Homemade LED Camping Lanterns

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When camping it is helpful to have lights at night to help make your way back to your camp site, bathroom or other location. To get kids excited about an upcoming camping trip, try making a homemade lantern with them that they can use as their very own. It can be a fun project to do together and doesn't take much to accomplish.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Mason jar and lid
Small LED light
Velcro
Paper clip
Button battery
Wire coat hanger
Tape

Step 1

Get a clear glass mason jar with a lid assembly.

Step 2

Unbend a wire coat hanger and pull it out straight.

Step 3

Place the center of the coat hanger around the top of the mason jar below the thread area.

Step 4

Bend both ends around the jar, tightly.

Step 5

Twist the two ends together flush against the jar until the wire is secure.

Step 6

Take what is left of the two ends of wire and bend them up. Twist them together to form a handle and cut off the excess with wire cutters.

Step 7

Place the lid on the jar to make sure it will still screw down, then remove it.

Step 8

Place a piece of adhesive Velcro on the inside of the lid near one side. Use the opposite part of the Velcro on the small lithium 3 volt button battery. Stick the battery to the lid.

Step 9

Attach the LED light wires to paper clip by wrapping them around one end.

Step 10

Pull the outside end of the paperclip away from the rest of the clip.

Step 11

Tape the paperclip securely to the top the lid near the center. Use duct tape or some other strong tape. Make sure that it is close enough to the battery so that the one pulled away part of the clip can tough the battery. You can bend the separated part of the paperclip away from the battery to turn off the light, and bend it to touch the battery when you want it on.

Step 12

Put the lid back on the mason jar.

Resources

Evil Mad Scientists: LED lights

Article Written By Tara Dooley

Tara Dooley has written for various websites since 2008. She has worked as an accountant, after-school director and retail manager in various locations. Dooley holds a Bachelor of Science in business management and finance.

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