Paper Lanterns
These classic paper lanterns are so easy to make and can be decorated as festive decorations for any occasion or event. For this tutorial, we are making red and yellow paper lanterns for the Chinese New Year.
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Supplies Needed
- Paper or cardstock (preferably red or yellow)
- Scissors
- Stapler or tape
- Glue
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Things to decorate your lantern with: gift wrap paper, washi tape, ribbons, sequins, stickers, glitter glue, small buttons, etc.
STEPS
1Prepare the paper.
Start out with an A4, Letter size, or any rectangular sheet of paper or cardstock. Red and yellow are preferred colors for a Chinese-themed lantern but you can always choose any color you like.
2Make the handle.
Cut a 1-inch wide strip off on one short side. Set this aside for the handle.
3Fold the paper in half.
Fold the paper in half, lengthwise.
4Draw a horizontal line.
Draw a horizontal line one inch from the long edge opposite the fold.
This line is just a guide for cutting and may not be necessary for more mature crafters.
5Cut the first slit.
Starting from the folded edge, cut a straight line about an inch from one short edge, all the way up to the horizontal line.
6Cut more slits.
Continue to cut more straight lines about 1 inch apart until you reach the opposite short edge of the paper. Remember that the horizontal line marks the point where you stop cutting each straight line.
7Unfold the paper.
Unfold the paper. The paper will have several vertical slits along the middle. Erase any pencil marks or re-fold the crease the opposite way to hide the pencil marks at the back.
8Decorate the top and bottom edge.
You can keep your lantern plain or decorate the top and bottom edges. Here are some ideas you can try:
a.) Paint or color - make a border by painting or coloring the top and bottom edge of the paper.
b.) Draw details - create patterns and details with glitter glue, puffy paint, or colored markers.
c.) Glue a band - glue a strip of gift wrap paper, patterned paper, washi tape, fabric, lace or a wide ribbon to make a border.
d.) Glue shapes or notions - glue craft foam or felt shapes, small buttons, beads, sequins and other notions.
Remember to leave at least ½-inch of undecorated area on one top corner. This gap will allow you to connect the two edges of the paper to form a lantern.
9Form the paper into a lantern.
Transform the paper into a lantern by forming it into a tube shape. Overlap the long edges at least ½-inch. Staple or tape at the top and bottom of the overlap.
10Glue the handle.
Take the paper handle you made in Step 2. Glue the ends on the inside of the lantern's top edge. Decorate the handle if you like.
Once the glue dries, hang the paper lantern as a festive Chinese New Year decoration.
More Ideas
Add streamers.
Cut strips of crepe paper and glue these along the inside of the lantern's bottom edge. These streamers will make the lanterns move gracefully with the wind.
Make lanterns in various colors.
Besides the typical red and yellow Chinese lanterns, you can make them in your favorite colors or in hues that go with a particular occasion (e.g. orange and black for Halloween, pastels for Easter) or with your room's color scheme.
Decorate the entire lantern.
You can also decorate the strips in betwen the slits of your lantern. Glue small paper or fabric shapes, draw designs with markers or crayons, or put small stickers all over.
