How to Make Christmas Lantern
Christmas is a perfect time for children's crafts and the easy construction of a paper Christmas lantern. A few materials and a little creativity, and this seasonal craft will help fill the hours, distracting from the wait for Christmas morning. This lantern is for decoration only and should not contain a real lit candle due to the risk of fire.
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Instructions
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Process
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1
Take a piece of paper the size and length of one and half pieces of copy paper taped side by side (12 inches by about 16 inches) and paint them black. You can use black poster board, black construction paper or regular copy paper painted with black acrylic or tempera paint.
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2
Determine the number of panels the lantern will have, and draw the outline onto the underside of the paper. You could cut four equally spaced rectangles out of the paper to represent the four windows of a box lantern or produce something more festive. Silhouettes of angels, equally spaced fir trees, stars, angels, snowmen or candy canes can make creative window substitutes.
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3
Cut out the windows using scissors or a craft knife making sure not to cut through to the surface below. Use a flat surface covered with a piece of cutting foam or piece of cardboard to prevent scuffing and scratching the table underneath. Children should be supervised when using scissors, and only adults should use craft knives.
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4
Lay the lantern out on a flat, and determine whether additional edging decoration is necessary for the design. A decorative trim or extra slits can add additional detail to the piece and is an extra task for older children.
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5
Create the effect of lantern light by covering the back side of the windows with colored cellophane or aluminum foil. Cut out rectangles of colored cellophane large enough to entirely cover the window or design so that from the outer facing side the clear plastic covers the interior of the cut out entirely. Tape or glue the cellophane in position and let dry.
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6
Complete the body of the lantern by connecting the two outer edges of the lantern together with tape or staples to create a cylindrical lantern.
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7
Add a handle consisting of a suitable size of a black strip of paper and secure across the top and on the inside edges of the lantern. Hang the lantern from the ceiling or Christmas tree for a festive look.
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