Kid Territory: Crafts: Garden and Pathway Lights
What you need
• Large, wide-mouthed glass jar, like a mayonnaise jar
• Heavy paper, like construction paper or brown paper grocery bags
• Colored tissue paper (maybe left over from gifts)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue
• Tape
• Short, stocky candle
• Clean sand, about a handful
• Cookie cutters (optional)
What you do
1. Wrap the heavy paper snugly around the jar to form a cylinder. It should cover the jar all the way to the top, and meet at the back so it can be taped or glued closed. Cut the paper so it is the right length and height.
2. Lay the heavy paper on a work surface and use the scissors to cut out designs and shapes. You can cut long slits or diamond or star shapes. You can also use small, flat animal figures or small cookie cutters to trace around with the pencil, then cut out the shapes.
3. When the cuts are done, put some glue on the paper between the designs. Lay a sheet of tissue paper on top and press it down, so it glues to the heavy paper. You can use more than one color of tissue in different areas if you want to. Make sure to trim the edges so the tissue is the same size as the heavy paper.
4. Wrap the heavy paper/tissue around the jar so it’s snug, with the tissue paper side against the jar, then glue or tape the sides together in the back.
5. Pour some clean sand into the bottom of the jar to keep it from tipping over.
6. Put the candle inside the jar, and push it into the sand to keep it steady. With the help of an adult, light the candle. Your designs will glow through the heavy paper!
7. Make several lights and place them in your garden or along a pathway. You can make lights with holiday themes, a garden theme, or your favorite animals. Light them to welcome guests!
