How to Make Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are a fun and festive decoration for all occasions. With a few simple materials, you can make your own paper lanterns to decorate to your liking!

Table of Contents

Make a lantern with a handle

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Folding. Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise. Paper can be of arbitrary size and thickness. Plain paper is fine, but you can use plain colored paper or patterned background paper. ^{[1] X Research Source} The thinner the paper, the easier it is to collapse the lantern.

You can use single-color or patterned paper to give the lantern a more festive atmosphere.

Cut the paper. Cut from the folded edge, but do not cut all the way to the other end. This depends on how long you want the gap to be. The longer the openings, the more light is emitted, and the more flexible and soft the lamp is.

You can also decide the width of the paper strips. The number of strips of paper will change the shape of the lantern. Each cut is about 2.5 cm apart.

Roll the piece of paper into a tube. Roll the piece of paper and fold the two edges together to form a round tube. Use tape or glue to glue the two edges of the paper together. Remember to stick the whole length of the lantern! You should stick it inside to avoid revealing the tape.

You can also staple to attach the two paper edges of the lantern.

Make handles. Cut a strip of paper to make a handle. If using printed paper, the lantern handle should be about 15 cm long and 2.5 cm wide..

If you want to hang the lantern, you won’t need a handle – the lantern will be hung on a ribbon or string attached to the light.

Making a “snowflake” lantern

Cut two paper circles. ^{[2] X Research Source} Use any circular object to trace on paper and cut with scissors. Make sure the two circles are the same size.

You can cut the circle to any size, just remember that the bigger the circle, the bigger the lantern. You can use a circular ice cream plate or lid, the bottom of a bucket, or any other round object.
You can also use any type of paper you like: regular white paper, plain colored paper, patterned paper, etc.

Fold the first circle. Take a circle in half, then double it two more times. You should end up with a shape that looks like pizza slices (a bit like a long triangle with a curve on top).

Draw curved lines. Draw curves that follow the curve of the circle ( the edge of the pizza ), draw alternating curves that come from the two edges one after the other but don’t reach the other side. ^{[3] X Research Source} Starting from the left edge, draw a slight curve and stop a small distance (2.5 to 1 cm) from the right edge. Then draw a slight curve starting from the right edge below the curve you just drew and stopping near the left edge.

Continue alternating like this until you reach the end point (pointy end of the triangle).

Make a round lantern with paper towels

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Choose color. For this style of lantern, you will need paper towels. Pieces of tissue will cover the outside of the round lantern frame, so you will need a sufficient number of tissues.

You can use all of the paper towels of the same color or choose multiple colors to make the lantern. Combine whatever color pattern you like or suit the purpose of the lamp.

Cut out circles with paper towels. Use any circular object (coffee box lid, small plate, etc.) to trace the items in circles on the paper towel. Depending on the size of the circle, you will need about 100 circles cut out of paper towels. ^{[4] X Research Source} Draw circles on paper towels, as close together as possible to save paper towels.

Do not draw circles that are too big or too small. If the circles are too big, the lantern will look flaring; If it’s too small, you’ll have to work harder than necessary. You should draw circles the size of a coffee can lid.

Advice

Make a lamp out of light colored paper in two colors if you want to light it up, but if it’s just for decoration, you can use multicolored or textured paper of your choice.
Do not place any other flammable objects inside the lantern (except in a cup) as this may cause a fire.
Use paper of different colors. Patterns will help hide disproportionate lines.

Warning

Never light a candle unattended!

Things you need

White paper or colored paper
Drag
Glue, tape or stapler
Tissue
Round paper lanterns
Wire (optional)

Steps