Paper Lanterns // Made by Kids

Maybe it’s me, but I felt like I needed a little departure from Holiday and leaves and fall colors. These lanterns were made by my art campers, ages four to six. Aren’t they so pretty?

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Materials for splatter paper:

Gray sulphite paper (12 x 18)

Liquid watercolor (I used two colors)

Paint brushes

Wooden block or stick

Technique:

It’s a tapping thing. Just dip the brush into the paint, and then tap it on the wood block. At first it will be big drips, then it will become little splatters. Try and have them not fill up the page too much or else the splatters all blend together. I just handed them more paper when I felt like their page looked good enough to stop. I know this sounds a bit controlling, but as long as we got one that was “pretty”, the other pages I didn’t care, and they went to town!

Extra materials to make lanterns:

Colored washi tape

Colored paper for handles and bottom

Scissors

Glue stick

Step one: Put colored tape on the top and bottom of the paper (after it has dried).

Step two: Fold the paper in half. Draw a straight line with a pencil across the top, just below the tape. Make it at least an inch from the top. Now mark off the inches across the folded edges. Have the kids start at the folded edge where the mark is and cut up to the taped edge, but no further than the straight pencil line. This is an excellent cutting exercise. Their little hands will be tired!

Step three: Unfold the paper and roll it up, glueing the edges together with a glue stick. Watch as the cut paper unfolds into a lantern shape. Super cool! You can tape the glued edge, too.

Step four: Cut a handle from colored paper, and cut a circle for the bottom. This is optional, but we did it so that they could put an actual little light inside.

I can’t believe how well the kids did! They really did almost all of it by themselves. I am one proud teacher.

xo, Bar