How to Make a Homemade Lantern for Around the House

Chinese paper lanterns are a beautiful way to decorate your home, garden or porch. You can make batches of lanterns fairly quickly, allowing you to decorate a large space in a short span of time. These lanterns use a drinking glass to safely separate the lit candle from the decorative paper. The glass is not seen, so you can use inexpensive glasses from a thrift shop or those that you already have on hand at home.

String
Scissors
Clear tape
Fabric tape measure
Heavy paper
Ribbon
Glue
Tea candle

Instructions

- 1
  Cut an 18-inch piece of string and tie a knot at each end.
- 2
  Tape the ends of the string to the top of a cylindrical drinking glass with several loops of clear tape. The knots should be tied below the tape.
- 3
  Measure the height and circumference of the glass with a fabric tape measure.
- 4
  Cut a rectangular piece of heavy paper that is a half-inch wider than the circumference, and three inches taller than the height of the glass. Use the paper color and design of your choice.
- 5
  Fold the paper in half lengthwise.
- 6
  Cut a slit every half-inch along the folded edge of the paper. These slits should go straight down and stop a half-inch before reaching the bottom.
- 7
  Unfold the paper and wrap it around the glass, lining up the top and bottom edges so the middle flares out.
- 8
  Tape the paper to the glass with clear tape.
- 9
  Cut two pieces of decorative ribbon that match the circumference of the glass. Glue these around the glass at the top and bottom, forming decorative bands and hiding the tape.
- 10
  Place a lit tea candle in the glass and hang the lantern from its string loop.

DIY Steampunk Lamp

Trimming a Lamp

Lighting