Dollar Tree DIY Upcycled Glam Lanterns Tutorial: 2 Jumbo High-End Designs
Transform wooden panels and ornament balls into sophisticated, nearly two-foot-tall floor lanterns for an oversized boutique look.
This article is adapted from a video originally published on YouTube on Mar. 10, 2024.
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Have you ever spotted the perfect oversized floor lanterns in a high-end gallery, only to realize they cost hundreds of dollars? I’ve always believed that you shouldn’t have to settle for small table decor just because you're on a budget—luxury is about creative execution. Today, i’m going to show you how to upscale basic Dollar Tree wood pieces and holiday ornament balls into two distinct, massive floor lanterns that stand nearly two feet tall. These professional-grade showpieces will add instant luxury and a shimmering designer glow to your fireplace or entryway for just a few dollars
📺 WATCH: See each lantern design come to light here.
Materials
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Four packs of silver ornament balls (approximately 52 pieces total)
Thick wooden panels (6x6 inch and 4.5x4.5 inch)
Wooden dowels (12-inch)
Frameless mirror tiles (4x4 inch and 5x5 inch)
Silver metallic craft paper (mirror-reflective finish)
Silver rhinestone ribbon and silver beaded necklace
Clear acrylic gems
Cabinet handle (5-inch, for lantern topper)
Silver napkin rings (for legs)
Fix-All or E6000 adhesive and hot glue
White primer and white acrylic paint
Tools
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Handy dandy level (essential for straight pillars)
Paper cutter or sharp scissors
Dry paintbrush (for glue string removal)
Empty cardboard paper towel roll (for column construction)
Sandy’s Crafting Tips & Hacks
The Pillar Alignment Hack: To ensure your tall columns of ornament balls are perfectly straight, glue them together inside an empty paper towel roll. This genius guide keeps the balls centered and prevents those lopsided stacks that can ruin a tall piece.
The Permanent Bonding Hack: For these large, heavy floor lanterns, I always recommend the “adhesive duo.” Use a combination of Fix-All or E6000 for the long-term professional bond and supplement with hot glue for an immediate hold while you work.
The Wood Surface Prep Hack: When you are adhering the ornament ball legs to the wooden base, make sure you are gluing directly to the wood rather than on top of the paint. This ensures the adhesive penetrates the grain for a much more durable, structural bond.
The Level Alignment Hack: Even a slight slant can ruin the boutique look of a two-foot-tall piece. Use a level to check your lantern from multiple angles as the adhesive sets to ensure your columns are perfectly vertical.
The Glue String Removal Hack: Keep your reflective chrome and mirrored surfaces sparkling! Once the glue has cooled, take a dry paintbrush and simply twirl those pesky hot glue webs away for a flawless boutique shine.
Instructions
Design 1: The 2-Foot Chrome Ornament Ball Lantern
Prepare the Columns: To get started, we’re going to build our architectural supports. Prepare 52 silver ornament balls by removing the caps and snipping off the stems. Glue them into four straight columns of 13 balls each, using your paper towel roll as an alignment guide to ensure they are perfectly straight.
Construct the Foundations: Next, we’ll build our base and lid. Using 6x6 inch wooden panels, paint the center surfaces white [141, 488, History]. Embellish the outer sides with three rows of self-adhesive mini mirror tiles to create a high-gloss, expensive-looking frame.
Boutique Bling: Now for the fun part: adding the signature detailing. Cover the hot glue seams between the balls with strings of silver beaded necklace. I recommend adding clear acrylic gems to the corners of the base for that extra layer of sophisticated sparkle.
Assemble the Structure: Next, we’re going to bring the lantern together. Bond the four columns to the corners of the base and lid using your adhesive duo. Use your level to ensure they stand at exactly 180 degrees.
Finish the Lid: The last thing to do is add our designer hardware. Secure a 5-inch cabinet handle and a round mirror to the top of the lid for a professional boutique look that rivals any high-end showroom!
Design 2: The Tall Mirrored Dowel Lantern
Modify the Supports: For our second design, we’re creating a sleek, linear silhouette. Modify four 12-inch wooden dowels by painting them with silver metallic paint or covering them with silver mirrored craft paper for a uniform, reflective finish.
Line the Panels: Next, let’s prepare our wooden base. Line the surfaces of your wooden base panels with silver metallic craft paper [143, 828, History]. I suggest using a paper cutter for this step to ensure your edges are perfectly straight and professional.
Mirror the Base: Now we’ll add some high-end refraction. Mirror the center of the base by adhering a frameless mirror tile. Frame the tile with a string of silver beaded necklace to hide the raw glass edges and add depth.
Assemble the Lid: Next, we’ll engineer our custom topper. Adhere two wood panels together—placing the smaller one on top of the larger one—to create a tiered effect Cap the lid with a crystal doorknob topper for a regal finishing touch.
Final Polish: The last thing to do is complete the assembly. Bond the dowels to the corners of your base and lid. To finish, give all mirrored surfaces a quick sweep with your dry paintbrush to remove any stray fingerprints or glue residue for a flawless store shine.
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Disclaimer: I’m not a professional. All my DIY’s are for entertainment purposes.