Glowing DIY Halloween Lantern Crafts and Luminary Ideas

Make easy DIY Halloween decorations with these Halloween lantern ideas for kids and adults. From friendly ghosts to spooky jack-o’-lanterns, these Halloween luminaries add a festive glow to parties, porches, and trick-or-treat night. Choose your favorite DIY Halloween lantern craft and get started!

Enhance your DIY Halloween decorations with these creative Halloween lantern ideas for kids and adults. This festive collection of Halloween lantern crafts and DIY Halloween luminaries includes glowing, homemade decorations for Halloween parties, indoor displays, and sheltered spots on your front porch.

Discover how to make a Halloween lantern using glass canning jars, plastic milk jugs, paper, tin cans, and other recycled craft supplies. Choose a friendly or spooky design to welcome friends, neighbors, and trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. Follow the project instructions below to select suitable lighting and display options. You might also enjoy these outdoor Halloween porch decorations.

Gorgeous Glowing Halloween DIY Lanterns:

Carved pumpkins, turned into jack-o’-lanterns, are classic DIY Halloween luminaries. This collection explores other Halloween lantern crafts made with jars, paper, tin cans, and recycled materials. Looking for traditional pumpkin-carving ideas? Visit these fall nature crafts for real-pumpkin jack-o’-lantern projects.

Make homemade Halloween decorations with your kids, students, or friends using the instructions in this post or the original creators’ linked tutorials. Some projects also include ready-made alternatives you can purchase. Choose a lantern for your home, classroom, or Halloween party, and have an adult help with any cutting or tool work. For more creative ideas, please visit this list of Halloween Art Projects.

Easy DIY Halloween Lantern Ideas for Kids and Adults

Choose a Halloween lantern craft based on the materials you have or the type of decorations you want to make. These DIY Halloween luminaries offer friendly and spooky designs for crafting at home or in the classroom. Click a project name below to jump to its section in this guide, or follow the Fall Leaf Luminaries link to a separate tutorial by Rhythms of Play.

• Colorful jar lanterns: Try silhouette lanterns, painted mason jars, tissue-paper Halloween lanterns, mummy jars, or spiderweb luminaries. You can also use suitable recycled glass jars.
• Simple decorating projects: Make DIY paper Halloween lanterns, Halloween paper-bag luminaries, or lanterns from recycled plastic and paper cups.
• Recycled ghost decorations: Turn plastic milk jugs into glowing spirit jugs, or try the pumpkin and ghost sensory-bottle projects.
• Hanging Halloween lanterns: Decorate Chinese paper lanterns to look like pumpkins, or make floating witch hat luminaries.
• Projects requiring adult tool work: Make punched tin can luminaries or turn Halloween buckets into glowing jack-o’-lantern decorations.
• Fall Leaf Luminaries: Alternatively, decoupage real or faux autumn leaves onto glass canning jars for a warm autumn glow instead of making Halloween-themed lanterns.

Follow the instructions and lighting guidance for your chosen project. Some ideas also include ready-made alternatives you can purchase.

For more seasonal crafts, try painting Halloween pumpkins or Turkey Leaf Lanterns for Thanksgiving.

Lighting Your DIY Halloween Lanterns

Battery-operated LED tealights are an easy lighting option for these Halloween lantern crafts. Use flameless lights in paper bags, paper lanterns, plastic containers, cups, and fabric witch hats.

For candlelit displays, use a candle holder or a tempered glass jar intended for real flames and follow its directions. A recycled jar or bottle isn’t automatically suitable for a burning candle, and adding sand doesn’t make it heat-safe. Keep flames away from decorations and never leave a burning candle unattended.

For outdoor Halloween decorations, choose lights rated for outdoor use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep paper and other moisture-sensitive decorations and lights sheltered and dry, and place lanterns and cords away from walking paths.

Halloween Luminaries and Halloween Lantern Craft Ideas for Kids and Adults:

Explore the Halloween DIY lanterns below to find a friendly ghost, colorful jack-o’-lantern, or spooky decoration you’d love to make. Follow the instructions here or visit the linked creator tutorials to make your favorite Halloween luminaries.

Many of these Halloween lantern crafts use milk jugs, coffee cans, paper bags, mason jars, cups, and bottles you may already have. Reusing materials can cut costs and turn everyday containers into homemade Halloween decorations.

For more glowing autumn crafts, try these fall leaf lanterns and luminaries. You can also explore these healthy treats and candy-free Halloween handouts for trick-or-treat night.

