Supplies
- black construction paper
- red paper (thinner paper is easier to fold. I used red origami paper, 10″ square)
- ribbon or string
- red envelope
- glue
- scissors
Instructions
This is an easy craft but since red envelopes come in many sizes, please adjust the measurements based on what you think looks best. For younger children (preschool), you can have all the parts of the lantern pre-made for them to glue together.
1) Cut the paper into strips about 3 inches wider than the red envelope. Save the scraps.
2) Trim the black piece of construction paper so that it is about 4 inches longer than your envelope.
3) Accordion fold the red strip of paper.
4) Glue the folded paper to the black paper, leaving about half an inch at the top and bottom.
5) Round the corners.
6) Using a scrap of black construction paper, cut two pieces about the same width as the red envelope. Round two corners on one of the longer sides. Glue to the top and bottom of your lantern.
7) Glue the red envelope onto the lantern.
8) Using a scrap of the red paper, cut into thin strips to make the tassel.
9) Glue the tassel under the bottom of your lantern.
10) Glue the ribbon to the top of your lantern.
My kids were so excited about this project and had a lot of fun making their lanterns. My even son asked me to take photos of him with his lantern to show his teacher at school. My daughter, age 3, needed a lot of help but she really enjoys cutting and gluing.
These lanterns are so gorgeous, Jeanne!! And they look so doable, too! Going to try to make them with my kids 🙂
Happy CNY. Can I use this as my teaching materials for my students? Thank you.
Hi Bonnie, feel free to use this for your class. I’m honored that you would want to share this with your students 🙂