How to make Cheap and Easy LARP Lanterns!

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/skilltree03231
For the upcoming Reckoning LARP, we wanted to have a bunch of lanterns for light. The PROBLEM with that is, Lanterns like that are always expensive and not super bright. So we decided to MAKE our own as cheap and easy as possible!
🛒 Supplies!
• www.amazon.com/shop/skilltree
• Halloween Lanterns x4: amzn.to/3T9FwFm
• Camping Lanterns x4: amzn.to/3LaLd3S
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All sounds and stock footage are from Epidemicsound.com & Envato Elements

[@SkillTree]

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/skilltree03231

[@Arkume8Beltz]

In this amazing creations, thinking in coper i only miss the green rust on it's edges..and the blackened uper zoneof "crystal".. Next: Larp medieval torch...

[@spacecaptain9188]

It's not really a free month. They collect payment info and personal info. If it were free, they would only need you to provide login info.

[@branchcore]

If 80% aren't subbed maybe ask them why or if you know, listen to them & try what they say. Idk but it might be cause they come for crafting but don't like the 12 minutes of stories about stubbing your toe on a stump in a creek.

[@EmmtheOriginallyLegal1andOnly]

Those little Halloween lanterns, replace the halloween windows with some insert cut outs from 💵 🌳 flexible cutting boards (2/$1.25), strip the electronics and swap the battery for a simple heatless LED bulb(e26 or e12 base) by running an electric fixture and cord up through it in the middle up reattach base and boom; Faux Moroccan hanging lanterns.

[@cetx]

"Add some gears and squint a little bit" is the most accurate description of steampunk I've ever heard.

[@nmstudiosest2023]

I swear your channel has become an addiction

[@SkillTree]

We will happily be your dealers!

[@Struthio_Camelus]

The first taste is free.

[@Johnjohnthejohn]

Very much so

[@gregbush8573]

for further research, that distortion layer uses fresnel lensing, you can get plastic sheets of the stuff cheap and would probably work really well in the halloween lantern.

[@julianatruite5206]

Adding little spots of green/turquoise paint on the edges would give it a cool verdigris effect. Curiously, I've been working on my own LARP lights recently, I'll definitely be using some inspiration from this video.

[@FinC1_]

I was just about to type the same thing. A few hits of turqoise/cyan in parts that your hand doesn't touch often will give that old, patina'd copper look. A few deliberate bumps and scrapes can add a lot of subtle detail too :)

[@danielsabater1940]

I’ve been toying with the idea of an LED version torch. This is a great way to start! You guys come up the greatest props!

[@SkillTree]

Glad you found this one useful!

[@b.a.1591]

Get one of those flaming Halloween cauldrons that have a little peice of cloth that blows around with a light on it you can take them apart and use elements. I used one to make an old wood stove look like it was always lit. Bonus points you can cut your own thin sheet cloth to make the flame look bigger.

[@DrTurtleBee]

My favorite mocktail is half and half ginger beer and Apple cider over ice with a squeeze of lemon juice. Be simple enough to use hard cider instead if you wanted it alcoholic.

[@sarahrosen4985]

Now I'm thirsty!

[@SkillTree]

That sounds really TASTY!

[@vitogiobbie3rd999]

My favorite drink is my personal creation: Bermuda Triangle Punch. It consists of Gosling's Black Seal Rum, passionfruit juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and a dash of citrus bitters. Excellent!

[@igneseternes5695]

Would be cool to see a magic themed light to explain why it's so bright and can be instantly lit.

[@joshicus_saint_anger]

After you hit your project with the base metal color, you wanna dry brush a lighter metal over that to give it more depth. Aside from that I'd say they look perfect.

[@justaminuteie6586]

How have 80% of viewers resisted subscribing to your channel?! I found you a year or so ago and binged every episode!

