Freaky Friday Date Night Lantern | A Fun New Twist on Date Night

We are back again with the Movie Monday Challenge and I have to admit, this one was trickier for me. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day coming up we decided to go with the theme “Luck” and I really struggled to think of movies. Even Google searches didn’t pull up a lot of results. Finally, I landed on Freaky Friday (the newer one) and from there that led to this awesome Freaky Friday date night lantern.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Collage of Chinese Lanterns with gold garland and polka dot background and text: Freaky Friday Date Night Lantern

 

[bctt tweet=”Shake up date nights at home with this Freaky Friday #datenight lantern! #MovieMonday” username=”diyadulation”]

In case you haven’t seen it, Freaky Friday is about a mother and daughter who switch bodies. They cannot switch back until they are selfless for the other person. Of course, hijinks ensue which are hilarious but the concept got me thinking. When is the last time you did something with your husband simply because he liked it (even though you don’t) and vice-versa?

Think about how much your relationship would grow if you both did things for each other on a regular basis that the other person knew was exclusively for them. That would be pretty powerful.

That is where this Freaky Friday date night lantern comes in. After you’ve made it, fill it with date night ideas that you each love even if the other person doesn’t. Not only will this bring the two of you closer, it will also make weekly date nights at home easier.

 

Chinese Lantern with gold garland and polka dot background

Materials

 

Clean red coffee can without label

Step 1

Start by removing the label from your coffee can and cleaning the can thoroughly.

Tip:

  • The label will come off easier if you fill the can with hot water first and shake it with the lid on. This loosens the glue that holds the label on.

 

Strip of gold ribbon on coffee can

Step 2

Next, begin gluing strips of gold ribbon to the sides of the can with hot glue.

 

Coffee can with gold ribbon on it

Step 3

Continue until the can has a strip of ribbon every 1 inch or so.

 

Coffee can with gold ribbon on it

Step 4

Then add another strip of ribbon around the base of the can with hot glue. Make sure to overlap the ends to make it more secure.

 

Coffee can with gold ribbon on it

Step 5

Repeat step four at the top of your coffee can. Be sure to do this on the bumped out part and not on the very top. You still need to be able to attach the lid.

 

Red and Yellow DMC floss

Step 6

Now, unwrap your DMC floss and lay it out so that you can pull from it easily.

 

Piece of Cardboard and red DMC floss

Red and yellow DMC floss wrapped around cardboard

Step 7

Begin wrapping your floss around the piece of cardboard as pictured. Continue until you think you have enough for your tassel. I lost count of how many times I wrapped it. That is how many layers I made.

 

Red and yellow DMC floss wrapped around cardboard

Step 8

After you have finished wrapping your floss, wrap the excess around the top to secure it temporarily.

Tip:

  • You can bend the cardboard if needed to get the floss through the center.

 

Cut ends of red and yellow DMC floss wrapped around cardboard

Step 9

Next, cut the bottom end of your wrapped floss.

 

Red and yellow DMC floss tied with piece of yellow floss

Step 10

Carefully pull the floss off of the cardboard and permanently secure the folded end with a long piece of yellow floss. Knot it multiple times for best results.

 

Red and Yellow Tassel

Step 11

Next, wrap a piece of red floss around the top as pictured and secured with a double knot.

 

Red and Yellow Tassel

Step 12

Trim any excess red floss from the knots.

 

Red and Yellow Tassel

Step 13

Now trim the loose ends of the tassel to make them even.

 

Lid with a hole in the center next to red and yellow tassel

Step 14

Then cut a hole in the center of your coffee can lid with scissors. I simply poked mine through. I didn’t try to get a perfect hole.

 

Yellow floss threaded through hole in lid

Step 15

Next, thread the long yellow floss through the hole in the lid from the top down.

 

Knotted Red and Yellow Floss

Step 16

Tie a small piece of floss to the end of your threaded yellow floss. It doesn’t matter what color it is. Mine is red because I used the excess I trimmed from the knot around the tassel.

 

Knotted floss on underside of lid

Step 17

Finally, tie the new piece of floss in a bow with the yellow floss and double knot. This will keep it from pulling out. Be sure to check the length at which you want your tassel to hang before committing to the knots. The knot placement will determine this.

 

Chinese Lantern with gold garland and polka dot background

Date Nights

Now that your Freaky Friday date night lantern is finished, it is time to fill it with date nights. We are currently trying to have one date night a week so we need a lot of ideas. Each of you should try to come up with at least 10-15 date night ideas. The catch is that you should pick things that you love that your spouse has maybe never tried or doesn’t enjoy quite as much. For example, I love Scattergories but my husband doesn’t really enjoy playing it. On the flip side of that, he loves playing video games and I have never really been a big gamer. These would both make perfect date night ideas for the lantern.

