Star lanterns are not too difficult to make, although they will require more skill and some harder to find material (flat bamboo sticks) as compared to building ones from balloons.  If you have difficulty finding flat bamboo sticks, you can replace it with several  1cm  wide strips of card-stock / card-board paper which have been cut and glued together.

Follow this link for instructions on making bamboo star lanterns.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Star-Lantern/

http://www.ehow.com/how_4797962_paper-balloon-lantern.html

Once you master this basic balloon lantern, you can make lovely puffy fish, angry bird, monkey, rabbit, bee, flower, eerie robot or insect!  You name it.

Here are some examples what others start with balloon lantern:

Send us the picture of your creation too so we can post it here :>

Beautiful or bizarre, you can choose.

What you will need:

Rinse the milk jug and remove label.

Cut opening that is big enough to put  a tea light candle, or a LED one, in.

Cut milk jug into a unique design.

Add color and patterns to the milk jug by either gluing colored tissue paper or paint.

My idea: making swan and flippy from Milk Jugs

Here is also a collection of what people do with their milk jugs. Start your creativity now!

Links

Eerie Luminarias – Cat, Dog http://www.bhg.com/halloween/outdoor-decorations/eerie-luminarias/

Spirit Jugs http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/spirit-jugs-673388/

Universal lamp shade polygon building kit http://www.instructables.com/id/Universal-lamp-shade-polygon-building-kit/

Milk jug Jack-O-Lantern http://www.instructables.com/id/Milk-Jug-Jack-o-Lanterns/

Recycled Milk Jug Lanterns http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/recycled-milk-jug-crafts3.htm

Other projects: Recycled Jar Jack O Lanterns http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycled-Jar-Jack-OLanterns/

Milk Jug crafts for kids http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/milkjugscontainersartscraftsideaskids.html

Milk bottle lamps

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/06/milk-bottle-lamps.html#0_undefined,0_

How to Make a Lamp Out of Vintage Glass Milk Bottles http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/165620/how_to_make_a_lamp_out_of_vintage_glass_pg2.html?cat=24

http://www.designswan.com/archives/11-cool-and-unusual-lamp-designs.html

http://www.plantea.com/milk-jug.htm

We are searching for Volunteers to help make this event a success again this year. If you would like to participate in this Family event, please contact Jim Dixon, Director responsible for Volunteers, at jfdixon10@hotmail.com.