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    Home » Holidays » Halloween

    DIY Haunted Mansion Inspired Lanterns & Free SVG Files

    Updated: Oct 23, 2020 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 4 Comments

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.

    I’m a huge fan of the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World. So for me, Halloween is the perfect time to deck my house out in Haunted Mansion decorations! Last year I made this “Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts” over the door sign, and this year I’ve created these fun lanterns. Keep reading to find out how to make them yourself, and how to grab a free Cricut cut file for the designs.

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.

    Today I’m going to share with you a craft inspired by the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World. My kids like to tease me that I like the Haunted Mansion ride a little “too much”.  It’s true, I love it. I love the creepy caretaker and the silly singing ghosts, and the wallpaper with the eyes staring back at you. I dream of a dinner party as fun as the one with the dancing ghosts in the ride.

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.

    I’m going to show you how to very simply turn some plain black lanterns into Haunted Mansion lanterns.  You’ll need an “e” cutting machine for this. I’ve provided 2 free cut files for you to download. The best part about this project is after Halloween you just peel the images off of the lantern and you can reuse it for other occasions.

    DIY Halloween Haunted Mansion Lanterns

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.

    Supplies:

    Cricut machine – I used the Maker machine. You can also use the Explore Series Machines

    Cricut Adhesive Foil. Which is kinda like really thick aluminum foil. It gives the lanterns a great texture and I love how the light bounces off of the foil.

    Cricut Transfer Tape

    Lanterns- Mine are from Pottery Barn. – I checked they are still for sale.  You can also find similar ones HERE. 

    Recommended: Cricut BrightPad

    Haunted Mansion Lanterns Directions:

    Step One:

    Begin by downloading the two free svg Cricut files from my site by clicking HERE. There is the “WELCOME FOOLISH MORTALS” text and the Hitchhiking Ghosts silhouette available for you to grab.

    After you download your images pull them into your machine software and size them to the same size as your lantern. There are 2 additional images that I used in my project that are available in the Cricut design space, so I can’t offer those for download.

    Here is the info in Cricut Design Space for the Images:

    • Bat Scroll Image is from the BOO file – just “hide” the parts of the image you don’t want to use
    • Skeletons on a Fence

    They are just simple bat and scroll shapes so you should be able to grab something very similar in the Cricut design easily if you don’t like the ones I used. Just add them to your design before you cut it out if you like. I think they would be cute either way.

    Step Two:

    After you “design” your image the way you want it, make sure you click on all of your layers and click “Attach” in the Design Space so they all cut as one cohesive image.

    I made 2 lanterns. The Foolish Mortals version and Hitchhiking Ghosts.

    I divided up the hitchhiking ghosts and put one on each side of my smaller lantern.

    (note: after I made my this cut out I realized that the text was not big enough, so I changed it to the larger text you see on the lanterns above, the free cut file on my site is for the larger letters)

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.
    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.
    DIY Haunted Mansion Inspired Lanterns by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Step Three:

    After you have your design set up the way you like, cut out your image with your machine onto your adhesive foil. I used the strong grip mat to cut out my image.

    DIY Haunted Mansion Inspired Lanterns by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Here’s a tip, when you’re peeling off your cut, instead of peeling the cutting material, peel the mat. That way your cut material will not wrinkle or curl.

    I then used my BrightPad to help me weed the extra vinyl. When you’re working with dark colors like this, it’s especially helpful!

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.
    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.
    DIY Haunted Mansion Inspired Lanterns by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com
    DIY Haunted Mansion Inspired Lanterns by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Step Four:

    Remove the excess from around your image and apply a piece of transfer tape to the front.

    DIY Haunted Mansion Inspired Lanterns by Melissa Mortenson of polkadotchair.com

    Then apply the image onto the lantern. Use a credit card or plastic scraper to get it to stick well then peel away the transfer tape.

    That’s it!

    Easy peasy!!

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.

    More Halloween Craft Projects;

    DIY Trick or Treat Banner

    Halloween Banner Tutorial

    Free Printable Halloween Treat Bags

    DIY Halloween Decorating Ideas inspired by the Haunted Mansion - how to make cute Haunted Mansion Lanterns. Includes free cut files for your Cricut.

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teresa says

      September 25, 2017 at 2:26 pm

      I LOVE The Haunted Mansion!!!! I had the big record and the big book that came with it back in the late 60s or very early 70s then my cousin stole it from me! I would like to know how you made the sign of the 3 hitchhiking ghosts last year!
      Love your blog!!
      have a wonderful day!
      Teresa

      Reply
    2. Kristy says

      September 26, 2017 at 10:15 am

      The lanterns are super cute but what I really want to know is where you got those graveyard busts that are in the pictures???? They are awesome!!

      Reply
    3. Kelly Mahan says

      October 02, 2017 at 1:56 pm

      Lanterns, luminaries, all things lights are my favorites!! This idea is so awesome, I gotta try it!

      Reply
    4. Christine C says

      March 07, 2020 at 2:02 pm

      Nice use of the Tula Pink fabric in the background.

      Reply

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