[@kameljoe21]

Because not everyone wants to watch this content for long term. I am going to spend about a week watching all of the videos I find cool based on title and thumbnails. Then I will not likely watch it again for a another year or 2. I already have several 100 people I watch on the regular. This may change the further I get in to the channel. Plus all of those other views are from people seeing the title and thumbnail. A video like this lantern might spark someone eye and they watch it and move on. You also have to consider that many people watch via their tv which they can auto play and skip to the next video.

[@justaminuteie6586]

@@kameljoe21 🥴

[@Patrick-it8nk]

Okay these I am one THOUSAND percent making, with help from the kids. I have some dollar tree solar lanterns I may strip for the panels and batteries, and make something like this that's solar rechargeable. We are actually about halfway done with our Ruana cloaks for Ren Faire this year, using instruction from yourself and Living Anachronism. Going great so far, just got to remember how to use my sewing machine, or mentally prepare myself to hand-stitch them all. I was thinking of embroidering a symbol, maybe even initial as well, into them before we waterproof them with the wax. I have also saved the circles cut out of the neckline and am going to experiment with making them into small pockets for the inside, or save to repair tears as patching.

[@kessera5645]

Who else loved the Halloween lanterns ? Those cats were adorable

[@Renge43]

Ooh I’m excited for this one! I actually made one out of a lantern that I found at a yardsale with a solar light.

[@SkillTree]

Ooooh. I would love to see how it comes out!

[@Renge43]

@@SkillTree I actually shared the pictures on the discord! I used a resin crystal and glow in the dark pigment in order to replace the flame for the lantern.

[@andrewwilson1798]

I've done a few of these with harbor freight lanterns for fallout and star wars cosplays. It might not work with those lanterns since they plastic defracts for the "flame" but for the cheaper lanterns I like to sand the inside of the plastic lens to diffuse the light. If I need a specific color light I'll paint the inside with an translucent acrylic paint and it works great.

[@meganmonroe6236]

Did you know that a lot of historical lanterns used thin slices of horn instead of glass? Horn was used for almost everything that we use plastic for today including spoons, cups and anything that needed to be translucent yet tough.

[@KittyInTheRain]

Embellishments idea: after my first larp I decided I really wanted a hooded lantern so I could see what was ahead of me without blinding myself with my own lantern. Love the video and I'll definitely be trying this out!

[@theredravenworkshop3037]

Super fun video. I love taking cheap finds from places like the dollar store and figuring out how to make them way cooler!

[@SkillTree]

RIGHT?! Upcycling is so much fun.

[@markfergerson2145]

I can't grasp how anyone can watch your videos and not subscribe. I just love the spirit of looking at a finished product as parts. Public thank you to those who can afford to support you via Patreon so us poors can freeload on their generosity.

[@CAPace09]

My LARP group was just talking about this!

[@granthagen2996]

Loving the new Plastic skill recently! Living in a college apartment I can't work on much, so this is super accessible with the super minimal tools I have! Love the work Cl3ver, Skill Monkey till the day I die!

[@stuartbaxter-potter8363]

Ooo, looking forward to this one! There are so many lanterns on the market that look fine, but a medieval fantasy one is what I've been looking for!

[@VirginiaMaker]

And another I plan to use as inspiration. Your videos are awesome.

[@SkillTree]

YOU'RE awesome

[@mertz7305]

I modded the crap out of those collapsing lanterns when the first came out. Kyber crystal containers, spooky swamp lanterns, red klaxon beacons. Sky’s the limit.

[@shadowkitsu]

This channel is bad for my bank account. But, good for my heart

[@GregoryHaynes]

For lantern embellishments I would definitely use some leather to act as an insulater to keep you from being burned from the flame's heat. Also, thicken the vertical glass supports by gluing rods to the "glass". Paint them as desired for effect.

[@matt_2]

Just finished making a rawhide lantern and now this is on my fyp :)

[@SkillTree]

OH! I want to make one of those. Did you like the outcome? Would love to see how you went about it.

