Make a doll's camp lantern that really lights up!

The finished doll sized lantern turns
blue, green, yellow, red, and then
purple!

       Crafting a working camp lantern for twelve to eighteen inch dolls is not a new idea. It is what I would refer to as a 'traditional doll camp craft.' There have been variations on this craft by many people on the web ever since small inexpensive 'tea lights' have been made available in dollar stores. I will link to some of their versions below. My version of this doll sized lantern utilizes a recycled, large ribbon spool. 

• American Girl Doll Lantern Tutorial
• The OMag camp light craft video 
  

Supply List:

• scrap cardboard
• toilet tissue paper rolls
• masking tape
• white school glue
• purchased tea light (the one above changes color)
• plastic, recycled ribbon spool
  
• wire for the handle
• tacky white craft glue
  

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Originally, the plastic ribbon spool had a cardboard disk at each end in order to keep the ribbon from slipping off of it. I took both ends of these cardboard disks off and cut them down to fit the exact size of the ribbon spool and then reattached these in order to make the spool look more like a lantern. If you are working with one of these spools to recycle you can see that the attachment is held in place with a small plastic disk at both the top and bottom. (see photo below)
2. To get the correct size of the cardboard top and bottom simply position the plastic spool on top of the cardboard and draw around it's parameter with a pen or pencil and cut this down.
3. While you are making this readjustment, poke holes opposite each other using the tip of a pair of scissors to thread a wire through. Twist the ends and glue this handle in place. Then attach the lid back in place.
4. Using a cardboard toilet roll, adjust it's size both width and height, to fit around the lower end of the ribbon spool using tacky craft glue and masking tape to hold it in place. You may find a better cardboard tube to make this adjustment with if you prefer.
5. Cut and adjust a second tube for the interior of the tube extension on the bottom. Glue this tube in place so that a battery operated tea light may be fitted securely inside of the larger tube. 
6. Crush newsprint to fill the narrow space between these two tubes inside the lantern. Do not seal off the bottom; leave it open so that you may replace the tea light when the battery runs down. (see photo below) The battery operated light shines through the interior plastic spool and casts an eerie glow.
   
7. Paint the cardboard surfaces only using a color of your own liking. I chose to paint mine green.
   

Left, draw around it's parameter with a pen or pencil and cut this down. Center, poke holes
opposite each other using the tip of a pair of scissors to thread a wire through. Twist
the ends and glue this handle in place. Right, paint the cardboard surfaces only using
a color of your own liking. I chose to paint mine green.

Crush newsprint to fill the narrow space
between these two tubes inside the lantern.
Do not seal off the bottom; leave it open
so that you may replace the tea light once
the battery runs down.