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How to Make Your Own Wax Paper Lantern

The shortest day of the year is approaching fast. This not only means that the days are getting shorter and the nights longer but - at least in the northern hemisphere - the temperatures are dropping quickly. Thus, it's nice to stay inside in the evenings and enjoy a cup of hot tea possibly accompanied by a nice warm fire in your fireplace or oven. It's also a season where people enjoy lighting a few candles and enjoy their warm shine. They simply make your home more cozy! 

Wax Paper Lanterns to Light your Home

Usually, candles are put on a candleholder or in a glass - for decoration and for safety! Another option to light your home with a subtle light are little wax paper lanterns. Of course, you can also buy a lantern made from glass and metal that looks just perfect but - and that is the better option in my opinion - you can also make a simple lantern yourself.  

The main thing with lanterns is that they need to be made from heat-resistant material. For most of us averagely talented crafters it would be quite challenging to create a lantern from glass and metal so we must resort to more easily manageable materials. 

One material that most of us feel comfortable working with is paper but obviously it is quite the opposite of heat-resistant or fire-proof. Therefore, it is not simple paper but wax paper or baking paper that should be used to make lanterns. This paper easily resists the heat of a candle. However, it does burn if it gets too close to the flame! Therefore it's important to remember that any kind of lantern that works with candles should always be lit under supervision and used with care! Plus, don't forget to blow it out before you go to bed!

Wax Paper Lantern


How to Make a Wax Paper Lantern

It's quite simple to fold small wax paper lanterns. All you need are a few sheets of wax paper, scissors and glue. Once you have folded and glued the lantern you simply place a tea light inside and - voila - your lantern is finished!

The way to fold your lantern is similar to creating a small gift bag from regular paper. You basically create a rectangular and almost round shape with a bottom. Here is a simple step-by-step guide to folding the wax paper for your lantern:

How to fold the wax paper
0. Start with a rectangle of wax paper
1. Fold it from both ends towards the middle so the ends overlap slightly
2. Glue the overlapping ends together
3. Fold the lower end approx. 5cm and open again
4. Fold the lower corners up to this line and open again
5. Pull the corners inside
6. Now you have a bag with two flaps
7. Fold the upper flap
8. Fold the lower flap over the upper flap
9. Put glue on the marked part
10. Glue the two overlapping flaps together






© 2015 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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