Dyed paper lantern spider
This project is super easy to do and makes a major impact on trick-or-treaters. It’s a fresh way to use traditional party décor. Everyone will get a kick out of this dyed paper lantern spider. He looks cute, but he’s got real Halloween bite!
Fabric dye is easy to use and will give you the perfect shade of dramatic black. Just follow instructions on the box. Make sure your container is large enough to hold both your lantern and dye, and to cover the lantern completely. We used a galvanized tray, but a large plastic storage container will do, too.
You’ll want to wear rubber or disposable gloves, though dye is not as hard to remove from your hands as you might think. (Takes some of the stress away, that’s for sure!)
We hung our lantern up to dry and placed paper beneath it to catch excess dye. Then, we used streamers as legs because they’re inexpensive and come in large rolls.
All you have to do is tape streamers to the wall and ceiling, so that the legs appear to have joints. You can even suspend the spider over your table with fishing line!
This post includes links to purchase items you’ll need from our affiliates.
- paper to cover work surface
- rubber or disposable gloves
- fabric dye (black)
- large container for dyeing
- stir stick
- [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009CE59QA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009CE59QA&linkCode=as2&tag=chery01-20&linkId=NNX557VCUKRH2F4G” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” title=”White Lantern”]16″ white round paper lantern[/url]
- scissors
- white paper for fangs
- double-sided tape
- [url href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D8LV8WC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00D8LV8WC&linkCode=as2&tag=chery01-20&linkId=35QMTV4XRDGPK2XV” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” title=”Large Googly Eyes”]large googly eyes[/url]
- 2-3 pushpins
- black streamers
- fishing line
- Cover your work surface, put on your gloves and then follow the fabric dye package instructions to dye your paper lantern. Be sure the lantern will fit flat in the container—ours was pretty big! Once the desired color has been achieved, carefully remove the lantern, place the wire insert inside and allow it dry completely. We let our lantern sit in the dye for 10-15 minutes.
- Once dry, cut out fangs and tape to the inside of the lantern’s smaller opening, using double-sided tape. Attach googly eyes above the opening.
- If you’re going to hang the spider on the wall, use a few pushpins. Tape 4 streamers, 2 on each side, to the wall just behind the lantern. Then, tape 2 more on each side to the ceiling.
- If you’d like your spider to keep a closer look on all that candy, use fishing line and tape to suspend him from the ceiling.
