Crafts

Tin Can Luminarias

Tin soup and vegetable cans (empty and clean)
Small, short candles or small Christmas lights
Hammer
Nails

Fill the cans with water and put them in the freezer overnight, or until the water is frozen solid. The ice in the can prevents the can from denting when making the design.

Decide how you want to use your luminarias. You can use them with a candle inside of them, or you can use Christmas lights inside. If you use candles, the closed end of the can will be the bottom. If you use Christmas lights, decide which end you want as the bottom. If the luminarias are going to be used on a table or mantle, make a hole in the back of the can for the light close to the open end of the can. The closed end will be at the top, so that less light escapes, and your design is brighter.

If you want to hang the luminaria, make one hole each on opposite sides of the open end, and tie string through the holes to hang it with. It will look like a bucket with a string handle. Make sure you put a hole near the bottom for the holiday light.

Make a pattern for your design before you begin. Make a sort of "connect the dots" pattern. Make trees, snow man, snowflakes, pinecone, etc. Take the cans out of the freezer one at a time, so the ice doesn't melt. Poke holes in the sides of the cans with the nail to make patterns. When you put a light or a candle inside of the can, the holes will glow.