How to make a paper lantern - Arts, Crafts and DIY

66 Comments

A great quick an easy paper lantern DIY tutorial to do with the kids. My daughter likes making teeny tiny ones for her cuddly toys and my boys make huge ones out of a3 paper!

Material

as many as you need - 1 per lantern - coloured paper / thin card
a little glue
a pair of scissors

Method

First cut a strip of the shorter side of your paper for the handle
Now fold the sheet of paper in half
Cut thin strips across the fold (some people choose to mark out a line so all the incisions line up)
Unfold and turnover
curl into a cylinder and tape the edges
glue or tape in your handle

Notes

I did this once with lots of different coloured papers then hung all the lanterns on string across the garden for a party decoration - it looked so cute!

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This project was posted by:

- hazel
- 13 Feb 2014
  4:13 pm

66 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 27 May 2024
    6:41 am
This takes me back to my school days

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 03 Sep 2021
    6:51 pm
I can remember myself doing those at school.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 29 Aug 2021
    8:27 pm
I haven’t made these in years

- - rovermum said
  - 26 Aug 2021
    9:04 am
Awww, I remember these so fondly as a kid. A great craft activity for lockdown and kids could decorate the house to look really bright and pretty.

- - shanika said
  - 26 Aug 2021
    7:48 am
This is really easy to make. Nice activity for kids.

- - Nid said
  - 26 Aug 2021
    12:07 am
I think my son will definitely like this as it involves cutting and gluing.. will keep him busy during lockdown

- - Mrs.twinmama said
  - 25 Aug 2021
    8:41 pm
Aww simple and so fantastic when finished. My dad loved making these with us.

- - mom461676 said
  - 25 Aug 2021
    8:26 pm
I remember making these as a child! I will have to show my son ????

- - mom19782016 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    8:41 am
My kids love making paper laterns!

- - MrsA said
  - 26 Nov 2018
    8:38 am
I remember making these at school! They look great, hopefully my 2 year old has as much as I will!

- - mom111059 said
  - 18 Oct 2017
    10:07 am
Great fun to have with the kids. Thank you for the design and memories from my childhood.

- - mom112217 said
  - 31 Jul 2017
    10:41 pm
I use to make the paper lantern when l was young.love it!

- - mom111059 said
  - 01 Nov 2016
    8:39 am
We used to make these in red and green for Christmas decorations. Thanks for the instructions.

- - mom94125 said
  - 09 Oct 2015
    12:36 am
yes so many people made this lantern at school, pretty awesome hey

- - mom109229 said
  - 28 Sep 2015
    9:27 pm
I remember making these lanterns at school!

- - dannsbuild said
  - 20 Sep 2015
    11:44 pm
Really very nice idea! Thanks for sharing this!

- - mom152736 said
  - 07 Sep 2015
    6:54 pm
awwwww remembering school days !! so lovely

- - Mum of 5 darlings :) said
  - 26 Jul 2015
    8:47 pm
I remember making these as a child at school.

- - Kell said
  - 13 Jun 2015
    9:18 pm
we use to make these at school … thanks for the reminder.

- - mom57522 said
  - 13 Jan 2015
    8:11 pm
A tried and true favourite craft activity.