How to Make a Sky Lantern
Sky Lanterns, also known as Chinese Flying Lanterns, are airborne paper lanterns constructed from rice paper, a bamboo frame and a flame. The flame heats the air in the lantern, which lowers the air density and causes the lantern to float up into the sky. Releasing multiple sky lanterns at nighttime parties or celebrations adds an exciting new element and creates a truly unforgettable moment for your guests. According to folklore, the lanterns carry away bad spirits and misfortune and leave behind good luck and fortune.
Things You'll Need
- Bamboo knife
- Bamboo strips
- Glue
- Copper wires
- Scissors
- Heavy file paper
- Rice paper
- 10 grams cotton fabric
- Ethanol
Instructions
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1
Use the bamboo knife to scrape the bamboo down to a 1 cm (0.4 inch) wide and 0.1 cm (0.04 inch) thick strip. Bend the bamboo strip to form a circle and use glue to bond.
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2
Tie the copper wires in the shape of a cross onto the bamboo circle.
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3
Cut the heavy file paper into the shape of a hot air balloon to create a template. The template should be curved on three sides (not round) with a straight bottom edge. Use this template to cut four sides out of the rice paper to form the balloon. Glue each side together to create a tube or column with a basal area the same as the bamboo circle.
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4
Cut out a round piece of rice paper and paste it on top of the column. Attach the bamboo circle to the bottom of the column.
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5
Use the bamboo knife to cut a bamboo strip 10 cm (4 inches) long and bend it.
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6
Soak the piece of cotton fabric, cut from an old rag or T-shirt, in ethanol and wrap it around the small bamboo strip. Hang it at the copper wires' crossing point.
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Tips & Warnings
Use only 100-percent cotton fabric.
Fly your lantern in an open space on a clear and windless night for the best flying conditions.
To fly, hold the lantern and light the ethanol. Let go when you feel it start to lift. It will fly up into the air.
Always use caution when working with fire. Make sure to fly your lantern away from trees or utility poles.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit chinese lanterns image by Paul O"Hearn from Fotolia.com
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