Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns have been used throughout the orient for centuries, even thousands of years. The paper lantern is also a popular craft in the west, where kids learn about making paper lanterns at some point during school. How to make paper lanterns (how to make a paper lantern) is easy: in the simplest form you can just fold a large piece of sturdy paper (for the purposes of a candle lantern you probably want to use some heavy construction paper or reinforce the bottom with cardboard) into the shape of a box. Attach or cut some kind of handle in the top, making sure that you leave room around the top of the box for the heat and gases from a flame to escape. Finally, you will want to put some kind of design on the paper or cut out an image that you can use to project a cool picture using your paper lantern.

The simple white paper lantern that many people learn to make in this way is only the beginning. Besides white paper lanterns you can create different styles such as Chinese paper lanterns (a Chinese paper lantern can be a standard lantern with white paper that is decorated with Chinese characters, or it can be a more complicated kind of lantern design with sides that are pleated and folded to create a scattering of the light and a cool visual effect), Japanese paper lanterns and more. Battery operated paper lanterns using electric lights are a good way to let kids enjoy paper lanterns without the danger of real fire.

Wholesale paper lanterns can be bought that you can assemble quickly from plans at home and use to light a party or to entertain your kids, and these cheap paper lanterns can either contain only the paper to produce a lantern or they may come with small battery powered light sources that you can use to run the paper lanterns for as long as you want without having to worry about anything other than the act of putting them up at the beginning of the night and taking them down afterward. Paper lanterns can add to the enjoyment of an outdoor party or any kind of indoor festivities where you want to create a festive atmosphere and use a special kind of lighting to help people feel more at ease while they are enjoying themselves in your home.