As the nights draw in and Bonfire Night (5 November) approaches, your garden begs for warm, twinkling light. Instead of buying plastic decorations, turn empty tins into enchanting lanterns and keep your celebration eco‑friendly. In 2024 the London Fire Brigade recorded over 200 home fires involving candles, so it’s vital to choose safe lighting. That’s why we recommend LED tealights — all the glow, none of the risk.
Materials You’ll Need
- Empty recycled tins (beans, soup, tomatoes)
- Hammer and nails – I like to use cable clips as they give you something to hold on to
- Water (for freezing)
- Spray paint or acrylics
- LED tealights
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💡 Top Tip: Fill tins with water and freeze before hammering your design. The ice stops the tin from denting and keeps holes crisp.
How to Make DIY Tin Can Lanterns
Wash and remove labels from tins.
Fill with water and freeze overnight.
Draw your design on paper (stars, fireworks, initials).
Tape the paper to the tin and hammer holes along the lines.
Let the ice melt, dry the tin fully.
Spray paint if you want to.
Pop in an LED tealight and enjoy the glow!
Pattern Inspiration
- Stars & Fireworks: Perfect for Bonfire Night sparkle.
- Initials or Names: Great for family members to spot their lantern.
- Geometric Shapes: Quick, modern, and eye‑catching.
Safety Tips for Outdoor Use
- Always use LED tealights instead of real candles (recommended by London Fire Brigade).
- Place lanterns on a stable, fire‑safe surface.
- Keep away from dry leaves, fireworks, and children’s play areas.
- Store indoors when not in use to avoid rust.
Why You’ll Love This Craft
- Eco‑friendly: Repurposes items you already have.
- Budget‑friendly: Costs next to nothing compared to store‑bought lanterns.
- Customisable: Every family member can design their own.
Download Our Lantern Pattern Template
✨ Ready to start? Download our printable lantern pattern template and light up your Bonfire Night with homemade charm!
These printables are offered for your non-commercial personal use only. Mass-production of this printable is not permitted, even for non-profit purposes. Please do not upload the
Free Lantern Pattern Printables to other sites – instead, if you want to let people know about these freebies, post a link to this page. Pinning is okay as long as the pin links back to this page. Thanks!
All you need to do is add click on add to cart and the free printable Slantern pattern pages will be added to your shopping cart. When you are finished click on the orange cart menu at the top right of your page and follow the instructions on the screen. You will not be charged and the free pdf file will be available for you to download immediately and will also be emailed to your inbox.
Free Tin Can Lantern Pattern Printables
in Title 1:
DIY Tin Can Lanterns for Bonfire Night
Pin Description 1:
Light up Bonfire Night with DIY tin can lanterns made from upcycled tins! Learn how to create star and firework patterns, paint them, and use safe LED tealights. Includes a free printable template.
Hashtags: #BonfireNightCrafts #DIYLanterns #UpcycledLighting #FamilyCrafts #EcoFriendlyDecor
Pin Title 2:
Upcycled Tin Lantern Patterns – Easy Bonfire Night Craft
Pin Description 2:
Transform old tins into magical Bonfire Night lanterns with this eco-friendly craft. Follow our step-by-step guide, grab the printable lantern patterns, and make your outdoor lighting sparkle safely.
Hashtags: #DIYTinCanLanterns #UpcycledCrafts #BonfireNightIdeas #OutdoorDecor #FamilyDIY