[@matt_2]

​@@SkillTree Sorry for the late response, I am very happy with the outcome. After getting some inspiration from pictures and tutorials online I bought a rawhide dog toy and went ahead and made my own. Have a good day/night :)

[@b.a.1591]

If you copy this make sure you get Paintable caulking, and if you don't have a belt sander Flush Cut Pliers are pretty cheep go through little plastic bits like butter.

[@hambonejones7231]

I'll rewatch videos, not just to remember how to do something, but purely for entertainment. Video's content and quality continue to get better. Keep up the great work!

[@Mark-ki7ic]

The inner light core would look good as the top of a healers staff, use clear or colored resin to look like a gem shard.

[@nicolesouthwell1863]

I haven't even watched it yet but exited, thank you for your amazing content!

[@SkillTree]

Thank YOU for the support!

[@ojkasper]

I have a little self made cocktail at hand, that would fit this channel. It's a riff on the Revolver. Flintlock (by OJ - 2023) 1,5 oz dark rum (Kraken Rum) 0,5 oz overproof rum (Stroh Rum 80%) 1 oz cofee liqour (Mr. Black or Kahlua if you want it sweeter) Pour in low ball on one big ice cube and stir till cold. Add a small dash of all spice on top (this is your gunpowder)

[@GtraderS23]

One of my favorite drinks I made 1 monster or energy drink of your choice Hard liquor I slow boil the monster to reduce it down then turn them into ice cubes to drop in my favorite hard liquor to sip on it helps reduce watering down your drink Given the monster energy drink the name of the drink is "The Bestiary" a drink of refined monsters.

[@byronrazor]

If you have to remove paint from glass again, try goo gone, then wipe clean with an alcohol base.

[@merianyas1162]

I did something very similar to this with some Halloween lanterns that I picked up for a couple of dollars each at Target last year. They were made of metal and already the right shape and color (a matte black that makes them look kind of like wrought iron). I just needed to pop out the decorative, translucent plastic panels and replaced them with some frosted plexiglass I had laying around from some other project. They already had a decent led candle built in, though I may replace it at some point if I decide I want a brighter light.

[@neuroticneko6229]

I really love watching your videos and just how excited you get from figuring out a solution to your problems. You could have used 100% acetone to remove the coating on the glass if you soaked them for a few minutes.

[@albruitstuart8408]

Great build, but a couple tips. To replace the glass, a great up cycle is to use the flat portion of a clear clamshell pastry box like you get from the grocery store. They are usually pretty inconsistent in thickness and even have tiney bubbles like old glass did. Another tip is to just take the electric base and diffuser from the camp lantern and put it in the Halloween lanterns.

[@ryn3872]

Another bonus of using the same parts for different lanterns is you get something of a cohesive look, like they come from the same smith or culture.

[@ulvapyren978]

Always love what you come up with Kit

[@SkillTree]

Thank you for watching😁

[@The_AntiVillain]

For cleaning that white paint use either acetone, rubbing alcohol or mineral oil

[@hollyingraham3980]

Exactly my thought, depending on the paint. Rubbing alcohol might not work where denatured alcohol would. It's much higher proof.

[@clintonm2357]

One really cool screen is the outside portion of an old broken laptop screen. It distorts light when rounded and makes things look magical.

[@brunoethier896]

For a cheaper frosted glass effect, turns out that half wood lue and half water does wonders. 😉

[@thehollowbox]

I love your channel so much ❤ It reminds me of old-school Indy mogul which had prop builds shown in a very approachable way. Please continue crafting and bring us along for the ride😊

[@Rebecca-zw4pm]

