Handmade lantern ideas. Let's make festival decorations!
Paper lanterns are a classic decoration for summer festivals.
Lanterns that light up the darkness not only heighten the festive mood but also bring a sense of calm.
In this article, we’ll introduce DIY ideas for making lanterns.
While we focus on lanterns for summer festivals, we’ve also gathered ideas for cherry blossom lanterns, Bon Festival lanterns, and Halloween lanterns.
If you want to make your own lanterns for a summer festival or a festival-at-home, please use these ideas as a reference and give it a try.
Many of the ideas use construction paper and recycled materials, making them great summer craft projects for kids, too!
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Handmade lantern ideas: Let’s make festival decorations! (21–30)
watermelon lantern
I’ll show you how to make a watermelon lantern bursting with summer vibes.
First, cut a piece of red construction paper to 10 cm tall by 17 cm wide and draw watermelon seeds on it with a marker.
Fold the top and bottom edges inward so each folded band is 1 cm wide.
Next, cut a piece of green construction paper to 16 cm tall by 10 cm wide and make slits every 2 cm.
Leave 1 cm uncut at both the top and bottom.
Draw watermelon rind stripes to match the 2 cm spacing.
Finally, place the green paper over the red paper, glue the top and bottom edges, roll it into a cylinder and secure firmly, then attach bands to the top and bottom and add a handle to finish.
Anpanman lantern
Sure to delight little kids! Let’s make a lantern featuring Anpanman, the beloved character.
First, fold an A4 sheet of construction paper so it’s divided into six equal parts, then draw and cut out the lantern section.
Next, cut out three circles for Anpanman’s nose and cheeks, paste them on, and draw the face.
Then make two strips for the band, and apply double-sided tape.
Crease the glue tab, curve the lantern piece into a cylinder, and secure it with the tape.
Finally, attach the bands to the top and bottom—and you’re done! Celebrate summer with a fun Anpanman lantern!
Bee lantern
@pontapass [DIY] I tried making a bee lantern!#PontaPonta Pass#DIY#100-yen-shopHandmade
♬ Dear ex-girlfriends (1 Chorus Ver.) – Koresawa
Make a pop and cute bee lantern to boost your summer vibes.
First, keep the mouth and bottom of a plastic bottle, then make fine vertical slits with scissors around the body.
Insert a yellow balloon through the bottle’s mouth and inflate it inside.
Next, attach paper cutouts—bee eyes, antennae, wings, and stripes.
Finally, hang it from a stick, and you’re done.
It could be fun to customize it as different animals or characters, too! It’s easy to make with everyday materials, so give it a try.
3D character lantern
@natsu_made Free template data gift ♡ Now available on Instagram 😊 3D paper lanterns you can use for your home festival 🏮 Just cut along the template—no need for those time-consuming measurements! Anyone can make them easily ☺️ After lots of test runs, we designed the size to minimize the parts you cut off and throw away 🎉 What you’ll need: • Black masking tape (two 20 cm strips) • DAISO colored cardstock (25.7 × 36.3 × 0.1 cm) • Clear tape • A printout of a character’s face • Scissors • The template If you want to hang them: • Hole punch • String Hang them as a garland, line them up as targets for a shooting game, or use them as prizes! They’re cute for anything, and kids will love them 🙌✨ If you’re going to try making them, drop a “🫶” in the comments 🫡 …………✂︎………………………………………………….. Thanks for viewing! Likes ♡ and follows make me happy 𖧷 Bringing out your child’s smile with at-home play: 𓇬 High-quality crafts even if you’re not handy 𓇬 Easy to make in between chores 𓇬 Turn your home into a fun event venue with 100-yen shop supplies Want to cut down on YouTube, games, and TV time? Not confident about making things? A little idea solves it in a snap ◎ Handmade creator and mom of four: 3rd grader, 1st grader, preschooler, and a baby ……………………………………………………#HomeFestival#At-Home Festival Pretend Play#AtHomePlay#AtHomePlayPaper lantern#HomeCrafts#KidsDelighted#HandmadeToys#HomeParty#SanrioMerchPaper craft
‘Sorry for Being Cute (feat. Kopi)’ – HoneyWorks
Let us introduce a cute, three-dimensional character lantern.
First, decide the width of the construction paper to match the template, then fold the paper.
Cut the paper with scissors to fit the shape of the lantern template.
As you attach the top and bottom rings, form the lantern’s shape.
If you secure any gaps from the inside with tape, it will be sturdier and hold its shape better.
While imagining the colors of your favorite character, try making a cute lantern that brings on the summer festival mood.
It’s also recommended to draw or attach the character’s face and expressions onto the lantern!
Halloween lantern
Let me introduce a ghost Halloween lantern.
Wrap construction paper around a toilet paper roll to create the lantern base.
Open up the slitted construction paper, wrap it around the base while puffing it out to create volume, and glue it together.
Using two shades of similar colors for the construction paper gives it more dimension and is recommended.
Cut out the eyes, mouth, and nose from black construction paper, then glue them onto the lantern to finish.
Try changing the facial expressions and lantern colors to make your own original lanterns.
miniature lanterns
Introducing a miniature lantern made with oil-based clay.
Knead the clay and shape a base in the size and form of the lantern you want to make.
Wrap the clay with a plastic bag, then tightly wind twine around the outside.
Glue paper over the top and let it dry for a day.
Use tweezers to carefully remove the clay from the inside little by little.
Once you refine the shape, the lantern body (hibukuro) is complete.
Cut out the top and bottom rings and attach them, then finish by painting characters on the lantern.
Writing your own name on the lantern is also recommended!
Self-standing lantern
Here’s a freestanding, refreshing lantern that’s perfect for Tanabata decorations and summer festivals.
Prepare a toilet paper roll as the base, and wrap paper around it.
For the lantern’s shade, make slits and attach it so it puffs out around the base.
Choose any colors of origami paper you like for each piece you attach.
Finally, cut and glue on the top and bottom rings, add a handle, and you’re done.
You can also stick sparkly stickers on the top and bottom rings to make it extra cute.
Thin, lightweight smart lantern
Let’s make a slim, lightweight smart lantern.
Draw lines on washi paper and create creases.
By creasing firmly and pressing with an iron, the lantern will look neat and tidy once formed.
After completing the lantern body, fold it into a tube and shape it into a regular pentagon.
Cut circles from construction paper for the top lid and bottom base, and attach them with double-sided tape.
Hang it from a hook and enjoy the summer.
Adding illustrations or patterns is also recommended.
Odawara lantern
The Odawara paper lantern that appears in the lyrics of the children’s song “Osaru no Kagoya” is also a famous lantern, isn’t it? Apparently, when foldable lanterns were sold so travelers could carry them easily, they became an unprecedented hit.
It’s amazing that the name “Odawara lantern” has endured even to this day! Here’s an introduction to making a lantern in the slender Odawara-lantern style.
You fix the bamboo ribs in a circle around a cylindrical frame, apply glue there, and paste on the paper—just like the traditional method.
It sounds simple when written out, but it seems like a task that requires quite a bit of patience.
If you light it with an LED and walk around, you might become the star of the festival!
Toilet paper roll core: A sound-making lantern
Here’s an easy idea for making a classic summer item, the “chochin” lantern, using a toilet paper roll.
It makes a rattling sound, so it’s fun to touch and play with, too.
First, seal one end of the tube with vinyl tape and put in beads or similar items.
Small pebbles work as well.
Seal the other end with tape in the same way.
Then, take origami paper with 1 cm-spaced slits cut into it, glue it onto the tube, and you’re done.
Choosing Japanese-patterned origami gives it a festive, traditional feel.
