How to Make a Wood Lantern

About a year or so ago, Daisy’s mom was wanting some lanterns to decorate around the house with, so I took it upon myself to build her some. Fast forward to May 2021 and they’ll be used at our wedding as center pieces for all of the tables. These lanterns make any space feel a little more cozy. Hope you enjoy making your own!

Supplies

• (3) 3/4 in. x 36 in. Wooden Square Dowels
• 1 x 8 Wood Board
• Miter Saw (You can also use a circular saw or handsaw.)
• 18 Gauge Brad Nailer (You can also use trim head screws and a drill.)
• 1 in. 18 Gauge Brad Nail
• Tape Measure
• Wood Glue
• Pencil
• Stain (We use Minwax Early American.)
• Staining Cloth (We use old t-shirts.)

Steps

1. Take your 1×8 board and measure off the end 7.25 in. Make a mark with your pencil and cut it on the miter saw on your mark. This will give you a perfect square because 1×8’s are actually only 7.25 in. wide not 8 in.

• 

• 

• 

2. Take one of your 3/4 in. dowels and measure 12 in. off the end. Then make a mark with your pencil and cut it with the miter saw on that mark.

3. Take the 12 in. piece you just cut and use it to measure another 12 in. and make another mark with your pencil.

4. Now measure 5 in. off the end you just cut and make a mark with your pencil. Then cut it on the mark you just made.

5. Use the 5 in. piece you just cut and use it to measure another 5 in. and mark it with your pencil like you did before with the 12 in. piece.

6. That should use up almost all your first dowel. Repeat this exact same process for the second dowel.

7. For the third dowel, take one of your 5 in. pieces and use it to measure for another 5 in. piece. Make a mark and cut it on your mark. Repeat this process until you get four 5 in. pieces out of your third dowel. You should now have four 12 in. pieces, eight 5 in. pieces, and your 1×8 square.

• 

• 

8. Next take your 1 in. brad nails and insert them into your brad nailer.

• 

• 

9. Put some wood glue on the end of a 5 in. piece and place it up against a 12 in. piece so that it makes a 90 degree angle. Next, shoot the joint with your brad nailer.

10. Rotate that piece upwards so that the 5 in. piece is pointed towards the ceiling. Then grab another 5 in. piece, put glue on the end, and place it against the 12 in. piece like before and shoot it with your nailer.

11. Put some glue on the end of the 5 in. piece you just attached. Grab a new 12 in. piece and place it against the end on the 5 in. piece that now has glue on it. Shoot that joint with your brad nailer.

12. Take a new 5 in. piece and add glue to both ends. Then place it in between the two 12 in. pieces at the tope so it completes a rectangle. Shoot both ends with your nailer. You should now have a rectangle with one 5 in. piece sticking up off your rectangle.

13. Now rotate it to where your 5 in. piece is now laying flat on the ground and pointing left. Take a new 5 in. piece with glue on one end and place the glued end against the 12 in. piece, so its attached just like the one below it.

14. Now repeat these steps to make a piece that’s identical to the one you just made.

• 

• 

15. Take your new piece and make sure the two 5 in. pieces are pointing upward. Now place glue on each corner and the top ends of the 5 in. pieces. Grab the other piece and set it on top of the piece you just glued so that it make a three dimensional box.

16. Set the box on its top and put 8 dots of glue around the bottom evenly.

• 

• 

17. Set the glued end on top of the 1×8 so that it’s in the center. Insure there is even distance on each side. Now flip it over and brad nail the 1×8 square to the box.

• 

• 

• 

18. You should now have a lantern. Dip your stain cloth into your stain and wipe the stain onto the lantern evenly. Let it dry for a bit and you’re done.

19. Now set your favorite candle or vase inside and enjoy!

If you would rather purchase a pre-made lantern, they are $25! 7.25″x 12.75″! Only available for local pickup in the Murfreesboro area! Email hello@fernwayhome.com for yours!

Elijah