Cl3v3r, I love, love, love this project! I just found your channel TODAY, when I was looking for how to make a quick and easy book press. I have been binge watching in my workshop for about four hours now and I. Am. HOOKED!!! I love everything about your channel! You are so enthusiastic about what you do, just like I am, and while I do not yet LARP, my husband and I finally got our group hooked on D&D during the shutdowns when we were finally able to go camping, and now have this whole camping D&D extravaganza going. While we do play once a month in my home, we also do dress up as our own characters on these camping trips (8 per year since 2020), so your content is right up my alley. These lanterns will be perfect for our next camping trip! Heck, I may even try the Harbor Freight camping tent (I am an avid seamstress and I can already see me making that tent. I am also going to make the hemp/linen bikini for sure). Anyway, I am so happy I found your channel! It has taken me away from my work today, but totally worth it! And, by the way, I think it's dope that you're having a cocktail(s) while you do your videos. 😂😂

[@barrettready1713]

Maybe you should do a short for the drinks you have during the videos

[@SkillTree]

That would be a FUN episode. Maybe a live stream. Just mix drinks and chat.

[@MacAttack001]

Those lanterns look awesome! I placed my order and look forward to deploying them in the not so distant future. Great video, keep em coming! :)

[@captin3149]

Did you find the Halloween ones anywhere? When I tried the link that he provided they said they were unavailable. (I bought a set of the other ones though)

[@MacAttack001]

@@captin3149 I got them through the link and there was only like six of them left at that point. I'm not entirely certain that kit understands the full reach of his videos! Or they were just low to begin with. :-)

[@sparky22700]

I'm amazed how often your videos seem to be relevant to the project I'm working on at the time they come out.

[@kurtacus3581]

Another detail i would add is on the inside of the glass panels i would paint the back of it black around the sides and top. That'll give it a used look, like the soot from the candle has built up around the edges of the glass

[@moonmorth]

I wonder if you could use opaque or transparent holiday Easter wrap plastics. Cut them into tiny panels and glue them to the lamp in order to create a stained glass look. Or in general it would be awesome to have a telescoping lantern like the one you have here plus cathedral glass appearance. Additional thought what if the stained glass appearance had holy symbols. That way clerics could use them to drive away the undead. Maybe if the dice are in their favor. Excuse me I have an item I have to go create. lol

[@baddrayko3040]

similar to this vein of modern convenience dressed up to be medieval, I made a handheld battery operated torch. using one of the garage lightbulb things, a flickering fire LED lightbulb, and wired the plug it came with to take a USB power source, and fit a rechargeable battery in the handle. BAM, a flickering flame torch you can carry without being dangerous

[@commanderninja1253]

Always awesome stuff!

[@hobbitosaurus8148]

Been watching alot and I've seen a large amount of sweet larp gear at this point. I'm surprised you haven't made a small cart to drag it all to camp easier. The larp tarp tent, folding vanity, and the kitchen chest are on the bulkier side. Save yourself a trip from car to camp and build you a collapsing cart. Heck go further and have it shift to a mobile repair station for any adventuring mishaps.

[@fitzyizgood]

That would be so perfect for this plague doctor vibe I wanna do where I walk with a staff with a lantern hanging off the edge of it. This would be just the prop needed for that!

[@gamert2262]

You’re fire wand is One of the best inventions I have ever seen in my entire life i’ve learnt how to use the fire stuff and I’m going to make one for my own

[@BeastGuyver]

13:40 you could achieve the frosted glass effect with a little sandpaper, or you if you're going to paint it and there's no real flame you could use that flat clear plastic from packaging or really and sheet plastic.

[@jasonthayer762]

This drink may not be in your line but we call it a Kuenzle (Pronounced Kinzlee): Glass of iced tea (unsweet), Add apple juice (I used cider and it was better) until you are worried that you won't have enough room, Then add 1-2 ounces of whiskey (bourbon and rum are acceptable). If you did it right it should be full to the brim (slurp the first sip while it is on the table) and delicious. One of my buddies invented this drink and we used to drink it on poker nights. Love the channel!

[@spiderbeam]

I bet you could add little beads, charms. embroidered ribbons. or teeny potions vials with glow in the dark beads or liquid to make it more fantastical! also, if you were going for a more dystopian or dark elf/techno vibe, you could add glow in the dark runes or gaffers tape to the outside - that way, if you're returning to a campsite after dark, you will be able to find it super easily!!

