How to make easy DIY paper bag luminaries for Halloween. Includes a free SVG file to make your own. Add battery operated tea lights for a cute and fun decoration.

We host a family Halloween party each year at the community center, so I get to go all out with decorating.

The building has two parts, and upper and a lower level. There's a short hall way with a ramp connecting them.

How to make easy DIY Halloween luminarties. These cute decorations are cheap to make with paper bags, tea lights, and cardstock. Use these for home decor or for outdoor paths or porches if it's not raining. Need ideas for Halloween crafts? These look cute! Even kids can make them. This also has free Halloween SVG files for your Cricut or Silhouette. #diy #halloween

We like to keep the lights low, but we need some light there for safety. I put up strings of lights and then use luminaries to light the way.

We had borrowed luminaries before, but we couldn't borrow them this year. As a nonprofit, we don't have the budget for buying decorations. So I made these DIY paper bag luminaries Halloween for $2.

I wasn't sure how they would look as I was making them, but I love how they turned out! They are so easy to make, too.

DIY Paper Bag Luminaries Halloween Free SVG File

I knew I wanted to use paper bag for the luminaries because they were inexpensive and easy to store for next year. I had a stack of brown ones, but I'm glad I bought the white ones.

I got my white paper bags at Michael's. They are 4.7" x 8.9". I found them with the cake decorating supplies, which was cheaper than the ones with the bags for gift giving.

You can also get them on Amazon cheaper per bag. They measure 5" x 9.65". I made the SVG files for my sized bags, but they should be fine or you can resize them.

You can use brown paper bags for these DIY paper bag luminaries Halloween, but I think the white ones give more contrast.

I used my Silhouette to make the die cuts. The black paper is cardstock. I use Sure Cuts a Lot (SCAL) to design because I find it easier to use and not as buggy or clunky as the Silhouette software.

I used my Xyron sticker maker to add the adhesive. I find that tape runners and glue sticks are great for temporary adhesion, but things start to fall off after a year or two. The Xyron seems to last longer.

If you do use a tape runner, I love the Darice tape runners. They are much cheaper than other brands, and they work fantastic except for things that will be hung up like on a poster.

I bought Darice flickering tea lights. They aren't cheap, but I use them for both Halloween and Christmas.

Supplies

Directions

Step #1

Size the die cuts in SCAL or your design software. Cut one for each paper bag.

Step #2

Use your Xyron to turn the die cuts into stickers or use other adhesive to place the die cuts in the center of the bag.

Step #3

Place a battery operated tea light inside the bag, turn off the lights, and enjoy!

Not including designing, this took about half an hour to make. As long as the kids don't get to them at the party, they should last a few years, too.

Halloween Free SVG Files

I made the SVG files from a graphic from Halloween vector created by freepik - www.freepik.com

These files are free for personal use only. Please share the link to the full blog post and not the files or links to the files.

Download the free Halloween SVG set 1 here.

Download the free Halloween SVG set 2 here.

I hope you like this DIY paper bag luminaries Halloween and the cut files!