Save Empty Soup Cans And Turn Them Into Light-Up Garden Decor

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Your outdoor living space is an extension of your home. Wanting beautiful things outside as well as inside only makes sense, and nothing evokes beauty like garden lighting. One drawback to sourcing this twinkling decor is the price though, since not everyone has the budget to string fancy store-bought lanterns from tree boughs. Fortunately, you can make your own with a simple pantry staple you'd usually toss in the trash after eating the contents – a soup can. A quick and easy glow-up provides outdoor lighting fixtures that will bring character to your yard without breaking the bank.

To bring this craft to life in the garden, small holes are applied to the metal tin, through which a tea light shines through. Add some wire or twine to hang them and, voila! This genius hack lets you turn empty soup cans into adorable garden decor you'll love, and can personalize to suit any aesthetic. If you love a farmhouse look, this is a great way to create a cute little country chic moment that will leave dinner guests wowed. Hang the cans on the patio, or nail them to a fence for an accent piece you'll enjoy during garden parties and barbecues.

Before you start on this project, you'll need to gather a few supplies, including your empty soup cans, a hammer or drill, and a nail. You can also purchase colored wire such as Gtziqa Aluminum Craft Wire or ribbon to suspend the finished product. You'll also need an LED tealight candles — opt for solar powered models like the Yakpo Singtok Waterproof Rechargeable Candles to avoid buying batteries. After completing a few, hang them, stake them along a garden path, or use them as decorative tabletop lanterns to light up your outdoor tablescape. There's no right or wrong way to display your DIY tin lanterns. Once you have all the materials, it's time to get hammering or drilling.

After removing the labels on each can, wash and dry then fill them with water and freeze overnight. The ice inside keeps the metal from denting as you work on the holes. You can choose to punch the holes in a random manner or use a marker to draw the outline of a pattern the holes can follow. Alternatively, there are printable patterns available online that you could wrap around the soup can for guidance. Line the nail tip up with the area you want to create a hole, and tap it with the hammer until it enters the tin (alternatively, you can use a drill). Repeat this until you have your desired holes punched then melt the ice inside. To customize your lanterns, you can paint the tins, glue on some jute or lace trim, or dip them in glitter. Place a tea light inside and watch them glow. Your garden decor has never looked so good on a budget.