exquisite lantern: romantic DIY craft idea for after work

Lantern decoration: as simple as possible, safe, economical, DIY in just 1 minute

exquisite DIY lantern

The end of the working day is the perfect time to relax and unwind. Why not make the most of this time by getting creative and making yourself really cozy?

Is your home in desperate need of a little TLC (tender loving care)? If you're looking for a fun and easy way to spice up your home, then I have the perfect solution for you! With just a few simple materials that you probably have around the house, you can create a beautiful and romantic lantern that will add a relaxed and cozy vibe to your after-work time and might also be good for a meditation or mindfulness session.

My partner is Italian and in his family candles only burn at Christmas and on birthdays. In my family, on the other hand, candles are something for every day. We light them outside the house as a warm (in every sense of the word) welcome and use them inside both to create a cozy nostalgic atmosphere and simply because, when there are enough of them, they make a beautiful light. In any case, candlelight is more beautiful than any artificial light. I love the flickering of the flame, the warm light, the smell while they are burning and when you blow them out and last but not least the ritual character of lighting and extinguishing them when I start or end something - for example a meal, a hot bath, a romantic evening or to read in a relaxed atmosphere... In short, not a day goes by without my everyday life being lit and warmed by at least one candle. If it's more than just a candle, all the better.

One problem with candles (even in candlesticks) is that they are less safe than other light sources, and as I live in a wooden house, this of course means being careful not to accidentally set something on fire with a forgotten candle or even just to avoid dripping with hot wax and then having to iron the wax out of tablecloths again. While tidying up, I came across this pillar candle and couldn't find a suitable jar to put it in, so I thought about how I could still make a safe lantern out of it. What you see in the photo is the result. I used for this:

• a pillar candle

• a glass cylinder

• a small porcelain plate (e.g. from the colorful assortment)

• patterned fabric border (alternative with floral pattern)

I already had the utensils at home, perhaps you do too. If you are looking for any of them, you can simply click on the link of any item on the list, which will take you to the Amazon page where you can buy them with one more click. It's the same price for you, I will receive a small percentage which is a help for me to continue writing this blog, feed my family and it's money Amazon receives less. Instead of keeping all the profits Amazon has to share, even if only as a teeny tiny percentage. Win-win for you and me. And a win for Amazon, but a slightly smaller one. I have to mention briefly at this point that I am quite divided on this topic - I would actually like to support small retailers and yet Amazon offers itself for affiliate marketing, so I have to live with this double standard, at least for the time being, until I have found ways to perhaps also be able to support smaller retailers effectively.

Anyway, from an orphaned saucer whose cup I had dropped, a glass cylinder (originally packaging for a string of lights), a little fabric trim and of course a candle, this lantern was created, which allows me to enjoy the candlelight carefree and without risk, without having to sacrifice aesthetics and without having to buy anything.

As you already know if you follow me, all my creative projects are a good opportunity for mindfulness practice for me and also for you who are reading. Focusing on the objects and materials we use, on our movements and on the sensations of our body - in other words, on the present moment - is a simple and effective way to escape the stress of everyday life and unpleasant thoughts and to relax a little.

If you are interested in meditation, simply looking at and observing a candle flame is a very simple form of meditation. Sit comfortably on the floor in a dark and quiet room, light a candle and place it about 20 cm away from you. Look at the flame and watch how it flickers and dances. Concentrate on it and, if you wish, after a while, turn your attention to the sensations in your body. Never lose sight of the candle and continue to look into the candlelight. You can feel the breath flowing in and out. Don't try to change anything, just accept everything as it is. If you feel the candlelight warming you, let its warmth fill you completely. When thoughts arise, do not judge them, do not try to banish them at all costs, but simply imagine placing them in a balloon and visualize them slowly rising and flying away. Do the exercise for 15 minutes (or longer if you like), then close your eyes and sit in your comfortable position for another 15 minutes with your eyes closed. Feel inside yourself, listen to your inner self without judging your breath, your body sensations or any thoughts that arise. Then come back slowly by opening your eyes, looking at the candle again and moving slowly to get back into the room. You may lose track of time, especially the first few times. One idea for this is to choose two tracks of relaxing music that last 15 minutes each (e.g. pieces of music by Dan Gibson that are quite long and unobtrusive) in order to create a temporal orientation in this way. This type of meditation can help you to find a moment of calm and peace and thus get away from stress and anxiety. Take half an hour for yourself every day, for example in the morning before you start your daily routine or in the evening before you go to bed. By concentrating on one point, our mind will begin to calm down, our thoughts will stop and we will begin to feel our true essence and become more aware of ourselves. When we close our eyes, this can turn into an inner stillness. Initially our mind may continue to be distracted, flee and in some cases we may fall asleep, but with practice we will soon be able to make the most of this exercise.

What do you think? Do you also have suitable material at home and would like to make a lantern? Perhaps you would like to send me a photo of your creation? That way we can exchange a bit of inspiration or have a little chat. A hug and see you next time!

PS. You can also use these glass cylinders outside without plates and, for example, drape several candles in several glass cylinders on the stone steps of a staircase in front of the entrance - minimalist, easy to realize, beautiful lanterns.