Paper-Mache Lanterns - Estevan and Weyburn Public Library

Add some light to your summer nights!

You will need:

Tissue or light weight paper (about 5 sheets)
Balloon
Glue
Sponge (or brush)
String
Scissors
Water
Old newspaper or table covering
Bowl
Pressed Flowers or leaves, other decoration (optional)
Electric tea light


Pressed Flowers (optional): This step is optional, but if you would like to add a something extra to your lantern, gather some leaves and flowers. Lay your items between two sheets of paper or parchment paper, and place the pages inside a heavy book. Stack multiple books on top to weigh it down. Leave the items for 2 week until completely dry.

OR:
Place leaves between two sheets and keep in a book. Set an iron to low temperature on a dry setting. Once the iron is warm, move the flower and paper out of the book and to an ironing board (keep the flower in-between the paper). Press the iron down on the paper for about 15 second. Remove the iron until the paper is cool (about 15 second) and repeated the process until flowers are dry to the touch.

Step 1: Tear or cut your sheets of tissue paper into pieces. Roughly 3”X 3”. Careful not to make them too big or to small, as they will be harder to handle when gluing them together.

You will need at least 3 sheets of tissue paper to make the lantern. You can use 4 – 5 sheets for a sturdier lantern.

Step 2: Blow up your balloon to the size you would like your lantern to be. Once you have a good size and secured the balloon with a knot, use a marker to mark where you would like to edge of the lantern to be.

Step 3: To make the paper-mache glue, use an old bowl or recyclable container. You will need a 1:1 ratio of white glue and water (ex: 1 cup of glue and 1 cup of water). Add your glue and water into the bowl and mix with your brush or sponge until combined.

Step 4: Cover your workspace with old newspaper or protective table cloth.

Step 5: Dip the sponge into the glue mixture and brush it onto the balloon. Place a piece of tissue paper on top of the area with the glue.

Step 6: Repeat Step 5 until the balloon below your marker line is completely covered. Overlap pieces of tissue to make sure the whole balloon is covered. Once your base layer is down, keep adding tissue paper until you have 3 – 4 layers covering the balloon.

Step 7: Tie some string to the balloon and hang it to dry (leave newspaper or a towel underneath to catch dripping glue). If you have a lid (or still have the glue bottle) store your paper-mache glue in an air tight container.

Step 8 (optional): If you want to dress up your lantern, add press flowers, leaves, stickers, different colour tissue paper or other paper objects to your lantern. Use you glue mixture to attach your decorations. You can also add more tissue paper at this point if you feel the lantern isn’t thick enough. Avoid using paint, as it may make the lantern wet and damage it.

Step 9: Once your lantern is dry, use a sharp object to pop the balloon. Gently remove the balloon from the inside of the lantern.

Step 10: Trim the edge of the lantern with your scissors.

Step 11: Chose whether you want your lantern to sit on a table or hang from a hook.

Table Lantern: Moisten the bottom of the lantern with glue mixture, just enough to make it flexible. Gently press the bottom flat and leave it to dry.

Hanging Lantern: Using small scissors or a nail, make two holes on either side of the lantern. Make them big enough to thread the string through.
After the holes are made, make a knot at one end of the string you’ll use to hang the lantern. Thread the un-knotted end through the both holes. Knot the other end of the string.

Find a spot to place your lantern, add an electric tea light and enjoy!

Safety tip: Do not add a wax candle to your lantern, or it might catch on fire. Do not leave lantern out in the rain, as it may ruin the lantern and the electric tea light.

Show off your creations by tagging us on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages or by emailing us! Got a question? Contact us at the number or email at the top of the page.