Halloween Luminary

Crafts, Feature — By Kim on September 29, 2009 at 8:00 am

Here is a fun Halloween craft to do with all your little goblins no matter what their skill level. Turn an empty cereal box into a beautiful glowing ghoulish luminary!

What you need to make your own Halloween Cereal Box Luminary:

Box (any type and size is fine – a pasta box would work well too.)
Pencil
Xacto Knife or similar & cutting surface X-Acto Basic Knife Set with Wood Chest
Mod Podge (Mod Podge Sparkle or Glitter if you have it)
Foam Brush
Wire Hanger
Pliers &; Wire Cutters
Hole Punch Fiskars Hand Punch, 1/8
Yellow &; Orange Tissue Paper Art Tissue Paper
Glue Gun or Strong Glue Dremel 1200-01 Glue Gun Kit
Battery Powered Tea Lights 12 Flickering Candle Set
Extras: Collage material

Unfold box.
Cut off top flaps. Leave the bottom ones!
Have child draw face on unprinted side. Make sure the picture is contained on one panel. This will be the front of your luminary.
Have an adult cut out features. Be careful!
Cut or tear tissue into manageable size pieces. Don’t make pieces too small. Using lighter colors will help the luminary glow better.
Put Mod Podge in a small container. Have child brush on Mod Podge on a section of box. Show child how to lay a piece of tissue down and lightly brush on top with foam brush. Be sure to slightly over lap as you go. You will be laying tissue over openings too. You will not be able to see through the openings until the glue dries and the box is lit from within.
Younger children: Have your own foam brush and help them. Maybe they brush on glue and lay tissue paper and you go over the top.
Optional: decorate box with collage materials. Be mindful of where your openings are.
Let tissue dry over night.
When dry bend and glue box into its original shape. A hot glue gun works best.
To light use several battery powered tea lights.
Optional hanger: Take a wire hanger and cut off the top using wire cutters. Bend hanger to create an arc shape.
Punch holes in both sides of your box. You can put pony beads on to decorate handle. Insert ends into hole. Use pliers twist to create spiral. Enjoy!
Younger children: If you are working with kids at different skill levels be sure to be flexible and allow for them to do the project but in their own way. My youngest daughter did not draw features on the box. She just enjoyed gluing the tissue and pompoms on.

Kim King can be found blogging about kids crafts, family and adoption at 4 Crazy Kings. To see more pictures for this project visit 4 Crazy Kings.ca-pub-3017103269052419