How to Make Circle Shaped Chinese Lanterns for Kids
Chinese lanterns are traditional lamps made by Chinese families every new year, and in other locations such as Singapore and Malaysia, which host autumn lantern festivals. Circular Chinese lanterns are excellent craft projects for children, as they may be made with minimal effort. The resulting lanterns may be as decorative and elaborate, or simple, as the creator sees fit. The project requires inexpensive craft supplies, many of which are available in most households.
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Things You'll Need
- Construction paper, card stock or wrapping paper in desired colors
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Glue or tape
- Acrylic paints or markers in desired colors
- Glitter
- Decorative gems or beads
- Ruler
- LED battery-operated mini-candle
Instructions
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1
Cut the paper you choose into an 8.5-by-11-inch rectangle. Using a ruler, measure 3/4 inch from the edge of the 8.5-inch side of the paper. Make a mark with a pencil. Do this at least three more times along that edge, measuring 3/4 of an inch each time. Use the straight edge of the ruler to connect all of the marks to make a straight line across that edge of paper. Use scissors to cut the 3/4-inch strip off. Set aside. This will be used as a handle for your lantern.
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2
Turn your paper so the print part of the paper is upward and facing you and the longer edge is oriented top to bottom. Fold the paper lengthwise by taking the left side of the paper, and matching it up with the right side, making sure to keep the print side of the paper facing inward. Make a light crease along the fold line.
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3
Measure with your ruler 1 inch from where the open edges of the paper meet (directly opposite the fold line) and mark the plain side of the paper with a pencil. Using the straight edge of the ruler, mark a 1-inch strip from the top. You will not cut past this line.
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4
Mark with a pencil every 1 inch down the long side of the paper. Using the straight edge of your ruler, draw lines every 1 inch using your marks as a guide. These lines will be perpendicular at 90 degree angles to the 1-inch stop cutting line.
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Hold your paper tightly closed and cut with scissors along these 1-inch lines. Make sure to cut through both layers of paper, starting from the folded edge and working your way up to the stop cutting line. Do not cut past the 1-inch stop cutting line.
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6
Unfold your paper and fold and crease it in the opposite direction so that the print side of your paper is now facing outward and the pencil-marked plain side faces inward.
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Decorate the printed side of paper with designs in glitter, paint, and markers. Consider Chinese symbols, outlines of animals such as butterflies or dragonflies, or swirl patterns. Glue small gemstones along the strips or top no-cut line. Allow glue, paint and marker ink to dry thoroughly before proceeding to next step.
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8
Grasp the two long ends of the paper together, with the print side facing outward, and form the circular opening of the lantern. Staple or tape the edges together at the top and bottom to maintain the circle shape of the Chinese lantern. The strips of decorated paper will separate and bulge along the fold crease, forming a circular lantern.
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9
Use the 3/4-inch strip that was set aside earlier to create a handle for the top of the lantern. Place one end of the strip to the top circular opening and staple it. Place the other end of the strip immediately across the opening and staple it to that side. This is your handle.
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10
Cut two 1-inch strips at least 4 inches long from a separate piece of printed paper. Staple or tape one strip along the bottom of the lantern from one side of the opening to the directly opposite side. Staple or tape the second strip perpendicular to the first strip to form an X. Secure your LED battery-operated mini-candle on this strip with glue. Let it dry 20 minutes, then turn on the candle switch and hang your lantern from a string for best display.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use a real candle or allow a flame to get near the lantern.
If using glue, work in a well-ventilated area.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