Fill It Up

Cut a piece of white printer paper into small strips (like fortunes from the movie) and fill them out with date ideas. Then toss them into the lantern and take turns blindly drawing one on date nights each week. Keep in mind that these should be dates that can be completed at home and in 1-2 hours ideally. You want to be able to whip them out after the kids go to bed and enjoy a fun date without being up until the wee hours of the morning.

Chinese Lantern with gold garland and polka dot background with text overlay: Freaky Friday Date Night Lantern

If you want to add even more suspense to your Freaky Friday date night lantern don’t share your date ideas with each other. Let it be a complete surprise when you pull them out each week. If your husband isn’t a big chick flick or family movie guy, then you could totally put Freaky Friday movie night on one of the dates. Now it’s time to see what other lucky ideas the girls came up with for this month’s Movie Monday Challenge. I expect to feel lucky and inspired in no time!

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Collage of Chinese Lanterns with gold garland and polka dot background and text: Freaky Friday Date Night Lantern


On the last (or fourth) Monday of each month, a group of bloggers participate in a #MovieMondayChallenge, hosted by C’mon Get Crafty! We decide on a topic, genre, or specific movie to use for inspiration and everyone gets free reign to create something wonderful!

 

This month’s challenge was. . . . “LUCK! Everyone was allowed to choose their own favorite film so long as it was inspired by the challenge word.

Now let’s see what everyone else was inspired to create for this month’s #MovieMondayChallenge!! If you’d like to join our Facebook group, you can request an invite here.


DIY Pink and Ivory Rose Bracelet with Heart Toggle

You can update your spring look and keep it in the budget with crafts like this DIY pink and ivory rose bracelet. It is a beautiful piece to show off on your arm just as the weather is warm enough to do so.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Pink floral beaded bracelet on wooden table with text overlay: DIY Pink and Ivory Rose Bracelet

 

[bctt tweet=”This #DIY pink and ivory #rose #bracelet is the perfect budget-friendly solution to update your spring look!” username=”diyadulation”]

Pink floral beaded bracelet on wooden table

When is the last time you gave your accessories an update for spring? Spring has always held a special place in my heart fashion-wise. When you’re on a budget and trying to get out of debt, though, it is not a luxury you’re taking.

Of course, it’s hard to justify purchasing even a new Easter dress when the old one still fits fine. I’ve been wearing mine for 5+ years now, except when I was 7 months pregnant with my youngest that is.

Growing up, spring was the one time a year I knew I was getting a new dress. Every year we got new Easter clothes, not hand-me-downs from yard sales.

Even if we couldn’t afford to buy the clothes, my mom would somehow find some gorgeous fabric and make me a new dress. The dresses were always bright pastels and so pretty. I couldn’t wait to walk into church with my new frills each season.

That is probably why I still get that itch to freshen up my wardrobe every spring. Instead of foregoing the tradition altogether, I am simply finding budget-friendly ways to do it.

DIY Pink and Ivory Rose Bracelet Materials

 

light green piece of cording

Step 1

First, cut a length of light green thread that is 3”-4” longer than the length it takes to wrap around your wrist.

Note:

  • Use your wire cutters to do this and make it a clean cut. If you don’t it will fray and make it extremely difficult to thread through the beads.

 

Close up of knot on bar of toggle clasp

Step 2

Next, attach the straight bar from your toggle set to one end of your thread with a double knot.

Step 3

Then trim any excess thread at the end of the knot. Do not cut the long length of thread that will be your bracelet.

 

Beads of bracelet laid out

Step 4

Begin threading on your beads using the toggle bar end to prevent them from falling off. Start with a ceramic pink floral bead followed by a glass pink twist bead. Then add a rose bead followed by another glass pink twist bead and a ceramic pink floral bead.

 

Pattern of beads on a bracelet

Step 5

Continue threading on your beads until you reach the length needed for your wrist. If you are not ending on a ceramic pink floral bead, continue the pattern until you can. It is better for your bracelet to be a little loose than too small.

 

Close up of knot attaching heart toggle with excess thread

Step 6

Lastly, attach your heart toggle by wrapping your thread through the eye 3 times. Be sure the eye is pulled taut to your last bead and finish it with a knot.

 

Close up of knot attaching heart toggle

Step 7

Trim any excess thread with your wire cutters. This time, if it frays, simply trim the fray off with a pair of scissors.

