DIY Christmas Lantern Post

I know the feeling.  It’s Christmas already?!  One part of you is excited because, you know, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, right?  But then the other part of you is like, oh no, I’ve got to drag out the decorations and make the lists and cook the food and buy the presents!

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With all the hustle and bustle of the season, though, I know you don’t have a whole lot of shop time.  Luckily, this DIY Christmas Lantern Post won’t take much time to build and can also help you clean up that scrap pile!

I’m teaming up with 11 other talented builder bloggers to bring you one fun Christmas themed project each day between Dec. 1 to Dec. 12.  You can find all the links to the projects as they go live at the bottom of this post.  We are calling it the 12 Days of a DIY Christmas and I’m so excited to be sharing with you!

I’m seriously so excited about this little lantern post!  Isn’t it so cute wrapped in garland and lights??  It’s actually really cute without the garland and lights, too, so once the holidays are over, you can still keep it around 😉

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So let’s get started on the how to, shall we??

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Tools and Materials:

Wood scraps (for sizes, see tutorial)

Wood Spindle

Table Saw

Miter Saw

Router (optional)

Drill

Wood Glue

Nail Gun

Measuring Tape

2 ½” wood screws

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Step 1:  Cut DIY Christmas Lantern Pieces

Using a table saw, I ripped down a scrap 1×6 board to pieces a few pieces ¾” wide.  This gave me several square pieces to use to make the lantern.  If you don’t have a table saw, you can use wider boards as well.  There are no “rules” to this.

Then, using a miter saw, I trimmed down these ¾” square pieces to four 8” long pieces and eight 3” long pieces.  If you don’t have enough, rip down some more ¾” wide strips.

Step 2:  Assemble the Lantern

Using wood glue and a nail gun, I assembled two rectangle frames like shown.

Then, I used wood glue and a nail gun to attach the remaining 3″ pieces between them to make a lantern.

For the top and bottom, I used scrap 1×6 and 2×6 boards. In hindsight, I should probably have used both 1x6s instead of the 2x on the bottom.  But whatever works is fine.  I just cut squares.  So, since 1x6s and 2x6s are 5 1/2″ wide, I cut my pieces 5 1/2″ long to make 5 1/2″ squares.

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For some added detail, I used a Roman Ogee router bit from my new kit to go around the edges.  Then just glued and nailed them on the top and bottom.

Oh, and I cut a piece off an old scrap spindle for the top as you can see below.

Now you have a lantern!!!

Step 3: Build the DIY Christmas Lantern Base

For the base, I used some scrap 3/4″ plywood, but you could also use some 1x6s again.  Basically, I just built a box like shown below that was 12″ tall and 5 1/2″ square.  So, cut 2 pieces 5 1/2″ wide x 12″ tall and 2 pieces 4″ wide x 12″ tall and glue and nail together 🙂

Then, I cut a scrap piece of 2×8 square.  So it was 7 1/4″ x 7 1/4″.  I also routed these edges, too.  You don’t have to route anything, I just like the detail 🙂  Plus, I just got new router bits for my birthday so I want to use them on EVERYTHING!!!  I just glued and screwed this base piece to the base box from the bottom side with 2 1/2″ screws.

PS, ignore that extra hole…I missed the first time HA!

Step 4:  Attach the DIY Christmas Lantern to the Base

My sister and brother in law just cleaned out their shed and found a bunch of random wood (and possibly some critters…but that’s neither here nor there…).  They gave me some old spindles that worked PERFECT for this.

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If you don’t have an old spindle lying around, they aren’t expensive at the big box store, or you could also check around some thrift or junk stores as people are re purposing them a lot lately!  Either way, get yourself a spindle!

I trimmed off one flat end of mine (totally up to you).  Then, I screwed my lantern into the top using a 2 1/2″ wood screw.

For the bottom, I cut one more piece of 1×6 to make another 5 1/2″ square and routed the edges.  Then, I screwed this into the other end of the spindle.

Finally, I glued and nailed the spindle part to the base box like shown.  (ps I know my terminology here is terrible!)

Step 5:  Putty and Finish the DIY Christmas Lantern Post

Putty the nail holes and sand smooth.  Then paint as desired.  Also, if you wanted, you could add a little sign with your leftover 3/4″ square pieces and some plywood.

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I just screwed two 3/4″ pieces together to make an L shape, then screwed it to the top of the spindle.  Much like I did with my DIY Christmas Truck, I designed a picture in PicMonkey, printed it and modge podged it onto a piece of scrap plywood. I nailed on a 1×2 frame and used eye hooks and cup screws to attach it to the post.

You can add a little battery powered candle and some garland and lights and look how festive you are!! 😉

If you like the little truck, you can find the tutorial for it here.  And that snowflake pillow tutorial is here, too!  If you like pillow covers, also check out my very popular DIY Grinch Pillow tutorial here.

If you want some more Christmas inspiration, check out my Paper Sack Christmas Decor, 5 minute Christmas wreath, easy swags, and Christmas home tour.

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I’d also love it if you’d pin this for later!

Be sure to check out the other 12 Days of a DIY Christmas projects below:

Her Tool Belt Sleigh Rides Sign

Build It Craft It Love It

The Kim Six Fix Scrap 2×4 Trees and Santas

Anika’s DIY Life Picture Frames

The Handyman’s Daughter Christmas Tree Yard Decoration

The Painted Key Christmas Moose

My Love 2 Create Wooden Reindeer Puzzle

Hazel & Gold Designs Decorative Ladder

The Created Home Dining Table

Uncookie Cutter Modern Christmas Sign

Handmade by Ashley 

Stay tuned each day for a new project until Dec. 12!

Until next time, happy building!! 🙂