Skill Level
Beginner
Time to Make
1 hour
Adult Supervision
Yes
Top Tip
Stick the small cut-out doily patterns and cellophane pieces by very lightly brushing glue around the lantern frame then pressing the pieces on top. Use a tiny amount of glue applied with a thin brush or the end of a cocktail stick. Bigger pieces can be attached with double-sided tape. To make a lantern with a doily patterns at the top and bottom, cut away the middle area from the card shapes leaving a 2cm frame so the doily can be glued over the window.
How to Make
- Place a paper doily coloured side up onto scrap paper or newspaper then brush black paint over top.
- After a few minutes carefully lift the doily up and place it onto a new piece of paper to fully dry.
- To make the top and bottom shapes for the lantern, cut a piece of A4 black card in half into 2 x A5 pieces.
- Fold one piece of card in half lengthways then cut it in half across the middle to make 2 x matching folded pieces.
- Use a light coloured pencil to draw out a half dome shape or a curve onto each of the folded cards.
- While the card is still folded, cut out small triangular pieces across the middle fold to make diamond patterns on the lantern. Or, cut away a larger area from the middle leaving a frame around the edge.
- Cut out both shapes then open out the cards into 2 symmetrical shapes.
- To make the side strips for the lantern, cut 2 x pieces from the remaining piece of A5 black card, 15cm long, 1.5-2cm wide.
- Stick a small piece of double-sided tape at both ends of both strips then peel off the backing paper.
- Stick the strips onto the top section of the lantern so they are parallel.
- Stick the bottom section of the lantern to the ends of the strips, trim the ends off the strips before sticking if they look too long.
- To vary the design, add 2 more card strips to divide the window into 3 sections on the lantern with small cut out card pieces to make points or arches.
- Cut out some pieces from the painted doily then carefully stick them onto the lantern.
- You could use small pieces at the corners or a bigger piece to cover a larger area of the lantern window.
- Measure and cut some cellophane pieces to cover the lantern holes.
- The pieces need to be about 1cm bigger than the windows to allow for sticking at the edges.
- Stick strips of double-sided tape or onto the lantern then press the cellophane on top.
- Try different colours or overlapping pieces of cellophane. Turn the lantern over.
- Stick card strips across the lantern and cut out circles at the top and bottom or add other details to the silhouette shape.
- Stick a long, thin card strip to the lantern top, which can be taped to a window frame to hang it up.
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