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What you need
Cardboard tube (from a tall container or mailing tube)
Craft knife or scissors
Newspaper strips
Flour + water paste (or white school glue thinned with water)
Hot glue gun
Black acrylic paint (matte finish works best)
Paintbrushes
Battery-operated tealight or LED candle
Optional: grey or metallic paint for dry brushing highlights
Instructions
Instructions
Step 1: Cut Out the Tree Face
Take your cardboard tube and cut jagged edges along the top to resemble torn tree bark.
Use a craft knife to cut out creepy face features – hollow eyes, a crooked mouth, or even a gaping scream. Don’t worry about perfection, rough and uneven adds to the spooky vibe.
Step 2: Add Texture with Paper Mâché
Tear newspaper into strips.
Mix flour and water into a paste (about pancake batter thickness) or use watered-down glue.
Dip strips into the paste, wipe off excess, and apply over the tube.
Build up texture around the face edges, making bark-like ridges.
Let dry completely (overnight is best).
Step 3: Create Drippy Tree Bark
Use your hot glue gun to draw drips, knots, and rough bark texture across the surface.
Let some glue drip naturally down for a “melting tree” effect.
Allow glue to set fully before painting.
Step 4: Paint the Haunted Tree
Paint the entire lantern with black acrylic paint.
Add extra coats to cover all glue and paper.
Once dry, use a dry-brush technique with grey, white, or metallic silver paint to highlight raised bark details.
Step 5: Add the Glow
Place a battery-operated tealight or small LED candle inside the tube.
Watch as the eerie glow shines through the tree face, creating a spooky haunted forest effect.
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