 

Pink floral beaded bracelet on wooden table

Pink floral beaded bracelet on wooden table

Pink floral beaded bracelet on wooden table with text overlay: DIY Pink and Ivory Rose Bracelet

This DIY pink and ivory rose bracelet absolutely screams spring. It is the perfect budget-friendly solution to update your Easter look without buying a whole new dress. It is also definitely a step up from those little socks with the frills we used to wear as kids. (Anyone else remember those?) How else do you plan to update your style this spring? Check out this easy DIY Gold Monogram Bangle to add a little extra glam to your wardrobe for pennies.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Pink floral beaded bracelet on wooden table with text overlay: DIY Pink and Ivory Rose Bracelet

 

More Ideas You’ll Love:

12 Easy Sewing Projects You Can Make Now + MM 192

It’s time to pull out the sewing machine and save money with these 12 easy sewing projects you can make now. Sewing your own clothes and décor is an easy way to boost your savings. 

Collage of sewing projects with text above: 12 Easy Sewing Projects You Can Make Right Now

 

[bctt tweet=”Pull out the sewing machine and save money with these 12 easy #sewing #projects!” username=”diyadulation”]

When is the last time you pulled out your sewing machine? I admit that most of the time I opt to hand sew my projects instead of pulling out my sewing machine. If you’ve been following along then you know we are working hard to get out of debt and that means finding more ways to be frugal.

Child's hand holding a tan wallet

DIY Wallets for Kids (Life Sew Savory)

Give your kids somewhere to store all of that allowance with this easy DIY. You can easily customize it to their individual tastes with fabric and colors.

 

Hedgehog pin holder with pins in the back

DIY Hedgehog Pin Cushion (DIY Home Sweet Home)

How stinking adorable is this little guy? There’s no reason your pin storage can’t be cute as well as functional.

 

Close up of man's chest with a blue flower boutteniere

Fabric Flower Boutonnieres (Blowing Away Out West)

This project is perfect for proms and weddings. Make a beautiful accessory on a budget with this tutorial.

 

Plaid Post-It Note holder with pink ribbon and a red heart

Easy Oilcloth Post-It Note Holder (Bombshell Bling)

Are there any other Post-It addicts out there? Give them an adorable home with this easy sewing project.

 

DIY Llama Puppet on Finger

Llama Finger Puppet (The Country Chic Cottage)

Being on a tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t still surprise the kiddos with toys. This easy finger puppet lets them get creative and have fun!

 

Quilted Heart Throws Pillows

Quilted Sweetheart Pillow (Gluesticks Blog)

Could your couch use a refresh? It’s easily done with this gorgeous quilted pillow.

 

Little girl by a play kitchen wearing an apron and oven mitt

Kids Oven Mitt Free Pattern (Life Sew Savory)

Here’s another great DIY for kids’ pretend play. Get ready for lots of pretend dinners at home when you make this easy craft.

 

Close up of Star Wars Sleep Shorts

Easy Star Wars Sleep Shorts (DIY Adulation)

Clothing costs can be a huge hit to your budget. Make your own awesome clothes like these easy shorts.

 

Colorful Boho throw pillows on a couch

DIY Boho Moroccan Pillow (Made in a Day)

If the quilted look isn’t your style, then make this boho Moroccan pillow instead for your living room. The bright colors are sure to give your home the update you want on the budget you have.

 

Felt bacon and eggs play food

Felt Food Bacon and Eggs Sunny Side Up (Intelligent Domestications)

These felt foods are the perfect accessory to the oven mitt above. Kids will love “frying” up some bacon and eggs to serve at your pretend meals.

 

Orange fruit slice pouf on the floor

DIY Fruit Slice Pouf (Two Purple Couches)

Does it get any fresher than this awesome pouf? Brighten up that dark corner in your home with this gorgeous DIY!

 

Camera with DIY strap attached to it

DIY Camera Strap (Inside the Fox Den)

Need a new camera strap? Don’t go out and buy one. Instead, check out this easy tutorial to make it yourself.

 

Collage of sewing projects with text above: 12 Easy Sewing Projects You Can Make Right Now

When you’re paying off debt and trying to live frugally it is time to get reacquainted with that old sewing machine. Pull it out and start saving even more money with these 12 easy sewing projects. You can even start planning for a homemade Christmas this year by making these projects. Then check out the Merry Monday link party below to find even more awesome projects that save you money. Don’t forget if you’re struggling to make a budget I have a strategy to teach you How to Budget When You’re Overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to be confusing, complicated, or hard. I’ll show you how.

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Collage of sewing projects with text above: 12 Easy Sewing Projects You Can Make Right Now