Decorating
Craft: Create Your Own Festive Candle Lanterns
Candlelight is key to a magical Christmas, so add a little sparkle to your celebrations this year with these simple, inexpensive lanterns
Lighting candles is the perfect way to create a magical and cosy atmosphere at Christmas time. They’re a crucial part of the decorations, and dressing them up is a simple and quick project. Whether you use scented candles, tealights or even LED candles, you can create as many of these super-effective cardboard lanterns in different sizes as you like.
Materials and tools
- Roll of corrugated cardboard
- Sheet of red paper
- Novelty hole puncher (star, Christmas tree, etc)
- Two-sided adhesive tape
- Bicoloured cotton string
- Big needle
- Jute twine
- Pair of scissors
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Tealights, candles in their holders or LED candles
- Glass jars (yogurt, jam, etc)
1 Cut out strips of corrugated cardboard in different sizes, depending on the candle containers you will be using. Ideally, each lantern will be about 1in taller than the candle container. Use your pencil and ruler to map out where you need to cut.
Try using white, silver or gold coloured cardboard for added festive cheer.
See uplifting lighting solutions for long winter evenings
Try using white, silver or gold coloured cardboard for added festive cheer.
See uplifting lighting solutions for long winter evenings
2 Adjust the width of the strips to the different containers, allowing the cardboard to overlap about 1in. Draw a pencil line where you will be cutting, and use the lines of the cardboard to ensure a straight edge.
3 Punch Christmas-shaped holes at the top of the lanterns.
4 Once this is done, use double-sided adhesive tape to stick the cardboard to the glass container. It will overlap slightly.
5 Draw festive shapes onto your coloured paper. Think Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread men… Be sure to adjust their size for each lantern, then cut them out with care.
Check out cosy updates to celebrate winter in style
Check out cosy updates to celebrate winter in style
6 Next, thread them onto the cotton string with the help of the needle. Wrap the string twice around the lantern and tie a knot at the back or a bow at the front.
You could also try stitching the thread into the lantern.
7 Repeat with as many different shapes and sizes as you like.
Voilà! It’s time to enjoy the beautiful candlelight from your lanterns during your Christmas celebrations.
TELL US…
Have you created your own lanterns or decorations for Christmas? Please share photos in the Comments below.
TELL US…
Have you created your own lanterns or decorations for Christmas? Please share photos in the Comments below.