How to Make a Lion Paper Lantern

If your children are into animals, consider incorporating them into art projects and birthday decorations. No matter what type of animal your child is into, there is probably a way to make it in an art project. If your child likes lions, you and he could make lion paper lanterns. Not only will this be a fun project for you to do together, you could use the lion lanterns as decorations for your home or for a birthday party as well.

Things You'll Need

• Brown paper lunch bags Orange paint Yellow paint Black paint Stencils Scissors Sand Tea lights

Instructions

1. Gather all the materials you need to make your lion paper lanterns. You will need brown paper bags, orange, yellow, black and brown paints, scissors and lion-shaped stencils. You will have to decide how you want to incorporate your lion onto your lion lantern. You could add a picture of the lion onto the lantern or you could make a lion head for the lantern.

2. Make a lantern with a picture of a lion on it. Paint your paper bag orange or yellow and allow it to dry. Use a lion-shaped stencil to trace a small lion shape onto the front and back of your bag in the same location on the bag. Cut out the stenciled form. Repeat this process on as many bags as you choose to make lanterns with. You may want to paint half the bags yellow and half the bags orange.

3. Create a lion face lantern with your paper bag. Use a stencil of a lion's face and trace it on one side of the bag. This will allow you to cut out certain aspects of the face. You will want to cut out the eyes, ears, a sliver of the frame of mane, the mouth, the nose and the chin. Paint the mane area yellow, the area around the nose black, the face area orange and add some black whiskers with paint. Allow the paint to dry. Repeat this on as many bags as you want.

4. Use a shovel to fill the bags with sand approximately one-third full. Push down on the sand to make sure it is packed firmly. You will not want the sand to be higher than the cutout area of the bag.

5. Place tea light candles with the wicks pulled up in the center of the sand inside the bags. Press the candle firmly into the sand so that it fit securely.

6. Decide where to place the lion lantern bags. You may choose to place them on your steps, deck or along your driveway. When it starts to get dark, use a lighter to light the tea lights. Enjoy your flicker lion lantern creations.