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What you need
- 1 empty plastic milk bottle (clean and dry)
- Wooden house cutouts (or cardboard cutouts for an even cheaper option)
- Black acrylic paint + small paintbrush
- Hot glue gun or strong craft glue (for younger kids, use PVA glue)
- Battery-operated fairy lights (warm white works best)
- Scissors or craft knife (adult supervision required)
Optional: Glitter, cotton balls for “snow,” or stickers for extra decoration
Instructions
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Milk Bottle
Wash out the milk bottle and peel off any labels. Dry it thoroughly.
Using scissors or a craft knife, carefully cut the top section of the bottle off—just above the halfway point. You now have the base of your lantern.
2. Plan Your Village Scene
Arrange your wooden house cutouts around the outside of the milk bottle base. Decide on placement before gluing so you get a nice mix of tall and short buildings.
3. Attach the Houses
Glue each house cutout onto the outside of the milk bottle, spacing them evenly around the base. Press firmly and let dry.
4. Paint the Night Sky
Use black acrylic paint to fill in the space around the houses, leaving the window cutouts uncovered so light can shine through. This gives the effect of a glowing village against a dark night sky.
5. Add Lights Inside
Place your battery-operated fairy lights inside the milk bottle base. The black paint will make the light pop through the windows, creating a cozy glow.
6. Decorate (Optional)
Kids can add cotton “snow” along the base, glitter on the rooftops, or Christmas stickers to make it extra festive.
7. Switch On & Enjoy
Turn on the lights and watch your upcycled milk bottle Christmas village glow! It’s the perfect night-light for December evenings.
What do you think of this project? Let us know!