside perimeter.

** Note, you can do one side of the box only or you can do front and back.

Once you have traced the inside perimeter of the star carefully cut it out using your exacto knife. Apply hot glue around the back of the star and place on the box, press and hold.

Now you can start by gluing the round wooden beads for the legs, you can use small, medium or large. I used two pieces of blue rhinestones glued together.

Once you have glued the bottom “legs” on each corner then grab your small round rhinestones and align them at the top and bottom of the star. It will give the design more texture and dimension.

Spray time, I’m using a Smokey Beige color as I want it to be a everyday home item but you can use any color to match your decor. Spray the inside and outside of the box.

**You can use chalk paint or acrylic paint, but if you spray always wear a mask.

Once the spray paint is dry then you will grab the bubble wrap and glue it on the inside of the box right behind the star shape. The bubble wrap will give it a frosty look once lights are inserted.

Depending on what type of box you are using this step is optional, my box has a lid that opens so I decided to add magnets so that when it closes the magnets keep it closed. If magnets do not work for you then you can use velcro as well.

***If you use a cereal box then skip this step.

If you have any gold paint or rub and buff gold paint you will apply it to the star shape frame to bring out the fine detailing, you will also repeat this step on the rhinestones you glued to the box.

Now its time to add the lights, you can use any type of lights I chose to use clear lights. I simply placed them inside and added some hot glue to keep them from moving.

Light it up! Voila! You have now created a one of a kind everyday home item.

Now you can proudly display it at home. 🙂