Easy upcycled DIY paper lanterns

Each year in Germany pre-schoolers take part in the Laternelaufen (lantern walk) to celebrate St. Martin’s day in November. This year I volunteered my DIY diva talents at my kiddo’s pre-school to help them create their fancy schmancy lanterns for their wander through the old town for St. Martin’s evening.

After much thought I came up with a quick upcycled lantern project that would be easy & fun for a room full of rambunctious munchkin’s to create:

Preschool upcycled DIY paper lantern crafting

A rousing success of unleashed kiddo creativity!

easy DIY upcycled paper lanterns

Here’s how to quickly whip up a few of your own:

easy DIY paper lanterns

Raid your recycling bin and your kiddo’s art stash and grab some medium to large sized pieces of paper or cardstock + a pipe cleaner, scissors, hole punch, glue, tape and some bits for decorating the finished lantern.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Snag a paper and fold it half lengthwise.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Chop slits through the folded edge stopping 2 – 3 centimetres from the end – more slits = more open spaces in your finished lantern.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Open up the cut paper.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Roll it around itself to form a tube shape and secure the ends together with glue and tape.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Decide which end you’d like for the top of your lantern and punch a hole through 2 sides.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Feed the pip cleaner through the holes, chop it to size and wrap the ends back around to secure it in place.

easy DIY paper lanterns

Decorate your lanterns…

DIY paper lanterns tutorial

Hook them onto a lantern light stick and head out for your lantern walk:

laternelaufen

Make a bunch of mini lanterns, string them onto Christmas lights and hang them on the wall for some groovy new DIY decor:

diy upcycled mini paper lanterns

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