Make your own Winter Solstice Lantern

There are many ideas and options for making winter solstice lanterns. Here are a few of our favorites.

Glue and Tissue Paper Lantern

Gather these materials:
- Thick watercolor paper. We like to use 11″x15″ paper, but other sizes would work as well.
- Art supplies to decorate the paper: paints, markers, colored pencils, etc.
- Exacto knife, scissors or pattern punches to create holes to let the light shine through.
- Hole punch (or scissors).
- A short piece of string to use as a handle.
Measure 3/4” from one of the short sides of the paper. Fold along your marks and make a crease with a ruler.
Keeping the 3/4” tab folded in, fold the paper in half so the short ends are together. Make a crease.
Unfold and fold each half in half. Make creases. Now the paper is divided into four equal segments, plus the tab.
Measure 3.25” from the bottom and make a mark at both ends. Fold along your marks and make a crease.
Unfold and cut out the edges of the bottom tabs, up to the creased line made in step #5.
Cut out the small tab (the .75” x 3.25” section).
Decorate the four large panels of the lantern and cut shapes to let the light shine through.
Put a line of glue along the small tab, fold into a box and glue the tab to the inside of the lantern. It helps to use a paperclip to hold it together while the glue dries.
Glue the square bottom flaps to each other to make a bottom for your lantern.
Punch holes at the top of opposite sides of the lantern and tie a string to make a handle.
Place a battery-powered tea light or flashlight inside the lantern.
Enjoy!