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Whether you are a parent, a teacher or a babysitter at a loss of ideas making paper lanterns is a craft that can be fun and simple enough for a child or turn into something more complex for the avid crafter in you.

I will provide instructions for a basic paper lantern, suitable for a kids project. From this base feel free to make alterations in size, colour, mediums used and design. Included at the end of this article will also be a quick sketch leading you through the steps

Need:

- 1 sheet plain copy paper (stealing from a nearby printer is OK!)

- scissors (you can use regular or child safe, you can even try out those wacky kid ones that cut zigzag or ripples)

- colored pencils, crayons, markers, chalk, water-color paints...or any other medium you want to use to color your lantern

-string/wool/thread/rop e

- clear tape

Instructions:

- Decorate the piece of paper by coloring it any way you like (even if a toddler takes the scribbles to it, it will look awesome)

-Take the piece of paper and fold it in half (make sure the colored half shows)

- With scissors cut the paper, starting at the fold, as if you were going to cut it into strips, however only cut about 1/2-3/4 of the way.

You can make the strips wider or thinner, depending on your taste.

- Once you are done cutting open the paper up and fold it into a circle, making a cylinder out of it, also make sure the first and the last strip over lap to make one. This is where you will tape the paper (at the top and bottom of the cylinder) to make the lantern.

- Ta da! Your lantern is now done, if you wish to hang it decide which side is top and which is bottom. At the top puncture two small holes on both sides (make sure you do this for your kid) to pull the string through.

- Take your choice of string and put it through the holes, you want it to be long enough for the lantern to freely hang from the ceiling or the hook where you decide to hang it. Now all you do is tie a knot and find a spot to put up your master piece. You don't have to install any special hooks around the house, it is light enough for you to use regular clear tape to tape it to the ceiling or the wall.

Tips:

- cut thinner strips diagonally, zig-zag, wavy or into a half-circle for more cool effects

- if you want your lantern to look more rounded than elongated make the strips longer, leaving less paper at the bottom and top, but still enough to make the holes for the string.

Here are the instructions in form of a sketch .

Learn more about this author, Natasa Shepherd.
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