The simple Chinese lantern you knew as a child has matured into a stylish luminary. When made from sturdy designer paper they can be used as individual lanterns to decorate driveways, patios or tables on any special occasion. The soft glow of a tea light candle illuminates the paper creating a beautiful warm glow. It is a lovely way to welcome guests to your home.
Materials
- glass votives or a selection of similarly sized jars
- tea lights
- decorative paper -select paper that has some firmness to it but not as thick as cardstock.
- scissors
- stapler or glue tape
How to create
- Fold a 15cm x 28cm rectangular piece of paper in half, making a long, thin rectangle.
- Make a series of cuts along the fold line 2 cm apart and 3cm from the outside edge stopping 2 cm from each end. If you cut too close to the edge it weakens the lantern.
- Unfold the paper. Place the short edges of the paper together overlapping by 2cm and secure in place with stapler or glue stick.
- Place a tea light in each votive, slip the lantern over the votive and light. Long matches make this easier.
Tips
- Paper luminaries are more for decoration than functionality and should never be left unattended, especially if children are around.
- In summer time, citronella tea lights can be used to keep away the bugs.