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Halloween Painted Luminaries

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I’ve struggled for the last two weeks about whether or not I should post this. Why? Because it’s one of my crafts. The last thing I want people to think is that I am using this venue to further my own blog. That’s just not it at all. See, I’ve actually had a few people email me and tell me I should feature these. At first I said no because of what I stated above. One person even said “hog wash”. Ha! I haven’t heard that in ages. So I am taking a chance and posting these today in hopes that you all won’t mind and won’t think that I am trying to self promote. These have been extremely popular on my blog so I hope that you like them. 🙂

See my step by step tutorial so you can make your own Halloween luminaries.

Comments

  1. That’s just not wrong at all. This site is a place to promote good tutorials, not the blogs, so its only fair that your tutorial appears here. Its beautiful!

  3. these are the cutest luminaries i want to make some .please never worry about sharing your art .i am so happy i found this project.dont worry about the naysayers i love this work.

  7. These are adorable! I don’t see anything wrong with you posting from your own blog. Especially if you have great crafts like this one!

  8. I’d only mind you featuring your own blog if it sucked. It doesn’t suck! It definitely doesn’t suck! Thanks for the post. It’s very cool.

  9. I have to say I am thrilled you posted these. I am troop leader to a daisy girl scout troop and I was looking for a recycling project we can do for halloween. These will be PERFECT! So thank you for sharing!

  10. If you had seen this on someone else’s blog, you totally would have mentioned them here. Thank you for sharing. I wouldn’t have seen them otherwise, and am off to go check out the directions to see if this is something I can make with my girls and my nephews. Thank you!

  12. Seriously … when you have something as cute as these, I say post it!! I didn’t even know you had a blog, but now I do, and I’m glad that I do. I just really, really, REALLY wish you had posted these a few weeks ago, before I threw away a couple of dozen glass mayo jars that my Dad had been saving for my niece’s science project (she didn’t use them all). Anyway, I hope you will post more of your own creations!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! Have a lovely evening!

  13. I think they are lovely. I also think that if you are open about when it is one of your crafts that people have liked then there is no conflict of interest.

  16. Amanda,
    I love your luminary idea!
    I write a column for my local paper and would LOVE to include this idea in my article (and give you credit of course)
    would that be okay?
    thanks!
    Beth

Have you read?

DIY Giant Eyeball Lanterns – Creepy Halloween Decoration

When it comes to Halloween, bigger is always better—and these giant eyeball lanterns prove it! With nothing more than plain white paper lanterns, a little paint, and some imagination, you can create huge, spooky eyes that look like they’ve popped right out of a monster movie.

They’re perfect for hanging from ceilings, displaying on porches, or grouping together in a corner for an eerie effect. Best of all, paper lanterns are super inexpensive (you can grab them on eBay, Amazon, or even your local dollar store), which makes this a great budget-friendly craft for big impact Halloween décor.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Large round white paper lanterns (various sizes look best) 
  • Acrylic paints or craft paints in black, brown, green, red, orange, or blue (for irises) 
  • Wide paintbrush for background color 
  • Small paintbrush for details 
  • Black construction paper or cardstock (optional for spiky “lashes” or accents) 
  • Hot glue gun or strong craft glue 
  • String or fishing line (if you want to hang them) 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Lanterns

  1. Assemble your white paper lanterns according to the package directions. 
  2. Make sure they’re fully open and the wire insert is in place so the surface is taut for painting. 

Step 2: Paint the Iris

  1. Using a wide brush, paint a large circle in the center of the lantern to create the iris. 
  2. Choose spooky colors—green, red, orange, or blue work wonderfully. 
  3. Don’t worry about making it perfectly smooth; streaks and uneven textures add to the eerie, organic look. 

Step 3: Add the Pupil

  1. Once the iris paint is dry, use black paint to fill in the pupil at the very center. 
  2. Make it large enough to stand out against the iris. 

Step 4: Detail the Eye

  • Use a smaller brush to add darker or lighter streaks in the iris for a more realistic effect. 
  • You can even add thin vein lines in red around the iris to give it that bloodshot look. 

Step 5: Optional Spiky Lashes

  1. Cut long triangles from black construction paper or cardstock. 
  2. Glue them around one side of the lantern so they stick out like sharp monster eyelashes. 
  3. This makes the eyeballs look even more monstrous and stylized. 

Step 6: Display Your Giant Eyeballs

  • Hanging: Use string or fishing line to suspend them from ceilings, trees, or porch rafters so they look like floating eyeballs. 
  • Stacked: Place them in corners, along stairs, or even grouped on your lawn for a spooky display. 
  • Tabletop: Use them as oversized Halloween party props. 

Tips & Variations

  • Glowing Eyes: Insert battery-powered LED lights into the lanterns so they glow from the inside. 
  • Rainbow Eyes: Mix up the colors and make a whole rainbow of creepy eyes. 
  • Monster Cluster: Group multiple eyeballs together in different sizes for a scarier effect. 

This DIY Giant Eyeball Lantern craft is quick, cheap, and gives you maximum Halloween spook factor with minimal effort. Whether you make one or a whole creepy collection, your haunted house setup will definitely be eye-catching!