 1. Enchanting Silhouette Halloween Lanterns:

I love the enchanting Halloween silhouette lanterns Liska makes over on Adventure in a Box, as shown in the photograph below. Paint glass jars, then place silhouette cutouts inside (such as witches, haunted houses, cats, ghosts, or cemeteries) on the jar’s exterior.

Aren’t the glowing lanterns below gorgeous DIY decorations!? Click on the link to learn how to make these fantastic Halloween silhouette luminaries. Alternatively, you can buy similar purple Halloween lanterns with different lovely-yet-spooky silhouettes on Amazon.

2. Painted Mason Jar Halloween Luminaries:

I love the different colors and fun hand-drawn faces on these painted Halloween mason jar lanterns on “Crafts by Amanda.” This simple technique offers many fun ways to decorate Halloween mason jar lanterns with paint.

This creative technique for making DIY Halloween lanterns and luminaries with various pumpkin and ghoulish faces is a simple project for kids or adults. Click the link above to learn how to make these easy Halloween lantern crafts in various colors of your choice. Alternatively, you can buy this colorful Halloween lantern craft kit.

Similar Recycled Jar Halloween luminaries:

• You can also make these DIY Jack O’ Lantern tea lights by Moms and Crafters.
• Visit the lantern craft tutorial linked above to learn how to make similar gorgeous Halloween jar lanterns using permanent markers instead of paint to color the glass jars.

3. Halloween Mason Jar Lanterns with Tissue Paper:

DIY Halloween mason jar lanterns made with tissue paper are equally awesome. The tissue-paper Halloween lantern in the photograph below by My Crafty Spot won my heart years ago. It features mason jar lanterns in various colors and shapes. With a little imagination, you can create fun, Halloween-themed characters such as friendly Jack-o’-lanterns, ghoulish ghosts, Frankenstein, or even a vampire.

Create a Halloween lantern inspired by the ghoulishly glowing DIY project examples in the photograph below. The craft project features different tissue paper lantern styles you can make. Because the tutorial is no longer available online, I’m creating a new one with similar colorful lanterns, which will be available soon. For now, check out the alternative tissue paper lantern craft tutorials below the picture for instructions.

spooktacular DIY tissue paper Halloween luminary Tutorials:

The lantern craft tutorials hyperlinked below use tissue paper. Use larger wide-mouth mason jars, quart (32 ounce), half-gallon (64 ounce), or gallon (128 ounce), with tissue paper and Mod Podge or slightly watered-down white glue, to create larger Halloween mason jar lanterns like those in the photograph above. My new tutorial on how to make them isn’t quite ready yet. I will link it here when it’s complete. Check back soon!

• Create easy Halloween Lanterns with tissue paper using the step-by-step instructions by Red Ted Art.
• Alternatively, make tissue-paper Jack-o’-lantern nightlight jars with the Halloween craft tutorial by Fireflies and Mudpies. The photo collage at the bottom of this craft tutorial shows these sweet pumpkin lantern crafts. It’s a cute little Halloween lantern with curled pipe-cleaner vines on top, making it look even more like a real pumpkin.

4. Halloween Mummy Jars:

Mummy lantern jars are easy Halloween lantern crafts you can make with mason jars, recycled glass bottles, or plastic jars in different shapes and sizes. Gauze wrappings and googly eyes turn these everyday containers into friendly or spooky Halloween mummy luminaries.

My favorite mummy jars are by Nora Nalle, whose creations are pictured below. Her original tutorial is no longer available online, so I’ve included instructions below to help you make your own. Finish your DIY mummy lantern with a battery-operated LED tealight for a gentle Halloween glow.

How to make Mummy Halloween Jar Lanterns:

1. Gather mason jars, recycled glass bottles, or plastic jars from the recycling bin in your favorite shapes and sizes. Wash them, remove any labels, and allow them to dry completely. Choose containers with openings wide enough to insert and retrieve your LED tealights.
2. Use a foam brush to coat the outside of a jar or bottle with Mod Podge or slightly watered-down white craft glue.
3. While the glue is still wet, wrap gauze around the container, pressing it gently into the glue until it resembles a wrapped mummy. Using a roll of gauze makes this step easy. Keep the gauze outside the container and clear of the opening.
4. If needed, brush a little glue over the gauze to secure the overlapping layers.
5. Continue adding glue and gauze until you’re happy with your DIY mummy jar. Leave some thinner areas between the wrappings so the light can shine through.
6. Secure any loose gauze ends with a little more glue.
7. Glue a pair of large googly eyes onto the outside of the mummy jar to give your Halloween lantern its own personality.
8. Allow the glue and gauze to dry completely, following the glue manufacturer’s drying instructions.
9. Place a battery-operated LED tealight inside your finished Halloween mummy lantern. If you want to add weight for stability, pour a little clean, dry sand into the bottom first, keeping the light’s battery compartment clear. Use flameless lighting for this gauze-covered craft, including versions made with plastic jars.

