How many of you enjoy camping with your families over the summer? If you fall into that category, today’s post is for you! My friend Heather over at Twin Dragonfly Designs is putting together a Camping Blog Hop filled with activities, ideas, crafts, printables, packing lists and more, and she asked me to join in the fun.
Before we start, though, I have to come clean. Honestly? I. hate. camping. I’ve been there, done that, hated it. Let’s just get that out in the open. My idea of “roughing it” is having to sleep on a pillow that isn’t mine and not being within 15 minutes of a Starbucks. I don’t like bugs, I don’t like wild animals, I don’t like porta-potties, and I don’t like not having my modern conveniences. Ugh. That being said, I *did* come up with a fun craft you could make and use while camping with the kiddos. {Or, if you share my camping sentiments, you could make and use these at home for an outdoor party, which is much more my style!}
TIME REQUIRED: 5 minutes
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: easy, kids 3 and up can do it with supervision and a little bit of help
SPECIAL TOOLS/SKILLS: none
Materials:
– glass jar
– wire and wire cutters
– beads {mine are Faceted Beads provided by Craftprojectideas.com}
– candle
Step 1: Cut a piece of wire that is longer than you want the handle to be and wrap one end of it around the jar lid. Wrap the end of the wire around itself a few times to secure.
Step 2: Place a bead on the wire. Then, make a small loop. Continue beading and looping until the wire is almost full. You can do any kind of pattern for this part that you like; you can do several beads before you loop, you can do all beads and no loops, or anything you prefer!
Step 3: Wrap the other end of the wire around the jar lid to secure it in place.
Step 4: Place your candle in the jar and put on the lid. To keep the candle from sliding around, I used uncooked rice in the bottom of the jar. You could also use corn, birdseed, small rocks, or anything else you like.
All that’s left to do is hang it in a tree and let it illuminate your campsite!
If you don’t want to use real candles, that works too…just get some of those little battery operated tea lights or votives and you’ll have a flame-free glow!
Are you a camper? Is this something your family would create and use?
If “roughing it” is your idea of a good time, you might want to check out these posts from some other fabulous bloggers…get ready to be inspired!
Campfire Spinach Dip – Twin Dragonfly Designs
Printable Camping Checklist – 733 Blog
What to Pack for a Camping Trip – Nest of Posies
Camping Activity Bags – Creative Capital B
Homemade Fire Starters – Dukes & Duchesses
Camping Survival Kit – The Benson Street
Camping Charades – The Joys of Boys
Outdoor Camping Kitchen – Echoes of Laughter
Blackberry Cobbler – Gingersnap Crafts
Tin Foil Packet Recipes – Growing Up Gabel
Best Pie Iron Recipes – Nap-time Creations
Camping With Kids – The Joi Project
Emily says
very fun!!! Last summer my mom bought some battery operated candles that the kids made lanterns with…. they would go great here.. super cute, pinned!
Amanda says
I love how it looks hanging in the tree…and SO SIMPLE! Yep, agree with Emily above – Pinned!
dancers4life says
Aw, thanks so much, Amanda!!
[email protected] of Laughter says
Super cute idea!I love candlelight when we are camping….it just feels so relaxing! Happy Mother’s Day and have a lovely weekend! Angie xo
dancers4life says
Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day too!
Camille says
Yeah, we’re about 50/50 on the love of camping in our family. Thankfully I have a husband who loves me A LOT to put with it! LOL These are adorable and I love that they are really inexpensive to make so when a kid breaks one, you just make another!
dancers4life says
Lol…thanks, Camille!
Heather Painchaud says
Oh my word Amy! Your introduction made me laugh out loud!! Next time that I go camping near a Starbucks I am totally taking a photo and tagging you in it! hee hee Thanks so much for participating! Your lantern would be perfect for camping OR the patio! xo
dancers4life says
LOL! Please do, Heather!
tracy says
I would just like to make 1 suggestion, if you use a real candle in the jar your fingers will get real hot from the heat of the candle. You could use the other part of the lid to hang between the beads. May be have a couple of spacer beads then the lid with holes dried on opposite sides. The lid needs to move so you can put in a candle and light it. Just a suggestion I have made and used candle lanterns for a long time. These are great ideals to make!!!!