Today, I will share with you how to make a budget-friendly farmhouse style lantern. Lanterns are timeless home décor staples, but some can be quite expensive. This rustic lantern is a budget-friendly DIY must try! Using a few inexpensive crafting items such as popsicle sticks, you can create this gorgeous farmhouse style lantern! All of your house guests will think you purchased this beautiful lantern DIY from a high-end craft store!

Materials needed:

2 embroidery hoops
4 jumbo popsicle sticks – you can find these at Walmart
half wood beads
cardboard
rope
dark grey paint (graphite grey)
metallic silver paint
brown paint (brown oxide)
white paint
baking soda
paint brushes
hot glue gun and glue sticks
greenery & candle to decorate

Step 1. Purchase two of the same sized embroidery hoops as one hoop will serve as the bottom of the lantern, and the other will serve as the top of the lantern.

Step 2. Using some jumbo popsicle sticks, unscrew your embroidery hoop a little so the popsicle sticks will fit snugly in between the layers of the hoop, add some hot glue to the bottom/end of the popsicle sticks, and then hot glue them in between the bottom embroidery hoop, going around in a circle and spacing them equal distances apart from one other. I used 4 jumbo popsicle sticks for this process. Then, tighten your bottom embroidery hoop screw to help secure the popsicle sticks upright and into place. Allow to dry.

Step 3. Take the second embroidery hoop, loosen the screw, and place it over the tops of the popsicle sticks at the other end. Then, add hot glue to the ends of the popsicle sticks, and place them in between the layers of the hoop as you did in Step 2. Tighten the screw so the popsicle sticks are more secure. Allow to dry. You should now have the “frame” of what will transform into a lantern. You should have an embroidery hoop at the top of the lantern, one at the bottom of the lantern, and the jumbo popsicle sticks will serve as the sides to your lantern.

Step 4. Take 4 half wood beads for each popsicle stick and hot glue them at equal distances apart onto the outer side of each popsicle stick. Allow to dry.

Step 5. Using some cardboard, place the lantern onto the cardboard and trace around the bottom embroidery hoop, trace the outer most part of the hoop/circle. Cut out this cardboard circle with scissors. Place hot glue around the rim of this cardboard circle, and then sit the lantern on top of the cardboard circle. This will make a cardboard base/bottom for your lantern so we can sit items inside of the lantern. Allow to dry.

Step 6. Using some dark grey paint, or other color of your liking, paint your entire project/lantern. Allow to dry.

Step 7. Using some silver metallic paint, gently paint it onto the lantern in random spots. I used a foam brush for this as well. Allow to dry.

Step 8. Using a chip brush, dry brush some white chalk paint onto random spots on your project/lantern. Allow to dry.

Step 9. Make a mixture of brown colored paint and baking soda, then paint it onto your lantern randomly; anywhere you would want the lantern to look as if it has rusted. This gives the project a rustic/farmhouse look. Allow to dry.

Step 10. Take some greenery of your liking and place it into the bottom of your lantern. I do not hot glue the greenery to the bottom of the lantern as I like to be able to switch it out for different seasons.

Step 11. Using some thick rope purchased from Dollar Tree, tie the rope around the top of each end of your lantern to make a handle. Snip away any excess rope. You may want to add some hot glue at each end of the rope for an extra hold.