Used for decoration, religious ceremony, or simply to light the way, paper lanterns have you used for centuries and across many cultures.
You will need
- 1 sheet of craft paper
- 2 sheets of white paper
- Craft knife
- Double-sided tape (or glue)
- Ruler
- Cutting mat
How to make your lantern
1 Cut one sheet of white paper to a width slightly smaller than the craft paper (approximately 5 cm narrower).
2 Cut three strips of white paper to match the length of the craft paper, each about 2 cm wide.
3 On the back side of the craft paper, use a ruler and pencil to mark lines 1 cm from the long edges at the top and bottom of the paper.
4 Make additional marks every 1 cm along these lines.
5 Connect the marks with perpendicular lines, resembling a ladder, using the ruler as a guide.
6 Using a craft knife and ruler, carefully cut along the marked lines, ensuring not to cut beyond the lines drawn in step 3.
7 Remove one of the 1 cm strips at the end of the sheet to create a gap.
8 Stick two long strips of double-sided tape along the top and bottom (long) edges of the white paper.
9 Attach the craft paper to the white paper, aligning the top and bottom edges. As the white paper is narrower, the craft paper should form a curved shape.
10 Apply a strip of double-sided tape along the shorter edge where the opening was created in step 7.
11 Stick the opposite edge of the white paper over the tape, forming a cylinder with the white paper and the craft paper protruding outward.
12 Using the double-sided tape, affix two of the white strips (cut in step 2) along the top and bottom rims of the lantern.
13 Shape the remaining strip into a curved form and secure both ends to the top of the lantern using the tape.
Place an LED tealight under your lantern to create a warm glow or hang your lantern using twine. Your paper lantern is the perfect addition to a cosy corner in the living room, or even as a centrepiece on a dining table during a special occasion.
This article was originally published under the title Finding Your Brave in Issue 43 – Finding Your Brave. You can get this issue here to enjoy more mindful inspiration.
