All you need are a few simple materials that you may already have at home:
- A4 coloured construction, art or computer paper (patterned craft paper also works really well!)
- A pencil and eraser
- A ruler
- Some scissors
- Tape or a stapler
- String or twine for hanging.
Instructions
Step one: Cut a strip off the end (about 2cm) and put it aside to make the handle.
Step two: Fold your A4 sheet of paper in half to make it A5 sized.
Step three: Draw a line about one centimetre from the edge. Make evenly spaced cuts in the paper along the folded edge to the line that you drew.
Step four: Bring the edges together to form a tube, with the cut strips running from top to bottom. Make sure the fold is on the outside. Tape or staple the edges together at the top, middle and bottom.
Step five: To attach the handle, tape the piece you cut off in step two to the top of the lantern on each side.
Your paper lantern is now heady for hanging. Be sure to keep it away from flames or other hot surfaces such as light bulbs.
If you’re feeling extra creative, you can use different sized sheets of paper to make a variety of sizes. Just vary the strip widths accordingly. You can also decorate the paper using markers, crayons or coloured pencils. By taping a smaller lantern inside a larger one of a different colour, you can create a two toned lantern that is especially eye-catching!
Did you know? Over two billion people around the world celebrate Chinese New Year every year. Washing your clothes or hair on the first day is not allowed as it is seen as ‘washing one’s fortune away’.
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