Guess whos back with a new DIY?! Did you guess me? Well if you did, you’re correct! I’m really excited to share how to make paper mache lanterns with the blog too! Hands down my favorite DIY I’ve ever done. I know, big statement. This craft took me about a week total to make, so keep that in mind as I share the “how to’s” of these diy paper mache lantern!
Materials Needed:
- Ballons
- Paper
- Tissue Paper
- Rope
- Dried Flowers
- Flour
- Salt
- Lights
The DIY Process
1. Begin by pressing your flowers. I bought a cheap bouquet at Walmart, cut off the pieces I wanted to use on my lanterns, and then layered paper between them. Then, for a week I laid heavy books on the papers until they were pressed and dried! Simple enough!
2. While those are drying, you will begin to make the lantern. Start this by combining 1 cup of cool water, 1 cup of flour, and 2 teaspoons of salt together until smooth. You may need to make more paste depending on how much you use.
3. Now, blow up a balloon and draw a circle around the top portion. Don’t add paper past this line.
4. Rip up your paper into small strips, dip into the paste, and place them on the balloon. I found using a brush to actually be easier than using hands, but you can decide what works best for you.
5. After you have about 2 layers of paper on the balloon, begin to do the same thing with the tissue paper. Let the lantern dry for a week.
6. Once both your lantern and flowers are dried, you can start adding the flowers to the lantern. I used paper mache to do this, but mod podge would work as well. Once again, allow it to dry.
7. Now pop your balloon! Then you can trim the edge of the lantern to make it even.
8. Punch holes onto three sides of the lantern at equal distances. You will then take your rope, and tie three even strings through each hole. Once they are secured, tie all three pieces of rope together at the top.
Finished!
That’s all! Now you just have to add lights and hang your paper mache lanterns where desired! They honestly give off the perfect amount of ambient lighting, especially if I’m watching a movie (or Hannah Montana, because let’s be honest, I just got Disney+ and that show is the bomb).
Send me pictures over on Instagram if you make these (and you can see the behind the scenes of me making these lanterns)! What type of press flowers would you want to use on your lanterns? Let me know!
