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    Home » Crafts » Kids Crafts

    Giant Paper Lantern DIY Tutorial

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    diy chinese lantern
    round paper lanterns

    Celebrate the Chinese New Year with this super fun and easy giant paper lantern DIY tutorial

    Paper Lantern DIY

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    These fun Paper Lantern DIY decorations are all kinds of fun and great for decoration during the Chinese New Year

    Chinese New Year is coming up in a few weeks. Creating crafts for the holiday is one of my favorite activities to do with the kids.

    Paper lanterns are a prominent decoration throughout Chinese New Year celebrations.

    Why are Chinese lanterns important?

    Chinese people originally used paper lanterns to provide light and use them in their Buddhist worship. Today they are really only used for decoration, celebrations, and some worship.

    The best part is if you are wanting to light up our giant paper lanterns, you simply purchase a glow stick and place it inside the balloon before hanging them for your celebration.

    Made with Happy holding two paper lanterns

    What do paper lanterns symbolize?

    Paper lanterns symbolize a bright and happy future. The red symbolizes happiness and the gold symbolizes wealth.

    Chinese lanterns were originally made with red gauze. They are now made of paper.  Lanterns were originally believed to ward away evil spirits and so they were hung on the front door. They are now hung as part of celebrations and ceremonies. 

    Chinese New Year Celebration

    How to Celebrate Chinese New Year

    In China, there are many large celebrations across the country. In the US, I know that most major cities have celebrations of their own. There are lots of paper lanterns, dragons dancing, and celebrations. 

    We celebrate in the children's classrooms by making Chinese New Year crafts. As a family, we like to go out to a Chinese dinner too.

    Check out these other Chinese New Year Crafts!

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    Good Luck Ornaments. Chinese New Year Kids Craft. Free Printable Chinese New Year Craft. Chinese New Year Good Luck Ornament. How to make a good luck ornament. Celebrate the Chinese New Year with these simple crafts. Chinese New Year Crafts.

    Good Luck Ornament

    Items you need to make a giant lantern diy project

    Supplies needed to make paper lantern

    We are taking a Made with a HAPPY spin on a traditional paper lantern with this giant paper lantern DIY.

    • Giant Round Red Balloons
    • Piece of yellow cardstock
    • Yellow Crepe Paper
    • Tape
    • Scissors
    • Ruler or Paper Cutter

    How do you make this Chinese lantern?

    cutting paper into strips

    Start by cutting the piece of yellow card stock into three strips of paper. The paper should be cut (vertical) along the smaller side. Each strip should be 11 inches long. 

    paper strips

    The first strip should be one inch in width. The second should be two inches, and the third strip should be three and a half inches in width.

    Making the handle of the lantern
    creating a circle with one paper strip

    We are starting with the middle strip, the 2-inch strip. Wrap the end together and make a ring.

    taping paper circle together

    Using the tape, tape the end to the ring to secure it in place.

    taping another paper to paper ring

    Next, take the one-inch strip of paper and tape one end to the inside of the ring. You are taping this perpendicular to the two-inch ring.

    paper lantern top made out of paper

    Tape the other end of the one-inch strip to the opposite side on the inside of the ring.  This should look like a handle.

    Making the bottom of the giant lantern

    paper lantern topper and strip of paper

    Grab the third strip of paper, the three and a half strip.

    paper lantern top and a second paper circle

    Create a ring with that strip the same way you did it for the two-inch strip.

    Putting the lantern together

    paper lantern top with a paper circle and diy tassel garland

    Next, you are going to create a DIY Tassel Garland with your crepe paper. This portion of the craft will only take five to ten minutes.

    supplies ready to assembled into paper lantern

    Blow up your balloon.

    taping paper lantern topper to balloon
    taped paper lantern topper to balloon

    We are going to first add the paper handle to the top of the balloon to cover the tail.

    tape piece attaching tassel to bottom of balloon

    Tape the handle to the balloon on the inside.

    adding paper ring over taped tassel

    You are going to tape the loop of the tassel to the bottom of the balloon. Carefully thread the tassel through the three-and-a-half-width paper ring. 

    Bottom of paper lantern attached

    Tape that ring to the balloon the same way you taped the handle.

    two paper lantern diys hanging

    You have yourself a giant paper lantern!

    Giant Paper Lantern DIY. Chinese New Year Paper Lantern. Paper Lantern DIY. Chinese New Year Crafts

    Other Uses for The Paper Lantern

    Made with Happy holding giant paper lantern

    These super but giant lanterns are great for Chinese New Year, but there are also lots of different uses for the lanterns.

    If you use white paper and white balloons, you can have white paper lanterns that are great for wedding decorations. These lanterns look absolutely fabulous and are really inexpensive to make.

    Lanterns are also great in different colors for party decorations. They are only a few party supplies needed to create these sweet lanterns. They are dramatic and look so great in whatever color you create them in.

    Two Paper lanterns hanging on hooks

    You can hang them as you would any other paper lantern. They are really light and could be hung with tape if needed.

