The Garden is aglow with beautiful Luminarias as the sun sets and the wonderful storytellers and performers come out for Las Noches de las Luminarias. As the Garden comes alight, bring some light into your abode with this fun lantern craft!
What you’ll need:
– Liquid school glue
– Water
– Paper (printer, tissue, or newspaper)
– Round balloon
– Bowl
– Mixing utensil
– Optional: String, paint brush, gloves
– Optional: Flower and leaves (fresh or dried)
Step 1:
If you want to decorate your lantern with plants, you’ll have to do some prep first. Go outside and find some flowers and leaves that are calling to you and collect them. Be careful to only take a small amount.
Step 2:
Assemble all the materials to make your lantern. First cut your paper into 1-inch-wide strips. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be wide enough to hold the paste and cover the balloon more easily. Cut up at least four whole printer pages, the more the better!
Step 3:
Grab your balloon and blow it up to the size that you want your lantern to be. Then place the balloon into the bowl with the tied end inside. This is going to help keep your balloon in place while you turn it into a masterpiece.
Step 4:
Next, it’s time to make the paste. You’re going to need to use your measuring skills to get the consistency just right; it’s a 1:2 ratio. In a wide bowl, add 1 cup of school glue, then mix in ½ cup of water. Keep mixing and look for a runny, liquidy consistency. If it is too thick, add more water, and if it is too runny, add more glue.
Step 5:
It is time to begin constructing your lantern. Your hands will get messy, so if you do not want them to put on some gloves that can easily be washed or disposed of. Submerge a paper strip in the paste, covering it fully; then take it out and slide your fingers along both sides of the paper, removing excess paste.
Step 6:
Apply the paste covered paper to the balloon and repeat the step above, building up the shape of your lantern. Make sure you have at least 2-4 layers of paper to ensure that your lantern will be sturdy. Keep covering until you can’t see the color of your balloon where the paper is.
Step 7:
If you are decorating your lantern with flowers, add them when you are building up the last layers of paper over the balloon. Cover them with a thin layer of paste to secure them in place.
Step 8:
Set aside your lantern to fully dry. This may take a few hours, so check in on it throughout the day. Once your paste has dried and it’s hard when you tap it; carefully pop the balloon however you can. Then remove the balloon from inside your lantern.
Step 9:
The finishing touches! Since we made this out of paper, do not put flame candles into the lantern, because we do not want to destroy your masterpiece. Instead, grab some battery-operated candles to place inside.
You can add a handle to the lantern by cutting a small hole on either side of the lantern and threading a string through and tying it.
Stupendous work, artisans! I know you’re going to get some glowing reviews on how beautiful your creation is.
This blog was written by Olivia Lewis
