Upcycle Empty Oats Containers Into Whimsical Lanterns With Plenty Of Rustic Charm

One person's trash is another person's craft haul. You might see an empty oats container and think "recycling," but one creator prefers to give old items a new lease on life. Since traditional lanterns are boring and a bit of unique flair is always encouraged, crafter Burlap Kitchen transforms a tub 'o oats into a statement she can set aglow. With some refashioning and a few coats of paint, the breakfast staple becomes an adorable DIY lantern with a seasonal touch and a rustic aura. 

Decorative lanterns hover around $20 and are comparable in size to the Quaker Oats container you're ready to toss, so why not save it from the trash bin and get a little creative? As Emily of Burlap Kitchen proves, this DIY makes for a particularly handy seasonal craft, as she adorns her lantern with spring and Easter accessories. Purchasing a lantern every time there's a new holiday will add up and take up storage space, so this alternative is worth considering. Plus, it's quick, easy, and open to customization. 

You'll need a lot of small materials to get going: The clean container of oats, a Sharpie, a blade, a paint brush, acrylic paint, scissors, screen mesh, a small bead, wire, a hammer, a nail, a glue gun, and glue. Keep in mind that, given the material, it's best to keep this project indoors and opt for fake lights — not a candle.

Ready to craft a stunning DIY lantern? Use your marker to trace a square opening on the tub. After you cut the desired area with a blade, add your coats of paint to the interior and exterior, as well as the lid and small circular bead; Emily starts with a light gray, lets it dry, and accentuates that first coat with a dark gray. Once both coats are dry, she goes over them with a brown paint and a bit of baking soda to make it look rusty — and achieve a timeless farmhouse decor finish.

Wait for the container to dry before cutting netting, like Senneny fiberglass screen mesh, to size to fit within the opening. You can adhere the mesh with glue within the container's interior and utilize a glue gun, if necessary. Use a hammer and nail to create a hole in the center of the lid once it's dry and place the bead and wiring through to create the knob. 

Once the foundation is complete, it's time to decorate. Emily adds moss, a small tea light, pastel-colored eggs, and a jute ribbon on the top of the container to bring her springtime lantern to life. But the beauty about this oats container transformation is that you can choose whatever you'd like in terms of color, decorative items, and accents. For a fall-themed lantern, swap eggs for mini pumpkins or fake spiders. During the holidays, add cute Christmas ornaments and replace jute with thick velvet ribbon, like the Vitalizart velvet ribbon in brown, red, or green. Regardless of the route you approach, keep it near complementary decor and make sure it's in a place where you can show off your handiwork.