5. Jam or Mason Jar Spider Web Lanterns:

Can you guess the material Mum in the Madhouse uses to create the spooktacular effect of these fabulous spider web Halloween lanterns? Find out her simple secret in the DIY step-by-step tutorial! Buy this creative craft material on Amazon to turn mason or recycled glass jars into Halloween spider web lanterns and luminaries for Halloween.

Related: Giant DIY Spider Web Halloween Decoration

6. DIY Paper Lanterns for Halloween Decorations:

You can also make glowing Halloween lanterns with paper. Learn how to make the crafts pictured below with Lia Griffiths’ DIY paper Halloween lantern tutorial. These Halloween luminaries feature cut-out designs that let light shine through, creating festive DIY Halloween decorations for parties and indoor displays.

Lia Griffith Halloween paper lantern template and SVG cut file require a membership or one-time purchase. Check the project page for current access options and supplies before getting started.

Light these DIY Halloween luminaries with battery-operated LED flameless tealight candles or fairy lights suitable for the project. Never use real candles inside paper lanterns.

7. Halloween Tin Can Luminaries:

I love the simple look of the recycled coffee can Halloween luminaries by Jolly Mom in the photograph below. Unfortunately, this blog is no longer available online, so I added a step-by-step tutorial below the original photograph so you can make these Halloween crafts.

Another slightly different, super-festive, ready-made tin can lantern option with a smiling Jack-o’-lantern face (that you can store and reuse) is available on Amazon. Or, follow the step-by-step instructions to make tin can Halloween lanterns with any words or designs you think might look good.

Write words or short phrases such as “Trick or Treat”, or create outlines of Halloween characters like cats, pumpkins, skeletons, and ghosts. See how fantastic these tin can luminaries look in the image below.

The photo shows “Trick” and “Treat” written on separate cans. You can also punch holes that read “Boo” or “Happy Halloween” on the tin cans with the step-by-step directions below. Alternatively, create a smiling, spooky, or goofy face, or outlines of classic Halloween characters such as a cat or an orb spiderweb.

An adult should handle the hammer, awl, or nail and punch holes for this tin can lantern project. Choose clean cans without sharp, exposed rims, and check the edges around the finished holes before children handle the lanterns.

How to make Tin Can Halloween Lanterns:

1. Start by collecting medium to extra-large tin cans, such as coffee cans.
2. Remove the label and clean the can.
3. Apply painter’s tape onto the can where you want to write festive words, create a face, or add other Halloween designs.
4. Use pens or markers to write festive Halloween words and phrases or create simple designs, such as a classic Jack-o’-lantern face, directly onto the tape stuck to the tin cans.
5. Fill the cans with water and freeze until frozen. This will make it easier to punch holes in the next step.
6. Follow the outline of the words or design on the tape using a small hammer and an awl or a nail. Alternatively, you can use the tip of an old-fashioned can opener, which is useful for making jack-o-lantern eyes, but using one can be more challenging.
7. Gently hit the awl or nail with the hammer. Tap the hammer until it punches through the tape over the design, creating a small hole in the tin can.
8. Continue tapping holes into the can (or punching holes with an old-fashioned can opener), following the words or design on the tape.
9. Remove the painter’s tape when finished creating the Halloween design or phrase on the tin can lantern.
10. Allow the ice to melt, empty the can, and dry it thoroughly inside and out before painting. Let the paint dry completely, following the instructions.
11. Paint the cans black, orange, purple, green, or any other festive acrylic paint color you like.
12. Place a battery-operated LED tealight inside your finished tin can Halloween luminary. The light will shine through the punched holes, revealing your Halloween words, faces, or designs.

8. Pottery Barn Knock-Off Hanging Pumpkin Lanterns:

Hanging Chinese paper lanterns and Halloween luminaries make fantastic DIY Halloween decorations. Several fun ways to make paper lanterns that float in mid-air include the one shown in the photograph below by Making Lemonade. Use paper lanterns in various sizes (and colors) to create gorgeous hanging decorations that appear to float in mid-air. Halloween lanterns don’t have to be orange!

