Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

By Stella Rivet

Date: 07/17/2008 Topics: Craft Projects > Paper | Gardening > Decoration | Photos > Crafts

Post Feedback!

Email Friend

Print

Get Responses

Bookmark

del.icio.us

Link

Rate:

Paper Mache Lanterns

These are easy and beautiful paper mache balloon lanterns. They work great as party decorations, house decorations and out door lanterns for the summer time.

Material

Tissue paper in desired colors
balloon
Glue
Leaves (optional)
Encouraging words, printed out on paper and cut(optional)
Wire for hanging

Instructions

Tear the tissue paper into strips (about 1 inch wide). Blow up your balloon to around the size you would like your lantern to be.

Mix glue and water, 2 parts glue to one part water, it should be a milky consistency. Slide a piece of tissue paper in and out of the glue mixture. Tissue paper is delicate and will rip easily when it gets wet, try to keep it straight, not twisted, and place in on the balloon. Continue this with each piece of tissue paper until the balloon is well covered.

Let dry, you may want to put one more layer of tissue paper on it once the first has dried.

Pop the balloon and cut the jagged edge off, cut this down far enough so the heat of the candle will have a place to escape out the top. Punch two holes in either side of the balloon.

Make a hanger with copper wire or an old wire hanger. I twisted the wire to make a spiral which keeps the wire from falling off the lantern.

Place a tea light in a glass candle holder then place that in the lantern. Or to be safe you could place a battery operated fake candle inside.

WARNING: Do not leave this candle unattended. This lantern is made off paper and is highly flammable. When you place the candle inside, feel around the lantern and make sure you can not feel heat on it, just coming out the top. Battery operated tea lights would work as well and be safer.

Jump to Feedback | Post feedback

Sponsors

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post by boomboomkitty (17) | (08/22/2008)

Profile | Contact

Very cute and inexpensive. Cool for a B-BQ outside at night. Or you can use smaller balloons and place scented candles inside to create a nice calm environment when kids are away for a bubble bath. Or make jack-o-lanterns for up-coming Halloween. xoxo
RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Report Spam or Abuse

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post By sahm2ae (Guest Post) (07/23/2008)

This is a great way to keep my 2 and 4 year old entertained for an afternoon, and to make it easier to keep the paper from twisting and scrunching, drip some glue on the balloon, then lay down the piece of paper, then use your finger to smooth glue over the top. This is especially fun for kids who love to get messy! There are some many uses for this project... and the one we just made will hold my daughter's hair bows and clips!
Report Spam or Abuse

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post By sahm2ae (Guest Post) (07/23/2008)

This is a great way to keep my 2 and 4 year old entertained for an afternoon, and to make it easier to keep the paper from twisting and scrunching, drip some glue on the balloon, then lay down the piece of paper, then use your finger to smooth glue over the top. This is especially fun for kids who love to get messy! There are som many uses for this project... and the one we just made will hold my daughter's hairbows and clips!
Report Spam or Abuse

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post By sahm2ae (Guest Post) (07/23/2008)

This is a great way to keep my 2 and 4 year old entertained for an afternoon, and to make it easier to keep the paper from twisting and scrunching, drip some glue on the balloon, then lay down the piece of paper, then use your finger to smooth glue over the top. This is especially fun for kids who love to get messy! There are som many uses for this project... and the one we just made will hold my daughter's hairbows and clips!
Report Spam or Abuse

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post By sahm2ae (Guest Post) (07/23/2008)

This is a great way to keep my 2 and 4 year old entertained for an afternoon, and to make it easier to keep the paper from twisting and scrunching, drip some glue on the balloon, then lay down the piece of paper, then use your finger to smooth glue over the top. This is especially fun for kids who love to get messy! There are some many uses for this project, and the one we just made will hold my daughter's hair bows and clips!
Report Spam or Abuse

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post by sassycroft (3) | (07/21/2008)

Contact

They would make nice centerpieces at showers or weddings if you filled them with mints or nuts.
Report Spam or Abuse

RE: Craft Project: Paper Mache Lanterns

Post by kimhis (930) | (07/18/2008)

Contact

Cute, but so tippity, so flammable? you're right, keep it right with you. Bet the light looks nice through the tissue.
Report Spam or Abuse

Post Feedback:

Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback if you have registered with ThriftyFun. If you have not yet registered, click here. It's FREE!. If you are not registered you can post feedback as a guest below. Please don't use your email address for your name because spam robots can dredge it from our site. Please do not post your feedback more than ONCE. We need to approve all guest feedback and it may take from minutes to hours for that to happen.