How to Make Paper Lanterns With Christmas Lights

Use a patterned paper for a more interesting lantern.

Make paper lanterns for your Christmas lights and transform them into festive light strings to decorate your home. You can use the paper lantern lights for any special occasion or just for a fun alternate lighting idea. Paper lanterns are easy to make, and this craft is suitable for younger crafters as well. Use patterned or textured scrapbooking paper, origami paper or gift wrap to add pizzazz to your paper lanterns.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• 2 small brads for each lantern
• Paper punch
• String

Instructions

1. Turn the paper face down on your working surface. Divide your paper into strips by using the ruler and pencil to draw lines on the back of the paper. Each strip should be ½ inch wide and 4 inches long.

2. Cut out 15 strips for each paper lantern. Punch holes in both the short ends. The holes should be about 1/4 inch from the edge.

3. Stack the paper strips on top of each other. Align the holes. All of the right sides should be facing up.

4. Push the brads through the punched holes from the right sides through to the back of the paper strip pile. Open the brad pins to secure the strips.

5. Turn the stack of paper strips over so the back is facing up. Take the first paper strip from the back of the pile and turn it around on the brads so it lies opposite the stack, with its right side facing out. Repeat for all the strips, arranging them around in a sphere.

6. String up your Christmas lights. Make a gap between two of the paper strips and push the Christmas light into the lantern. Cut a 4-inch length of string and tie it around the paper strip and the Christmas light wires to secure the lantern to the light.

Tips & Warnings

• You can secure the lanterns to the Christmas lights with ribbon for a more festive look.

• The lights are a great craft to make for Chinese lantern festivals. They can also be made from orange paper for Halloween pumpkins. You can use the lanterns as Christmas decorations or to brighten a dull space.

• Supervise young crafters who are using the scissors.

References

• The Creative Place: Tuesday Tutorial Paper Lantern Ornaments
• Kid Craft Central: Paper Lantern Craft