[@rhysodunloe2463]

It just so happened that I stumbled over that exact camping lantern in my local supermarket and instantly bought it. To make the flame effect a bit more realistic I put a thin piece of paper between the diffusor sheet and the acrylic glass. Now I keep an eye open for bits that go along well with it. Or I have to craft something myself from all the cardboard that I'm hording. Personally I find the flickering effect a bit too rapid. It's rather a secondary - or just pure aesthetic - light source to put in a faraway corner. If it were my only source of light I'd surely get a seizure. 😅

[@FavianShields]

We gotta make this channel famous. We can all say we were here from the beginning.

[@CrowinOK]

80% is a fantastic ratio. Most successful channels are happy with 15-20% subscriber ratio.

[@Keltain]

I have one of those little pull out lanterns! A good few passes of paint on the body and some glued on moss and flowers help a LOT if you can’t afford or justify big mods just yet!

[@caspian9439]

Literally exactly what I needed right now! Thanks!

[@RandomWatts]

My friends and I are going to the PA Ren Faire this October. I think I'm going to do this for our group to find each other easier after the sun goes down.

[@seankrake4776]

I could totally see these being popular with the ttrpg crowd. It’s usually pretty hard for people to get into a game because it’s a bunch of your friends looking normal in someone’s living room or dining room, and the fluorescent lights don’t do much for it. I saw a few channels that made fantasy themed walls out of xps foam. I could imagine combining that with some of these flicker lanterns could really take a game from funny night with friends to a really memorable experience.

[@blackmoon8459]

With the idea of a “skill tree themed drink,” I’m not sure if it should be something complicated, or something that looks complicated to make but is in truth, really simple. Like a good margarita. Super simple to make, like 4 ingredients shaken up, and yet it’s a “difficult” drink to some.

[@coloraddiction]

"Taking something and modifying it to be what you want is just a lot of fun." Me smiling as I remove the sleeves to this dress after my husband insisted that if I wanted to change it I shouldn't have bought it. (It wasn't particularly expensive, and it also wasn't full price.) lol

[@MASI_forging]

I'm excited to watch this video. Beautiful piece of work. 😊😊

[@Sigurdr2002]

This is a great idea. I'll have to see if I can get some made before our next LARP... Failing that, May's game!

[@SkillTree]

Let me know how it works out!

[@aliciacharline]

I wouldnt call it a signature drink but, one of my favorites is a shot of Southern Comfort and a shot of Captain Morgan in a pint glass topped with a dark soda of your choice, usually I use root beer which gives it its name, "Boot Rear." Super sweet and SO GOOD!!

[@diegobob8971]

Amazing job as always!

[@FinalDragoon63]

I just recently started looking for ideas to 3D print or make a torch or lantern, the timing of this is perfect.

[@vintagelyzzie]

Looks really awesome!

[@EvoWatches]

I really love these recycling type builds.

[@Reyn_Roadstorm]

At 2:59 with the handles removed that's no longer a lantern at all; it's a freakin' Dalek toy from Dr. Who. I see that an all I hear is "EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!"

[@SkillTree]

Now I can't UNSEE THAT!!! LOL

[@RM-vw3ov]

Man, your content is amazing!

[@daisykid3]

These look freaking awesome!! I want a bunch to hang around my patio and place around my house.

[@ericrylands2860]

Thanks!

[@reagandotson2059]

With rhe copper color, you ought to add a blue-green patina.

[@beckymurphy4714]

Several years ago my mother & I were in a local bar. She ordered a shot of Doctor McGillicuddy's, but the bartender grabbed Kahlua accidentally. She caught his mistake when the shot glass was half-full, so he topped it with Doctor's. It tasted like a peppermint patty. We dubbed it the "Aloha Doctor - guaranteed to kill what ails ya."

