How to Make a Homemade Sky Lantern With Tissue Paper

The khoom fay, or sky lantern, originated in the Yuan Dynasty of 13th century China. Invented as a means of military communication among troop regiments, they are now considered symbols of hope and good luck most popular during the Chinese New Year and are a staple of traditional Asian weddings. Launching a collection of sky lanterns into the air promotes tranquility; and it is believed that the lantern's flight symbolizes great prosperity bestowed upon its owner. These lanterns are a project for the whole family to build together so they may send their wishes and prayers for a bright future to the heavens.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paper Shield fireproofing spray
• String
• Four wooden dowels
• Paraffin
• Kraft paper
• Drill or awl
• Paper towel sheets, industrial strength
• Wire

Instructions

1. Cut four panels of tissue paper to create the gores, or panels, of the sky lantern. Coat the panels with the Paper Shield fireproofing spray and hang to let dry completely. Draw a pattern on a piece of cardboard for the shape of the lantern, then trace it on the tissue paper so that each panel is even. Decorate accordingly.

2. Secure the gores together with glue at the top edges and along both right and left sides, so that when it is complete, a bag with four seams and an open end at the bottom has been formed. Press the seams firmly and let the glue dry thoroughly.

3. Saturate two wooden dowels in water for 24 hours to make them easily bendable. Once they are fully soaked, mold them into two curved portions to create a hoop and tie them together. This is the lantern frame.

4. Boil some paraffin in a double boiler over low heat. Once melted, cut five squares of paper towel to fit in the middle of the hoop. Dip the paper towel into the paraffin. Stack four or five on top of each other, sandwiching kraft paper between each of the coated pieces of paper towel. This will be the burner that ignites to launch the lantern.

5. Punch or drill four holes into the burner in a square shape and thread wire in a crisscross fashion through it. Tie the X wire with the burner attached to the wooden hoop.

6. Glue the tissue paper bag to the wooden hoop and set aside until it dries.

7. Light the burner on the wire frame. As it begins to burn, the lantern will fill with hot air and when the bag has inflated, release and watch it rise into the sky.

Tips & Warnings

• The burner can be created by easier methods than paraffin by using cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. Place on the wire X frame and light. For this alternative, two wooden dowels might work better than wire for the X frame of the lantern hoop.

• Due to its acidic ingredients, be very careful using the Paper Shield spray, as it can irritate the skin.

• Use caution when working with paraffin as it is highly flammable and should not be exposed to open flame during the melting process.

References

• Outdoor Lantern: Make Your Own Sky Lantern
• Skylighter: How to Make Sky Lanterns
• Chinese Lanterns: Chinese Lanterns History
• Asian Sky Lanterns: History of Sky Lanterns

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish