Learn how to make these sparkly paper lanterns for Lunar New Year (and beyond!)

In CBC Arts Makes, artists guide you step by step through creating your own masterpieces at home.

Hi! I'm PUFF Paddy and I'm an artist from Toronto. For the past two years, I've designed and hosted a paper lantern workshop called Yue Moon with Chinatown BIA and STEPS Initiative. We've gotten to make art and create a beautiful public art installation to celebrate Lunar New Year in a big way.

On February 12th, we will be showcasing our latest lantern installation in Toronto's Chinatown. We hope this will bring people together for a luminous Lunar New Year experience.

If you missed our programs, I've got you covered! I am going to teach you how to make a mini paper lantern inspired by last year's paper lantern design. These mini lanterns look so cute and they are a perfect little gift to give away. This is a great way to decorate your home to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Let's get started!

What you'll need

Age range: All ages (as long as an adult is around to supervise the hot glue gun)

Time commitment: 45-60 minutes

Tools:

• Pencil
• Ruler
• Glue stick
• Hot glue gun
• Stapler
• Scotch tape
• Single hole punch
• Scissors
• 2'' paper punch or 2'' bottle cap

Materials:

• Colourful construction paper (approximately 3-6 full sheets, depending on how many colours you want to use!)

• 4 x 5'' black bristol board

• 2x 1cm wide paper strips (around 6" long)

• 1 pipe cleaner

• A pack of gold tinsels

Step-by-step instructions

1. The first step is to mark where your colourful paper will go on the black bristol board. Using your ruler and pencil, mark a vertical line on your black bristol board, about 1'' from the edge of the board. Repeat on the other side of the board.

2. Make ⅛ inch marks all the way along the pencil lines from the last step.

3. Time to create your circles! Before you begin to cut out your circles, choose your favourite colours for your lantern. Traditionally Chinese lanterns are red and gold to bring good luck for the New Year. But for this lantern I like to use more colours to bring brightness and joy into my life!

For faster and more precise results, I would recommend using the 2'' circle paper puncher. If you don't have a paper puncher, you can use a 2'' bottle cap to trace your circles. Cut out 30 to 35 colourful circles.

(Tip: When you are cutting out your circles, remember to take your time and breathe. This requires focus and concentration; it can be repetitive and relaxing.)

4. Fold each circle in half.

5. Using your glue stick, glue the folded circles along the marked guidelines. The circles should overlap each other.

6. Take your two paper strips and trace a line on the black bristol board above and below where the folded circles are glued down. With your scissors, cut along the lines you just traced.

7. Now watch your lantern take shape! Roll the bristol board into a circular shape and staple the top and bottom together. With your glue stick, glue the first and the last folded circles together so the lantern looks seamless.

8. On the top rim of the lantern, use your single hole punch to make two holes opposite one another for your handle. 

9. With your hot glue gun, place glue around the top and bottom rim of the lantern and place the paper strips over the glue. 

10. Use your hole punch and make the holes again for your handle.

11. Loop your pipe cleaner through the holes to make your handle.

12. Unpack the gold tinsels and cut out about 8 to 10 pieces of tinsel. They should be 15" long. Carefully stack the loose tinsels and fold the stack in half around the bottom loop handle. Use the Scotch tape and staple it together to make it more secure.

Enjoy the sparkle and magic of your mini lantern!

The mini lanterns bring so much colour and brightness into a space. You can hang a lantern by the window and watch the sun reflect on the gold tinsel. Sparkly and magical!

If you try this project at home, we'd love to see it! Share your work with us by tagging @CBCArts, @paddy_leung and #CBCArtsMakes.