Asian designs are gaining in popularity.Tissue paper Japanese lanterns add a Zen feel to your home with the clean look of rice paper and the soft glow of the light.Japanese lanterns made of construction paper are great for outdoor deck parties.Regardless of what lantern you make, they are both easy and fun to make.
Step 1: Take your materials.
It's important to buy bendable metal wire.This can be found at arts and crafts stores.Pre-made metal wire structures can be used instead of forming your own.You will need to buy: tissue paper, hot glue, scissors, hole-punch, string wire, and paint.
Step 2: You can find a mold for your lantern.
You need a guide if you are not skilled at making wire forms.If you want a rounded lantern, find a ball, bowl, vase, tin can, etc.The wire needs to be wrapped around.You can either make a unique mold out of scrap materials or wrap the wire around a suitable object.
Step 3: Wrap the wire around the mold.
Wrap the wire around the bottom of your form.Continue wrapping around your frame until you get to the top.It may be a good idea to use wire directly off the spool instead of cutting it in advance since the amount of wire you need will depend on the size of the lantern.There should be openings at the top and bottom of the wire frame.A completely enclosed lantern is a fire hazard.Keep your wire wraps 1/2 inch apart.Leave a length of free wire at either end of the mold.
Step 4: The wire frame needs to be removed from the mold.
The frame may open slightly after you remove it, so be prepared to re-shape it.You may need to pull your wire frame open in order to get the mold.When you are done, gently do this to make it easier to shape it.
Step 5: Attach your frame with wire.
Attach the extra wire to the nearest spiral to preserve the shape of the opening.Wrap the wire or use a soldering iron to do this.This shouldn't use a lot of your extra wire.Make sure you have some left for structuring.To learn how to solder wire sculptures, visit: How to Solder Wire Sculptures.
Step 6: Make a base for your lantern.
The lamp cord or lamp base should be sticking through the opening that you choose.The structure of the lamp you put on the lantern will determine your design.Run the extra wire at the top of the frame straight across the opening, looping it once in the middle before wrapping or soldering it to the other side.When the lantern is ready to hang, you will tie a knot under the lamp cord to hold it in place.If your lantern is going to sit atop a lamp, you should loop the extra wire at the bottom of the frame across the opening on the other side.Make sure the loop is large enough to hold the structure that will poke up through the bottom of the lantern.Structural adjustments to the opposite opening of the lantern may be necessary depending on the lamp.
Step 7: The paper panels should be cut.
The paper will be roughly rectangular with a polygonal frame.You'll have to experiment with small strips or almond-shaped panels of paper with a round frame.The larger the pieces of paper, the more smooth the final look will be.Lay the pieces against the wire structure to see how they fit.How many panels do you need?You can either wrap the entire frame with one sheet or create a separate panel for each side.The panels need to be cut a little larger so they can overlap.Don't worry if you make a mistake.You can cover the empty spot by cutting a new piece of paper.
Step 8: The first panel should be Glued to the wire frame.
Regular glue won't hold the paper to the wire, so it's best to use hot glue or super glue.Wrap the top edge of the paper around the opening in the wire frame and glue it together.Wrap the paper around the opening of the frame and glue it to the wire.The structure should have a few minutes to dry.
Step 9: Glue the panels together.
You will be able to glue one edge of each panel to the other.Wait until the panels are dry before adding more.If you don't have enough paper strips to cover the entire structure, you should cut some more.When you are done, there should be no more space between strips.
Step 10: You can decorate your lantern.
Characters or designs are painted on the sides of lanterns.You might want to paint your paper stripes or a solid color.You can add a traditional Japanese design, such as flowers, nature, or native Japanese animals.To learn how to paint with watercolors, visit: How to Paint With Watercolors.You can find more information on how to paint with acrylics.
Step 11: It's time to finish off your lantern.
Only those hanging their lanterns can do this step.You can punch a hole into the paper of the lantern.There are two holes at the top of the structure.Cut a piece of string that is at least 12 inches long to hang the lantern.Feed the string from the outside into the holes.To hold the lantern as it hangs, tie a knot on each end of the string.
Step 12: You need to get your materials.
You will need a plain piece of construction paper.Depending on the materials you have available, you can use printer paper or card stock.The color of the piece of paper is up to you, however, remember that the darker the tone or color, the harder it will be to see the design.A pair of scissors, a ruler, and a stapler are all you will need.
Step 13: You can paint on your design.
A piece of construction paper can be laid on a flat surface that is safe to paint on.If you want to avoid damaging your painting surface, you should lay some old newspapers down first.A small amount of paint can be applied to a paper plate.You can apply your paintbrush to the construction paper with small brushstrokes.Add a small amount of paint to a paper plate if you are using watercolor paints.Put the jar of water next to the paper plate as you paint.Water can be added to the paint on the paper plate.Attach your brush to the construction paper with small brushstrokes.When the paint starts to dry up, add water.You can find more information on how to use acrylic paint.To learn more about watercolor painting, visit How to Paint With Watercolors.Japanese designs usually include flowers, nature, and animals native to the country of Japan.If you want to go the more traditional Japanese route, you can visit the websitelearnodo-newtonic.com/famous-japanese-artists-and-paintings as a general guide.Give your piece of paper at least a day to fully dry after you have painted it.
Step 14: Cut a piece of paper.
To fold your paper, join the short ends of the paper together.You can make a crease with your hand or with an object like a paperweight.Take your ruler and mark where the two short edges meet.At the 1/2 inch mark, draw a straight line across the piece of paper.Take the ruler to the folded edge.For a piece of paper 12 inches wide, you should make a small pencil mark every 1/2 inch.Take your ruler and line up the marks with the 1/2 inch line you drew.The marks should be connected to that 1/2 inch line.Cut along the lines with your scissors.You should not cut the 1/2 inch line near where the short edges meet.
Step 15: Take your piece of paper and bend it.
Open the folded paper after you've finished cutting.Bring the two ends of the paper together with your hands.At the same time, bend your paper slightly so that the strips of paper you just cut begin to pop out and bend.You joined the two ends of the lantern after the paper was compressed.The long edges need to be stapled together.It might be best for you to hold the lantern in a certain position as a friend or relative.After you staple the ends together, you can go back over the joined edges with clear tape.This will prevent your lantern from falling apart.
Step 16: Take out the strips of paper.
The strips should be different colors than the rest of the lantern.You can use a ruler to measure out the two rectangles that are 1/2 inch X 12 inches.Use a pair of scissors to cut the strips of paper.Super glue or regular glue can be applied to the backside of one of the strips.Wrap the strip around the top of the lantern.For five minutes, hold the strip there.Wrap the second strip on the bottom of the lantern.
Step 17: It's time to finish your lantern.
To punch two holes through the top of your lantern, use a hole-punch.Next is to cut a piece of string that is at least 12 inches long.Feed the string through one of the holes in the lantern.Tie a knot on each end of the string.The lantern is ready to hang.