Making a Basic Paper Lantern

Posted on time March 9th, 2010 by user Monica

Paper Chinese lanterns are an awesome way to spruce up your party, and they are easy to make.
Any kind of paper is okay to use, but it should be able to hold up to creasing and cutting (so no tissue paper). Construction paper is a great example.
Take a sheet of the paper you chose and fold it in half lengthwise to make a long rectangle. Run your fingers on the crease hard.
Now take scissors and make vertical cuts along the edge of the fold. You’re basically making a fringe on the side of the paper that you made the thick crease on. Leave about an inch and a half to an inch at the top uncut!
Now unfold the paper and wrap the sheet into a cylinder shape where the “fringe” you just cut is now in the center of the lantern. Glue or tape the edges down.
You may now take another strip of paper around 5-6 inches long and glue it to the top of the lantern to form a handle. Make several lanterns and then string them together and hang. Enjoy!

For more info on decorating, you should check out this article on asian decor.

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