Outdoor Lantern {from a $1 trash can!}

We shared this tutorial over at Infarrantly Creative a few months ago, and as I was doing a few more updates to my front porch this week I realized we’d never posted it here! As you guys know, I love finding things that are old, ugly, or really cheap and transforming them into something beautiful. I knew I could make something out of these ugly vinyl trash cans I found on clearance for $1…

{In case you were wondering, I got these on a final clearance sale at Home Depot — a set of 3 trash cans for $1. Yes, I’m kicking myself for only getting one set! I haven’t seen them there since, but I have seen something similar at the Dollar Store.}

So, I snatched up these floral beauties and the first thing I did was rip off the ugly plastic that makes up the “walls” of the trash can. I saw the gorgeous shape of the frame and I was smitten! Along with a few mason jars I already had in my stash, I knew these would perfect for some DIY outdoor hanging lanterns.

Here are the supplies I used:

• 1 trash can {metal frame}
• mason jar
• 18 gauge wire
• wire cutters
• scissors
• 1 1/4″ cup hook
• small “s” hook
• roman shade clip {that is the pear-shaped thing I used at the top of the lantern… just because it was already in my husband’s tool box!} You could use anything that opens & closes securely 🙂

{1} Gather your supplies {2} grab your ugly trash can and start cutting! {3} Peel the vinyl down from each side and cut away from the rim of the can. {4} Now you have your beautiful metal frame ready to go!

{5} Cut 2 pieces of wire, about 8″ longer than the width of the metal frame. {6} Wrap the end of the wire around one corner of the frame. This thickness of wire is sturdy, but still pretty easy to wrap by hand. {7} Cross over to the opposite corner and wrap it around both sides, then a few extra loops to secure. {8} Trim off any excess with your wire cutters.

{9} Attach the second piece of wire in the same way, making an X in the middle of your frame. {10} This time, make a loop in the center of the wire before you attach and secure the corner. {11} When both sides are attached, pull the loop up and twist it in the center of the X. This becomes your lantern hanger at the top. {12} Now take your small “s” hook and wiggle it down into the base of the loop.

{13} This “s” hook is where you will hang your mason jar. {14} I got lucky and had these really cool jars in my stash that already have a wire handle attached. (But, you could easily make something similar with a regular mason jar, wire, and pliers to bend and shape the handle.) {15} For the hanger at the top of the lantern, I used this pear-shaped thingy I found in my husband’s tool box! I found out it is used for securing roman shades, but any hook that closes would work fine. {16} My new outdoor lantern is ready to hang up! I screwed a cup hook into the ceiling of our front porch. It worked perfectly because there were already a few small screws in place, and I just replaced 2 of them with the hooks for my lanterns!

I added a small white candle in the bottom of my jars, and that’s it! Now I have two new beautiful lanterns for my updated front porch:

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