Vesak Day Lanterns

How to Make

The lantern is constructed from 6 square frames made from craft sticks. There are 4 squares around the sides, 1 at the top and 1 at the bottom.

1. To make a square frame, place 2 craft sticks on your work surface so they are parallel, about 10cm apart. Squeeze some glue on both ends of the 2 sticks. Place 2 more craft sticks on top to make a square shape then press the ends together. Check all the sides are straight then leave to dry. Repeat to make 5 more squares in the same way.
2. When the glue has completely dried paint the frames black on one side and around the edges, or use another colour if you prefer. Leave to dry, turn the frames over then paint on the reverse.
3. Cut out 4 yellow tissue paper squares 11cm x 11cm. Apply a small amount of glue around one of the frames then carefully press the tissue square on top to make a coloured window. Glue tissue onto 3 more frames in the same way. To make the lantern stronger, you could add a second piece of tissue paper over the windows to make a double layer.
4. Cut 2 x 1cm wide strips from black self-adhesive felt, or use a different colour. Cut the strips into 2cm lengths. Place the 4 square frames flat on your work surface with tissue paper glued underneath and the frames visible on top. Tilt each frame diagonally then arrange then 4 frames in a line with the pointed corners almost touching (1-2mm apart).
   One at a time, peel off the backing paper from the short felt self-adhesive strips. Stick the felt strips across the frame corners to link them together. Turn the 4 linked frames over and fix 3 more self-adhesive felt strips on the reverse to strengthen the joins. Carefully lift up the 2 end frames then join them together with 2 more felt strips, 1 on the outside and one inside, so the frames are all linked together.
5. The lantern frame can now be placed upright on your work surface balancing on 4 corners. Attach another square frame at the top with 4 short self-adhesive felt strips to join the corners together. Stick 4 more strips on the reverse side to strengthen the joins. Adjust the lantern frame shape if necessary to attach the frame. Turn the lantern over then attached the last frame in place in the same way. Adding these 2 frames at the top and bottom makes 8 triangular windows, 4 at the top and 4 at the bottom.
6. Cut 8 x 80cm lengths of red ribbon. Tie 2 pieces around each corner of the lantern around one of the end frames.Turn the lantern over then tie 40cm lengths of gold hanging cord to each corner on the top of the lantern.
7. To cover the 8 triangular windows with tissue paper, cut a triangle from card as a guide for accurately cutting out. Make each side on the card triangle 13cm in length. Draw around the card shape onto tissue paper then cut out the triangles. Apply a small amount of glue around the frames inside the lantern then stick the tissue triangles on top by carefully pushing your fingers through the lantern frame then pressing the tissue paper in place. Work on one section at a time.
8. To attach the tealight holder, apply a small amount of glue on each side of the frame at the base inside the lantern using a long brush. Carefully lower a circular tealight holder through the top of the lantern then fix it on the frame at the base. Try adding small cut out silhouette shapes to decorate the lantern. If the tissue paper isn’t cut accurately to fit the frames, this gives an overlapping effect where the colours overlap around the edges.

Top Tip

Raising the frames on 2 spare craft sticks makes them easier to paint.