Of course, orange paper lanterns make great hanging pumpkin lanterns. But you can use several other colors to make these festive, glowing beauties. Use decorative hanging paper lanterns to make them quickly and easily. Choose lightweight, battery-operated LED lights for your hanging paper lanterns, secure them in place, and keep them sheltered from rain and away from heat sources.

Visit the step-by-step DIY tutorial on Making Lemonade to make hanging paper Halloween lanterns. Alternatively, you can purchase ready-made Halloween paper lanterns, like these smiling pumpkins or this variety pack with several colors and designs.

9. Hanging Witch Hat Lanterns and Luminaries:

Here’s another DIY hanging Halloween lantern idea that’s just as excellent, perfect for making at home or in the classroom. These floating witch hat luminaries by Polkadot Chair are a super creative alternative to the hanging jack-o-lantern paper lanterns described above!

Aren’t they awesome?! Hang these fabulous DIY Halloween decor ideas around your house to celebrate Halloween and add festive flair. Homemade decorations and fun Halloween lantern crafts like these hanging witch hats create bewitching decorations inside and out!

Choose lightweight, battery-operated LED lights, such as fairy lights, suitable for your hanging witch hat lanterns, and secure both the lights and decorations before displaying them. Keep them sheltered from rain and away from heat sources.

10. Halloween Paper Bag Luminaries:

Here are several ways you can make paper bag lanterns for Halloween. Use your favorite set of step-by-step instructions below to make homemade Halloween paper bag lanterns and luminaries at home or in the classroom:

How to Make Paper Bag Lanterns for Halloween:

• Use a long reach single-hole punch to punch holes into orange paper bags (or plain brown paper lunch bags) to create various festive words and designs. Punch holes to write words like “Trick or Treat” or create Halloween designs, such as a haunted house.
• Alternatively, you can use a spider, bat, or pumpkin paper punch to make DIY Halloween luminary bags. These festive Halloween punches can create various designs on each paper bag. However, unlike the deep-reaching single-hole punch option linked above, these punches don’t reach deep into the bag’s center, so they work better along the top or sides. You can also fold the bag to create designs that cut through multiple paper layers.
• To finish your Halloween paper bag luminary, open the decorated bag and flatten its base so it stands upright. Place a battery-operated LED tealight inside. If needed, add a little clean, dry sand to weigh down the bottom and keep the light’s battery compartment clear. Display paper bag lanterns in a dry, sheltered spot away from foot traffic.

Check out the paper bag lantern ideas below for even more spooktacular DIY Halloween paper bag luminaries!

More Paper Bag Halloween Lantern Ideas:

Several other paper bag Halloween lantern options are available at the Amazon affiliate links below:

• 24 Halloween luminary bags: Bat and pumpkin orange tea light candle bags make lovely Halloween decorations for parties and fall festivals. Get these festive decorations here: Orange Tea Light Candle Bags.
• 20 pcs durable, reusable, gorgeous white fire-retardant luminary candle bags with stars and moons. Get these paper bag lanterns here: Luminary Candle Bags.
• 48 pcs Halloween luminary bags. (Flame-resistant luminaries) Orange-and-black tea light candle bags. Halloween decorations and party lanterns with a witch, black cat, or pumpkin silhouette. Get these paper bag luminaries here: Flame-Resistant Bag Lanterns.
• Don’t forget the flameless tealight candles for your paper bag Halloween luminaries.

11. Milk Jug Ghost Halloween DIY Lanterns or “Spirit Jugs.”

Recycled “spirit jugs” are easy to make and use as gorgeous, glowing DIY Halloween decor. Start saving your milk jugs now! Use a strand of Christmas lights to make these Halloween milk-jug luminaries, as shown in the photo below.

Choose LED string lights suitable for the intended display location. An adult should make any openings needed for the lights. Follow the light manufacturer’s instructions, and use outdoor-rated lights if displaying your milk jug ghost lanterns outside.

Flameless, battery-operated candles also work well in milk jug lanterns like these ghoulish glowing ghosts. Alternatively, you can make this type of recycled milk jug Halloween luminary emit a subtle glow by putting glow sticks, or bracelets inside the ghost lanterns.

Use colored glow sticks to add color to your glowing ghost lanterns and luminaries. Glow sticks, bracelets, and necklaces also make great non-candy Halloween treats. Visit this guide for several more candy alternatives that make great Halloween handout ideas.

