How to make your own mini paper lantern

 As promise, here is a mini tutorial on how to make those cute pint-size lanterns.

(see how I used them HERE)

They’re super easy and fast to make.  Believe me there is no special skills involved. 

Here we go…

 First gather your supplies.

•  Glue
• Paper piercer
• Mini wooden spool
• BBQ skewer
• 4 strips of pattern paper = any length depending on how big you want your lantern.  For this example I’m using 3x ¼ inch strips. (Remember math? Nether do I so here’s a link on how to find the circumference of a circle.)

• Extra paper for wooden spool

Paint if you wish to paint your skewer and spool

Take you strips of paper and glue them together in the middle.  Like so...

 It should end up looking like this...

Now take your paper piercer and poke a hole in the middle of all the strips.  Make sure your skewer will fit by going through the same hole with the skewer...

Now start gluing your strips in a circle.  I like to make the cross sections first...

 You should end up with a ball like this...

Now add your skewer  into the hole.  The tip of the skewer should touch the top of the ball BUT don't poke to hard.  We don't want a hole in the top...

Now is the time to embellish your lantern.  I like to add paper to the base, just for looks.  You can paint your skewer and spool at this time.

 

Decorate your spool.  Pattern paper does the trick for me...

Now with scraps your going to tightly wrap your base.  Then shove it in the hole in the spool.  I like a tight fit...the paper piercer will help with this...

 Here's a look at the skewer and paper "shoved" in to the spool.

 And there you have it...a cute mini paper lantern.

If you make some please share a link in the comments.  I would love to see!