    DIY Chinese Lanterns FAQs

    made with happy holding two giant paper lanterns out in front of her

    Here are a few questions you might have now that you have started your Paper Lantern DIY.

    Which paper is used for making lanterns?

    For more traditional Chinese lanterns, they are made of rice paper. For these lanterns, you can use any colored paper including construction paper, cardstock, or origami paper.

    How do you make a cheap lantern?

    We made these from supplies from the dollar store. It truly doesn't get much cheaper than that. The only other cost savings would be if you used paper scraps and then you are simply paying for the balloon.

    How do you make paper lanterns waterproof?

    There are always a lot of questions about making them waterproof. One way to do that is to dip your paper portion of the project in melted beeswax. This waterproofs the paper.

    We highlighted this Chinese New Year Craft along with some other fun kid's crafts in our January Crafts for Kids along with our 101+ Easy Craft Ideas for kids.

    You also do not want to miss our 101+ Free Kids Printables full of Crafts & Coloring Pages.

    Chinese New Year Crafts For Kids

    Other Chinese New Year Activities You Might Enjoy

    • Chinese New Year Printables
    • Chinese New Year Activities For Kids
    • Year of the Tiger Coloring Pages
    • Chinese New Year Bingo
    • Dragon Coloring Pages

    Check out our Kids Crafts from Around the World series

    Kids Crafts from Around the World

    Kids Crafts From Around the World

    Introduction to a fun series during the month of March, national craft month, where is showcases some craft projects from other countries. This post rounds up the entire series showcasing every post.

    Kids Crafts from Around the World - Week 1

    Week 1 of our Kids Crafts from Around the World showcases crafts from Saudi Arabia, China, India, and Brazil.

    Kids Crafts from Around the World - Week 2

    Week 2 of our Kids Crafts from Around the World showcases crafts from Ireland, The Netherlands, China, India, and Peru.

    Kids Crafts from Around the World - Week 3

    Week 3 of our Kids Crafts from Around the World showcases crafts from Indonesia, New Zealand, and Afganistan.

    Kids Crafts from Around the World - Week 4

    Week 4 of our Kids Crafts from Around the World showcases crafts from Mexico, England, and Uruguay.

    Kids Crafts From Around the World - Week 5

    Week 5 of our Kids Crafts from Around the World showcases crafts from Latin America/Brazil, Native American, Japan and France

    Two Paper lanterns hanging on hooks
    Print

    Giant Paper Lantern DIY Tutorial

    Celebrate the Chinese New Year with this super fun and easy giant paper lantern DIY tutorial

    Course Kids Crafts
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes minutes
    Servings 1 Paper Lantern
    Author Alli Ward

    Equipment

    • Tape

    Ingredients

    • Giant Round Red Balloons
    • Piece of yellow cardstock
    • Yellow Crepe Paper
    • Scissors
    • Ruler or Paper Cutter

    Instructions

    • Cutting the Paper used for this project
    • Start by cutting the piece of yellow card stock into three strips of paper. The paper should be cut (vertical) along the smaller side. Each strip should be 11 inches long. 
      cutting paper into strips
    • The first strip should be one inch in width. The second should be two inches, and the third strip should be three and a half inches width.
      paper strips
    • Making the handle of the lantern
    • We are starting with the middle strip, the 2 inch strip. Wrap the end together and make a ring.
      creating a circle with one paper strip
    • Using the tape, tape the end to the ring to secure it in place.
      taping paper circle together
    • Next, take the one inch strip of paper and tape one end to the inside of the ring. You are taping this perpendicular to the two inch ring.
      taping another paper to paper ring
    • Tape the other end of the one inch strip to the opposite side on the inside of the ring.  This should look like a handle.
      paper lantern top made out of paper
    • Making the bottom of the lantern
    • Grab the third strip of paper, the three and a half strip.
      paper lantern topper and strip of paper
    • Create a ring with that strip the same way you did it for the two inch strip.
      paper lantern top and a second paper circle
    • Putting the lantern together
    • Next you are going to create a DIY Tassel Garland with your crepe paper. This portion of the craft will only take five to ten minutes.
      paper lantern top with a paper circle and diy tassel garland
    • Blow up your balloon.
      supplies ready to assembled into paper lantern
    • We are going to first add the paper handle to the top of the balloon to cover the tail.
      taping paper lantern topper to balloon
    • Tape the handle to the balloon on the inside.
      tape piece attaching tassel to bottom of balloon
    • You are going to tape the loop of the tassel to the bottom of the balloon. Carefully thread the tassel through the three and a half width paper ring.  Tape that ring to the balloon the same way you taped the handle.
      adding paper ring over taped tassel
    • Viola, you have a giant paper lantern to hang.
      giant balloon lantern

    Video

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    Two Giant Paper Lantern DIY

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    About Alli

    Discover a world of creativity and joy with Alli Ward, the creative mind behind Made with Happy. From DIY crafts to delicious recipes, Alli brings happiness to every project!

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    Hi, I'm Alli Ward, the Maker behind Made with Happy. I'm a color-obsessed creative mom of two sharing easy crafts, printables, and home DIY projects that the whole family will love! 

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