Follow step-by-step instructions to make Halloween lanterns or spirit jugs that look like ghosts with plastic gallon milk jugs by Eighteen-Twenty-Five, as shown in the photo below.

More Milk Jug Halloween Lanterns:

• Alternatively, you can make these quick and inexpensive DIY Halloween ghost luminaries with the craft tutorial on Third Stop on the Right.

12. Halloween Bucket Jack O’ Lantern Luminary Ideas:

Halloween buckets, traditionally used to collect candy on Halloween night, can become lanterns and luminaries in fun, creative ways. Stacking Halloween bucket lanterns creates a spooky totem-pole effect that lights up the night, as shown in the photograph below.

An adult should handle any cutting or drilling required by the Halloween bucket lantern tutorials. Check cut edges before handling, use LED lighting suitable for the display location, and secure stacked buckets so they cannot tip over.

Use Jack O’ Lantern Halloween buckets with various colors and designs to make some of the fabulous Halloween Luminary ideas below:

• Use the fun DIY Halloween luminary tutorial on Scratch and Stitch to make a glowing plastic Jack-o’-lantern totem pole.
• Cut out the eyes and mouth of Jack-o’-lantern Halloween buckets to make DIY light-up Halloween pumpkins. The tutorial is on Girl, Just DIY!
• Use the DIY Halloween luminary craft tutorial on Twitchetts to create a colorful, light-up Halloween totem pole with a weathered look.
• Make this easy Jack-o’-Lantern porch light with the fun DIY Halloween lantern tutorial by Happiness is Homemade.
• Use Jack-o’-lantern Halloween buckets to make this easy glowing pumpkin lantern DIY found on Making Lemonade.
• Alternatively, you can purchase this stacking plastic Jack-o’-lantern pumpkin totem pole with lights, or this lighted stacked pumpkin decoration for Halloween with an LED Bulb.

13. Recycled Cup Lanterns and Halloween Luminaries:

Use recycled plastic or paper cups to try these cool Halloween Lantern DIY ideas:

• Make paper-cup Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins that glow in the dark on Halloween night. They have cute, glowing noses and are easy to make. Find this easy Halloween lantern DIY tutorial on Non-Toy Gifts.
• Looking for a quick, easy Halloween lantern craft? Your kids will love these glowing jack-o’-lanterns you can make with plastic cups! To make this easy Halloween luminary DIY, visit Buggy and Buddy for directions to make these cute cup lanterns.

14. Halloween Lanterns made with recycled bottles:

My daughter and I made Pumpkin and Ghost Halloween sensory bottle lanterns for simple luminary and lantern decorations. Click on the links for the step-by-step project tutorials!

The Best Halloween Lanterns DIY

The best DIY Halloween lanterns are the ones you enjoy making! Choose a friendly ghost, colorful jack-o’-lantern, or spooky silhouette from this collection of Halloween luminary DIY ideas. These Halloween lantern crafts give kids and adults creative ways to make homemade decorations for parties, windowsills, and sheltered doorsteps.

Start with materials you already have, such as milk jugs, coffee cans, paper bags, mason jars, cups, Halloween buckets, and recycled plastic or glass bottles. Follow your chosen project’s instructions, let paint and glue dry completely, and choose safe lighting options suitable for the materials and display location. Use flameless lights in paper, plastic, and fabric lanterns, and have an adult handle cutting or hole punching.

For more DIY fall luminaries, try Leaf Lanterns, Turkey Lanterns, or Heart Lanterns. You might also enjoy these Halloween Art Projects!

Keep the seasonal fun going with these fall activities and a free printable autumn bucket list. Happy Halloween crafting!

More DIY Halloween Decoration Ideas:

• Tissue Paper Ghost Craft
• Spider Door Decor
• DIY Spider Egg Halloween Decoration
• Giant Spiderweb Halloween Decoration
• Spider Crafts
• Halloween Porch Decor

More DIY Mason Jar Lantern Ideas:

DIY lanterns are fun to make for several other occasions, including a traditional fall lantern walk. Try the step-by-step tutorials below. Happy lantern crafting!

• Autumn Leaf Lanterns
• Turkey Leaf Luminaries
• Heart Leaf Lanterns

If You Enjoy Halloween Lanterns DIY, Then You May Also Like:

• 13 Healthy Treats and Fun Alternatives for Halloween
• Top 10 Fall Nature Crafts (Contains pumpkin and jack-o’-lantern carving ideas)
• Glow in the Dark Ringer Game Sensory Bottle
• Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting
• Best Halloween Art Projects