Luminarias
How
To Create Stamped Halloween Luminarias
WHAT ARE THEY?
Luminaries are
paper bag candle holders that are often used to decorate driveways or patios
during the festive season or parties. Luminaries are traditionally made
from paper bags that have had a pattern punched or pricked out of the paper.
The candle light illuminates the paper and light from the candle twinkles
through the holes.
It is very simple
to make your own luminary from craft paper. This is an ideal way to
make your own
customized luminaries using colored paper or plain brown lunch bags and
decorating them using your favorite rubber stamps. The stamped image forms
a silhouette against the back lit paper background. Luminaries can be made
in any size or with any colored paper.
Paper luminaries
are more for decoration than functionality and should never be left unattended.
The bottom of the luminary should be weighted down with sand or dirt.
Protect candles
further by popping it into a glass jar or candle holder before placing
it inside the luminary bag. Never use during windy days.
Our luminary has
a fold over at the top which adds to the stability of the
luminary. The
luminary pattern is square, therefore the base and the sides are the same
dimension. If you would like a different shape, simply customize the dimensions.
The quick easy way is to simply stamp on paper bags and this is a great
way for children to get involved.
Material Required
Craft Paper or
lunch bags
Rubber
Stamp with Bold Halloween Image
Ink
Pads - Black
Hole punch/Needle,
pin-Optional
Sand
Tealite Candle
Thick Craft paper
(cut approximately 29 inches by 16 inches)
or simply use
lunch bags
Rubber stamps
- Holiday Image with bold stamped impressions give the most dramatic results
Black Ink for
stamping image
A small paper
hole punch or needle
A piece of 7
by 7 inch card for the base or
Sand about 2
inchesdeep for the bottom of the bag (a piece of scrap card is fine
as this won't be seen)
Tea light candles
Step
by Step Instruction for creating Luminarias
This project
was created using handmade paper bags and
a solid stamped
image.
STEP
BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Step #1-Fold the paper around a 7 inch
square cardboard and secure the bottom with strong tape. If you are
not experienced with folding paper use a premade lunch bag. Fold
the top of you luminaria and stamp a bold halloween image. Black shows
up best, but use whatever you have. Witches, jack-o-lanterns, and
other images all work great.
Step #2- Stamp
and decorate your luminary as desired. (2 sides or all 4 sides.)
In the Southwest,
luminarias are used for christmas decorations to line sidewalks and driveways....
however they are just as dramatic on Halloween night. If you don't
already have images for stamping, you'll find all our Halloween Stamps
and Ink Pads on sale here:
Halloween
Stamps
Ink
Pads
ILLUS #3
Step #3 - Draw
2 square boxes close together with a dark pen, marker or dark pencil and
a ruler. Poke small holes out in a design or punching shapes out
of the luminary will allow the candle light to shine through. Use a proper
paper punch or improvise with a darning needle to make holes large enough
for light to shine through. Put the paper onto craft foam or another soft
surface, such as an old newspaper, to help protect the work surface below.
ILLUS #4
Step #4 - Cut
a square of card to go into the base of the luminary, this will give the
bag added strength. If you haven't already make a top fold over gives the
bag to give it a little more stability. When you are ready to use the luminary,
add a couple of inches of sand, gravel or even cat litter to give weight
to the luminary and to stop it from blowing over. Place a tea light into
a glass candle holder and place into the luminary.
Step #5 - Just before dark, line your
driveway, porch or another safe outdoor area with your lunimaria bags.
When it gets dark enough, light the candles.
NEW MEXICO CHRISTMAS
LUMINARIAS
Use the luminary
to give your home an added atmosphere to an outdoor or night time party.
It's a tradition at Christmas time in New Mexico to decorate homes with
lunimaries.
Old Town, Albuquerque,
New Mexico, Christmas Eve
OTHER IDEAS...
Let your imagination
run wild!
Try a other theme
stamped or die cut ideas like these for Holidays Parties and
delight your
guests. Luminaries are great for wedding, birthdays, and all kinds
of night time parties!
Never leave luminaries
unattended. Be careful with children near lite bags.
How to make
HALLOWEEN
CANDLES
HALLOWEEN STAMPS
Halloween
Stamps
Ink
Pads
HALLOWEEN SPECIALS
UNMOUNTED GRABS AND MOUNTED LOTS
ON SALE NOW!
SALE
STAMPS!
Have a happy
and safe Halloween season!
