Create a Stunning Winter Lantern Decoration in Minutes
Watch the video below to learn how to create a charming winter lantern decoration! It’s a simple project that only requires a few supplies. For this design, I used a combination of ribbons, twigs, and adorable feathered cardinals to give it a cozy, seasonal feel. Check it out and give your lantern a festive winter makeover!
Decorating a Lantern
I created this winter lantern decoration a couple of years ago, and since then, the same lantern has been redecorated time and time again! That’s what I love about small decorating projects like lantern toppers or swags—you can easily swap out the filler and topper to fit any occasion or season. It’s a simple way to keep your décor fresh and festive all year long!
My lantern is a classic Cape Cod style, made of wood, glass, and metal. One of my favorite features is the large door and the clear, unobstructed glass on all sides—it makes decorating so much easier!
If you’re looking for a lantern of your own, check out my Amazon Shop where you’ll find a variety of beautiful styles with clean, simple lines that work perfectly for any seasonal décor. Happy decorating!
Ribbon
Since my lantern was decorated a while back, those exact ribbons are no longer available at Trendy Tree. However, here are some similar options that would work just as well—just pick 2-3 coordinating styles. Or better yet, use up your scrap ribbon! This is the perfect project for those short leftover ribbon pieces you’ve been saving. Get creative and have fun mixing different textures and patterns!
- X314709-15 1.5″ Natural
- 72107-09-12 1.5″ Cheetah Cardinal
- RGF135827 1.5″ Red Bird
- RGA181627 1.5″ White Iridescent
- EZ Bowmaker
Red Birds
My cardinals came from Trendy Tree, but they are sold out right now. More will be arriving this spring. Here is a similar one from Amazon. (I’ve included my Amazon link.)
Battery Candles
Battery-powered candles are a must-have for lanterns—safety first! No matter how tempting it may be, avoid using real candles in enclosed lanterns. You’ll find several great options for battery-operated candles in my Amazon Shop.
Investing in good-quality battery candles is always a smart choice. I personally love the ones with built-in timers—you can set them once and forget about them until it’s time to replace the batteries! It’s so much more convenient than trying to keep up with a remote.
Pro Tip: The candle in my lantern has both a timer and a remote. I keep the remote tucked inside the lantern, hidden underneath the filler, so it’s always handy but out of sight!
Faux Snow
The white “stuff” you see at the bottom of my lantern is Faux Snow—a plastic material similar to Easter grass or Spanish moss. What I love about it is how durable and versatile it is! This same bag of Faux Snow has been reused in several different projects. Once I’m done with it, I simply tuck it away for future use. It’s a great, long-lasting décor element that adds a beautiful wintery touch without any mess!
Get Creative with Your Lantern
I hope this gives you some inspiration for decorating your own lantern—it’s quick, simple, and takes just a few minutes!
The twig pieces I used came from a grapevine wreath, probably one that was too warped to use as-is. If you have a wreath like that, don’t toss it—tear it apart and save the pieces for projects like this!
If you’re dealing with a warped grapevine wreath and want to straighten it out, I did a tutorial on that a while back. Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out!.
Jeannie, did you use pieces of a grapevine for your lantern or can you buy the pieces already torn/broken into lengths to go on the lanterns or other projects? Im actually wanting to do mine in a similar way. Thank you for the tutorial and for stopping to fix the way you redid putting it together as well. We’re all human. Thats what I love about you! You’re so down to earth when you’re on camera. Thanks so much!
Morning Connie))) I just broke apart an old grapevine wreath to get the pieces. You can buy grapevine garland, but an old warped wreath works just as well))) Thanks for following and the kind words, I appreciate it)))