Orange paper or cardstock (A4, Letter size, or 9" x 12")
Black marker
Scissors
Stapler
Ruler and pencil (optional)
STEPS
1Prepare the orange paper.
Start out with a rectangular sheet of orange paper or cardstock. Popular paper sizes you can use include A4, Letter size (8.5" x 11"), or 9" x 12".
2Create a handle.
Cut a 1-inch wide strip off on one long side. Set this aside for your lantern's handle.
3Draw a face.
Position the paper in a horizontal position. Using a black marker, draw a face at the center of the paper. Color inside the eyes, nose and mouth.
4Fold the paper in half.
Once the eyes, nose and mouth are completely dry, fold the paper up in half.
5Draw a horizontal line.
Draw a horizontal line one inch from the long side opposite the fold.
This line is just a guide for cutting and may not be necessary for more mature crafters.
6Cut the first slit.
Starting from the paper's folded side, cut a straight line about an inch from one short side, all the way up to the horizontal line.
7Cut more slits.
Continue to cut more slits about 1 inch apart until you reach the opposite short side of the paper. Remember that the horizontal line marks the point where you stop cutting each slit.
8Unfold the paper.
Unfold the paper. The paper will have several vertical slits along the middle.
9Fold the other way.
Fold the paper up in half again so that the crease is folded the other way.
10Unfold the paper.
Unfold the paper. The side with the pumpkin's face should now be facing up.
11Form 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.
12Glue the handle.
Glue the ends of the paper handle from Step 2 on the inside of the lantern's top edge.
13Use the lanterns.
Make several of these paper lanterns to decorate any room for autumn or Halloween. Place them on tables, tape them onto window sills, or string them together to make a long lantern garland.