It’s back!  My creative juices started flowing once again when I came across an amazing pendant light at West Elm.  I was looking at the light and “BAM!”, it hit me.  Why not use the handles of my Trader Joe’s bag to recreate my version of this light.  Well, here you go!

{Photo credit: Left – West Elm}

Supplies: 

– 7 Trader Joe’s bag handles

– 1 toilet paper roll (or paper towel roll)

– Scissors

– Glue gun and glue

– Wire cutters

– Twine (or another type of rope)

– Floral wire (you can also use jewelry wire)

– Battery operated candle (I bought mine from Dollar General)

{Step 1}: Pinch your toilet paper roll in half and cut two rings that are about a half and inch wide.

{Step 2}: Cut each of your rings in half so you have strips.

{Step 3}:  Rip each of your handles off of your Trader Joe’s bag.  Put hot glue on the end of one of your handles and fold it over your toilet paper roll.  Repeat this step with all of your handles making sure they are right up against the prior handle.  Once all of your handles are glued to one of your cut rings, repeat this step with your other ring gluing the ends of your handles to it.

{Step 4}: Put glue on the small piece of exposed roll and insert it into the last handle you glued on.  Repeat this step at the other end of your lantern.

{Step 5}:  Your lantern should look like the below picture.

{Step 6}:  Take your lantern and press it down giving it a more round shape.  It should look like #7 below.

 {Step 8}:  Grab your twine or string.  Tie a knot with your twine around your ring.

{Step 9}:  Take your twine and run it across the opening of your lantern and then tie  a knot around your roll.  Then, take your twine and tie a knot again on your ring, then make it your desired length and cut.  Repeat this step across from where you tied your other knot.  This is how you will hang your lantern.

{Step 10}:  Grab your floral or jewelry wire, wire cutters, and battery-powered candle.

{Step 11}:  Wrap your wire down and under your candle.  Once you get your desired length, cut your wire.

{Step 12}:  Take the wire you just cut and use this a template to cut another wire the same length.

{Step 13}:  Lay one of your wires down on your table.  Place your candle in the center of your wire.  Wrap your wire up and around your candle twisting it up and over the “flame” of your candle.

{Step 14}:  Grab your other wire and repeat step 13.  You will want to make an “X” with this wire so it creates a cage around your candle.  Take the end of your wire and bend it over making a loop.

{Step 15}:  Take your loop and hang it from the string going across your lantern.