Make a Jack o Lantern with a Recycled Milk Jug

Every year my kids beg me to buy them pumpkins to carve. Of course I always do, even though I regret it when they are all black and shriveled up by the time Halloween comes around. I hate the thought of my hard earned cash just rotting away like that! I suppose the joy my kids get out of carving them makes it sorta worth it.... but....Arrgh!.... they just rot away!

In comes my creative, frugal mind. I look through the recycling bin and what do I find? Empty milk jugs! The perfect solution to Halloween decor that doesn't cost me a dime and it can be reused year after year! Here's the bonus, my kids have just as much fun decorating these as they do the real thing:) Mommy's happy.

OK... These are simple. First get an empty milk jug and wash it out thoroughly. Make sure you keep the cap.

Grab some orange acrylic crafters paint. If you don't have any on hand, you can get some at your local discount store for less than $2. Squeeze about 1/4 cup into the jug. Add a tiny bit of water and re cap it.

Next, (here's the kids favorite part...) shake it up! Keep your thumb over the cap so it doesn't pop off and shake the carton until the inside is coated with the orange paint. If the paint is thick enough, it should coat just fine with one shake. If it's a bit thin, take off the cap and let some air get to it. this will help the paint dry onto the sides. Once you gat a layer that has dried, cap it up again and shake to build up a good coat. Drain any leftover paint into the trash. Let dry.

Next, use a black or dark colored permanent marker to draw the face. Let the kids get creative and have them draw all sorts of faces or Halloween scenes onto the outside of the jug. I usually draw on one of the flat surfaces, but it's fine if you use a corner. Make sure they don't decorate above the shoulder of the jug because you will be cutting this part off.

Once the paint is dry, (or not, I usually can't wait and I don't care about getting a little messy), get a utility knife or a sharp kitchen knife and cut along the shoulder of the jug. Cut around to the handle and then right across it. I like to keep a bit of the handle so I can grab it more easily to move it around if there is a candle in it. You don't have to if you don't care about a handle. Here is another opportunity to get creative. When you cut the top off, you can make a jagged zig zag pattern, just like you would on a real pumpkin. Remove the top and set aside.

Put your creation in a sunny spot or someplace where it can dry completely. You may find that some of the paint has pooled into the bottom of the jug. Simply pour out any extra and let it dry.

Place a tea light candle at the bottom of your Jack o Lantern . Make sure your opening on the top is large enough so that you don't get any edges that may get hot from the candle. Light it up and watch it glow! If you don't feel safe with candles you can use the small LED tea lights or even a glow stick to give your Jack a bright and spooky spirit!

Enjoy your crafty Jacks for years to come and add new ones each Halloween! Watch how the faces and designs change as your kids get older : ) have fun!