Add A Magical Glow To Your Garden Paths With This Simple Dollar Tree DIY

Nothing elevates an outdoor garden better than the perfect light fixture. Adding outdoor lighting makes it easier to enjoy your garden after the sun goes down and brings an undeniable charm to your yard. Luckily, making your own breathtaking outdoor lighting is easy using simple Dollar Tree hacks. Now, with just four affordable items, you can craft a gorgeous floral hanging lantern that will illuminate your garden path and make everything feel more whimsical.

For this project you will need a pillar candle solar lantern, a metal garden hanger, some faux paper flowers, and clear liquid craft glue. Using the metal garden hanger is a great way to brighten your garden without taking up extra space that could be used instead for more plants. Although this DIY comes together quite quickly, there is ample opportunity for you to customize the design to match your current garden decor and personal aesthetic.

To put this DIY project together, begin by applying and spreading a thin layer of clear glue onto the clear panels of the lantern (one at a time). While the glue is wet, place your faux paper flowers across the panels. To keep this part looking organic, try using a variety of flowers and/or greenery and placing them randomly. This makes up the bulk of your DIY. After all the glue has dried, all that's left to do is place the metal hanger in the ground along your garden path and hang the flower-covered lantern on the hook. Make as many as work in your garden or yard.

Although this project is relatively simple, there are a few things you can do to customize it. An easy change is to swap the dried flowers out for something flashier like loose glitter. Alternatively, ditch the clear glue and opt for tiny vinyl window decals that can be swapped in and out for different seasons and holidays. You can also cut panels from patterned privacy film, like the 3D rainbow stained glass privacy film from Coavas.

If you like the floral detail but want a more personal or realistic touch, save and dry flowers from your own garden and add those to the lantern instead. If you're not sure how to dry your favorite flowers, you can cut them from the stem, then hang them upside down in a well-ventilated area using a bit of twine. Once dry, remove the petals and add those to your glue-covered lantern.