Ruffled DIY Lanterns

Use muffin cups to make your own ruffled paper lantern.

Paper lanterns have long been an international favorite for decorating inside and out. Ruffled and textured lanterns put a modern twist on the lantern. While you can get a ruffled effect by gluing pleated tissue paper to an existing paper lantern, using muffin or cupcake cups is easier, adds extra texture and the ruffles move both horizontally and vertically.

Things You'll Need

• Paper lantern
• Large muffin cups
• Mini muffin cups
• Tacky craft glue

Instructions

1. Glue a row of large muffin cups to the lantern. Leaving space between the rows, glue more rows to the lantern.

2. Let the cups dry. Glue more muffin cups in the spaces left in Step 1. Muffin cups expand when the glue dries. If no space was left, they will push each other off the lantern.

3. Glue mini cups into the center of the large muffin cups and let dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Add layers of dimension by cutting some muffin cups shorter than others.

• Mix and match colors for extra visual interest.

• Use patterned or metallic muffin cups for extra visual flair.

References

• Aunt Peaches; Friday Flowers: Ruffled Lotus Lantern; September 2010
• Backstitch Baby; A Super Last Minute New Year’s Eve Décor—Another Disco Ball; December 2010