DIY: How to make a solar powered jack-o’-lantern

With fall upon us and stores bursting with Halloween supplies, many of us are starting to decorate our homes and yards. Lighting is always a fun way to give homes some festive curb appeal. What’s better than a glowing jack-o’-lantern? Buying a bunch of pumpkins and carving them every few nights doesn’t seem like a practical idea. And since electricity should not be wasted nor toxic batteries tossed, how about going solar? A solar-powered jack-o’-lantern is a great and green do-it-yourself option to bring some of the spirit of Halloween to your home.

Anyone of any craft skill level can make these lanterns at home in three simple steps. Before you begin, gather the following:

a solar powered garden or walkway lamp
a black sharpie or black paint
a pumpkin shaped glass bowl, fish bowl, or glass jar
gloves
orange color spray paint or paint
old newspaper

Solar-powered garden or walkway lamps are easy to find these days – you can buy one from any Home Depot store. Be sure to use one whose top lantern part can be removed and fit into your glass container. The other supplies are available in any arts and crafts store, like Michael’s. Once you have all the materials you can begin to assemble your solar-powered jack-o’-lantern.

Step one: Place old newspaper under the jars so you don’t spill paint on surface. In a well-ventilated area, put on your gloves and paint the entire inside of your bowl. You can puddle the paint in the bottom and turn the bowl on its side till the entire surface is evenly covered. When done, just turn the bowl upside down to allow the extra paint to drip out. Then place right side up for final dry. Remember to not make the paint too thick, the thicker the paint the less light your lantern will give off.

Step two: When your bowl is completely dry, either use a stencil or free hand with a sharpie the face or fun Halloween design you want onto the outside of the bowl and fill-in with black paint or sharpie. Make sure your design has the open part of your bowl facing up, we need that opening to let the sunshine in.

Step three: Once your pattern is dry, take the solar lantern part off of your garden light and place it solar side up into the bowl. After a day of charging in the sun, check out the night glow of your creation.

These jack-o’-lanterns can be used again and again over the years. Of course, making decorations yourself and reusing items around the house is always a green idea. The same concept can be applied to any design for any season. Have fun!

related: more DIY ideas from The Alternative Consumer