With a balloonmake a lantern? Yes, this is actually possible because you use this to make a container (the future lantern) out of paper and glue! The production of the so-called papier-mâché is a popular technique for making a wide variety of things - plates, bowls, vases and even figures can be made yourself. We give you a few creative ideas for a papier-mâché lantern. These are suitable for the lantern parade to St. Martin's Day, as well as for decoration to set up or hang in the garden.
To make a papier-mâché lantern, you need a few certain materials: newspaper or other paper, paste and a mold. Glue or wallpaper paste as well as napkin glue is often used for the paste, but you can also use it among other thingsMake your own with flour. We have already shown you instructions on how you can make papier-mâché using balloons or other toolsin this article. For this reason, today we are just presenting you the ideas for a cool papier-mâché lantern.
Paper mache lantern with faces
Would you like to make lanterns like this with children? First you should make the blanks for the Saint Martin lanterns. You can also add noses, ears or other necessary curves. Once the lanterns are dry, trace the areas where you want the eyes and mouth to be. Cut these out using a sharp cutter or box knife. If cutting with a knife isn't for you, just try to leave holes for the mouth and eyes while designing the papier-mâché.
You can then close these holes with parchment paper, leave them open or use our printable lantern template to create faces like the one in the example. Beforehand, however, you should paint the papier-mâché lantern as desired with acrylic paints. It's not just watermelons and pumpkins that can be designed this way. For example, would you like oneMaking lanterns and animalsyou can shape matching ears and later design the lantern with the right colors.
Make your own lanterns –Face templatefor printing
Pretty garden lantern with flowers and leaves
Preserve all the fall flowersfrom your garden and the colorful leaves in a special way by making pretty lanterns and incorporating them into them. Of course, you can also use this idea if you want to make a St. Martin's lantern yourself. After all, anything you like is allowed in the lantern parade. And you can be sure that no one else will have such a piece of jewelry. Otherwise, this paper mache lantern is also wonderful for decorating the garden, veranda or terrace, or even the window. Or just put them on the table!
- Balloons
- Tracing paper, torn into strips
- Felt pen/Edding
- paste
- pressed flowers and leaves
- Scissors and needle
- craft wire
- cord
- LED tea lights
Make beautiful garden lights yourself
Inflate a balloon (or several if you want to make several garden or St. Martin's lanterns) to the desired size and tie a knot. Draw a line below and around the node. The papier-mâché should work until then. Make sure the opening you get is big enough for your hand to fit through.
Then start making the papier-mâché by applying several layers of paper with the selected paste to the balloon. After a few such layers, also add the selected flowers and leaves by gluing a layer of paper again. There shouldn't be more than one layer so that the flowers and leaves still remain visible. Let everything dry thoroughly, pop the balloon and the papier-mâché lantern is ready!
In order to be able to hang it up, you have to poke four holes at approximately equal distances in the edge and thread wire through them. Then knot the four strands and tie string to them for hanging. And while you're really creative, why not try bending the wire into some interesting shapes to give your lantern an extra accent?
Colorful paper mache lantern
The lantern is really beautiful, there's no denying that. But do you prefer something more cheerful andColorful things for the lantern parade? Then just use colored paper for this purpose. And you can even create beautiful striped patterns for rainbow lanterns if you want, or a colorful mess.
You can get really creative with colors. Or use light-colored paper and then paint the lanterns with acrylic paints as desired. This variant is perfect if you are making a lantern in elementary school and are still looking for lantern ideas.
