DIY Cereal Box Jack-O-Lantern

Hi Again!

So, I have been brainstorming for an alternative to the traditional Jack-O-Lantern.  With a toddler assisting on the project, I wanted to be a little creative.  I put together this lantern from supplies I had around the house.  It also looks perfect in a window sill!  This craft costs little to nothing depending on what you have on hand.

After cutting out, this is a perfect craft for the kids to decorate. Miss V was all about painting, and it kept her busy!

 

What you’ll need-

• Cereal Box
• Paint (For less mess use a glue stick and tissue paper)
• White School Glue
• Orange and Green Craft Foam Sheets (Sold at Walmart for $.33 each, or cut up a second cereal box and paint)
• Battery Operated Tea Light – Do not use a real candle – (I purchased a set of 2 battery operated tea lights from Dollar Tree, make sure yours do not produce any heat)
• Scotch Tape
• Scissors
• Exacto or Craft Knife
• Copy Paper
• Newsprint
• PDF Template – Cereal Box Pumpkin Template

 

Start by cutting a large hole in the cereal box

Print out the template, tape down to a piece of orange craft foam, and cut.

With an Exacto knife cut out the face of the Jack-O-Lantern.  You may need to retape the paper to the orange craft foam.

Tape and cut out the stem of the pumpkin.

Paint and decorate!  Add glitter, stickers, whatever you like! We used finger paints.

Don’t paint the flap of the cereal box shut. You’ll need this to take the battery operated tea light in and out.

Glue the stem to the back of the pumpkin, and then glue everything to the box

Next, glue a piece of white card stock or copy paper to the inside back of the box, this reflects the light outward, so the lantern has a larger glow.

Let everything dry for at least a few hours.

Add the battery operated tea light. It absolutely goes without saying, but never ever ever use a real candle. You’ll have kindling and a major fire!

You’re all set!  Place on a window sill or tabletop

 

Disney Characters 

If you’d like more of a challenge for adults, use a free pumpkin carving template, like the ones from Disney Family.

I made a second box using the Mickey Vampire template (scale to print at 90%). This was hard work. You’ll need a brand-new blade in the Exacto knife to get all of the very small lines. After an hour mine still wasn’t perfect. This is definitely not a craft for the kids.

Here are the results-

 

 

Are you getting crafty this Halloween?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook!