Lovely handmade crafts

Handmade lantern ideas. Let's make festival decorations!

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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!

Handmade lantern ideas: Let’s make festival decorations! (21–30)

Toilet paper roll core: A sound-making lantern

[Tanabata Decorations] Easy with toilet paper rolls♪ Colorful chiming lantern 🌈

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.

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Stylish paper lanterns

A Different Twist! How to Make Stylish Paper Lanterns [Tanabata Decorations] DIY How to Make Paper Lantern

Stylish paper lanterns

Here’s an introduction to stylish lanterns that are perfect for interior decor.

Real lanterns have a framework made from materials like bamboo splints.

There are also craft lanterns that express this framework by cutting slits into construction paper.

If you make these framework-like strips thin and numerous, it creates a delicate look.

Try using different colors for the slit paper and the inner core paper of the lantern.

It will make the piece even more beautiful.

With its chic and distinctive design, this lantern is sure to shine at Tanabata and summer festivals.

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Handmade lantern ideas: Let’s make festival decorations! (31–40)

Odawara lantern

Exciting: Making Odawara Paper Lanterns

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!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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In conclusion

We introduced some handmade lantern ideas. While the basics involve using bamboo and washi paper, the creative ideas using construction paper and recycled materials were wonderful too! They look easy to make! Why not try creating your own original lanterns for summer festivals at nursery schools or kindergartens, or for a festival at home?