[@donaldfuller5058]

You should make a new one with the Halloween body and the other lamp’s electronics and light effects.

[@chaotic-goodartistry3903]

OMG thank you for this! I've been looking for smth like this for some lanterns for a while, I'm totally gonna gut those and stick the LEDs and cylinder into a better lantern case with hazy glass to hide the insides!

[@jinxydoll]

A 2 for 1 craft?? That's even better. They are SO cute!!

[@FantasyApprentice]

this is so amazing I really needed this video since I'm makining a kit for my LARP character, smuggler

[@DonsArtnGames]

Lamps ordered and on their way to me... Thank you for the idea~!

[@sicklesballet]

Adding color gel light inserts would look cool layered with the distorted filter

[@WEKM]

Very well done sir.

[@Griffonyx]

i will surely do this for my little tent

[@Caeleinn]

Okay, I am making so many of these before Gulf Wars next year. I will have them all around my tent and use one for walking about at night. I'm thinking of using the hammered metal look spray paint, and maybe using my Cricut to cut vinyl patterns to go on the "glass" insert. Of course, this means I'll need to purchase a period canvas tent, but oh, well.

[@TheAirhead99]

This was spectacular! I'll be honest I was a bit sceptical on how the first lantern would look once you afixed that top piece, but as soon as you painted it I was sold! it's so simple and eligant plus as you mentioned I'm sure having that super bright LED will be very helpful for a lost aventurer. Keep up the excellent projects, one day I'm gonna get some of the supplies needed and try my own hand and crafting some of these epic pieces!

[@askys5546]

there is something usualy called "Label Off" a spray/liquid that melts away glue and paint, is good if you want to clean glas :) Don't use it on plastic tho.

[@isaacsudduth1574]

Watching this video reminded me of this one fantasy weapon that I came up with called the "ghost light flail". It's basically a lantern and a medieval flail combined into one weapon that was inspired by the ghosts in the legend of Zelda. In any case, I enjoy watching your videos and they've inspired me to get back into crafting stuff.

[@BekkaMakes]

This is pretty cool! I found one of those pull-out LED lanterns at the thrift store, but it doesn't have the flickery candle effect. (I also saw a similar one at Harbor Freight this week.) Planning to decoupage tissue paper over it to mute the light, but didn't know what to do about the rest of the look. This video has given me a bunch more ideas! Thanks!!

[@mrkultra1655]

Wicked build man, really nice

[@balduinvontrier128]

I was so happy when you said you would try Larp, because I knew you would come up with loads of incredible usefull stuff. But you still knock it out of the park.

[@isaacschmitt4803]

Bondo is another good thing to use for making solid looking things, especially if you want it to have a bit of heft so it's not deceptively light.

[@seangere9698]

I would have went with a push button to turn it off and on and just put the guts of in the Halloween lanterns. Replaced the Halloween deco "glass" pains with acrylic panels and looked into getting some of the opaque stuff to line the acrylic panels with so you can still have the flickering look or just used the tube from the pop-up part and glued it into place and just got a frosted acrylic sheet and cut out the panels out of that so you can't see the cylinder in the center and still have the ability to use the flicker function. But as for how you are doing it I would have used a bronze or brass rub 'n' buff instead of an acrylic paint. It looks much better on a black background and gives you that natural patina look without a bunch more steps. And a little rub 'n' buff goes a long way.

[@tamisanlatherow3103]

Awesome as always. Just an FYI, I found the background music was up a bit too loud and I had a hard time hearing what you were saying.

[@Paintchipsrocks]

If you ever want to remove paint a small amount of acetone on a rag is generally the best way, be careful though as it will melt plastic. You an also calm down bright lanterns with a layer of masking tape and a green/brown watery paint wash.

[@spacecaptain9188]

I like to use those flexible white cutting boards from the dollar store, for my frosted glass. I use them in costuming too.

[@McBernes]

Lol I love your enthusiasm dude!

[@mikelawrence7030]

Love the lanterns.