enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Lanterns

Or paper pumpkins? Or paper gourds? Or paper balls?

I am not sure what to call these guys. I am totally in love with them though.

This fall and holiday season, I am working on bringing a little bit of DIY decorations to our apartment and to this blog. I'm re-channeling my Paper Source days. When I worked there it was like, what do we need? A wedding cake? Make it out of paper. A tree? Make it out of paper. A flower? An owl? A pinwheel? A wreath? A cartwheeling monkey? HURRY, GET THE CARDSTOCK.

And if we could do it there… I can do it here.

Or at least try.

These lanterns are totally inspired by the gourd place card kits that Paper Source sells. They are adorable. Probably my favorite paper kit next to this wreath.

I just blew up the concept & hung them from the ceiling.

Supplies needed : 8.5×11 cardstock in various colors, string or ribbon, a hole puncher, some sort of sticker or tape, a pushpin for tacking them to your ceiling.

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Cut your cardstock into strips that are equal in length and width. I did 16 strips of 11" x 1" and 14 strips of 8.5" x .75".

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Stack the papers and punch holes through the top and bottom of each strip.

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String the strips on your piece of string or ribbon. Seal the string with a piece of tape or sticker.

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String through the top holes.

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Pull the string tight until the paper bows out. Tie off the top (make sort of a bow/messy knot. It just needs to be big enough that the string doesn't go back through the paper).

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Fan out the strips until you have created a sphere shape. (For easy storage, just unfan and box up.)

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Hang from your ceiling and secure with a push pin. (note : my string in the images shown ended up being too short. I just added some extra length by tying two pieces together. Your string length will depend on how low you want the lanterns to hang.)

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Use different colors, sizes and lengths of string to create a cluster of autumn excitement.

(And p.s. can't you just imagine these in red and green for Christmas? Or yellow and white for a baby's room? Or rainbow for a birthday party? Or orange and gray for a wedding? No? Just me, then?)

Happy crafting!

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67 responses to “DIY paper lanterns.”

  1. Lana Avatar
    Lana

    Love these! You are so creative, Elise! Right, I’m off to find some suitable cardstock to make some for myself. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

    Like

  2. rhonda Avatar

    Awesome! Totally making these today! I love that they don’t require any special supplies or tools.

    Like

  3. Erin Avatar

    As i read this post i kept thinking to myself, red and green, red and green… your little project has made it on my list of christmas decoration to make list.

    Like

  4. Alexandra Avatar

    These are SO GREAT!! Thanks for the tip/idea!

    Like

  5. Krystal Avatar

    Sooooo very cute! Thank you , Elise!

    Like

  6. kimberly Avatar

    love them large! i work at PS now and used those gourds for a thanksgiving a few years ago…but they are so much better on the ceiling ๐Ÿ™‚ there is a holiday ornament kit (with red and pretty vellums) coming back out soon!

    Like

  7. elise blaha Avatar

    thats right! I forgot about the ornament set!

    Like

  8. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Nice idea, thanks! I will surely make them too.

    Like

  9. Anne Avatar

    Great idea! I am already picturing some of these for my little boy’s birthday in December!! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Like

  10. sandy Avatar

    I LOVE these!!! They are a nice alternative to paper pompoms but would also look super cute mixed in with pompoms!!! I’m going to them a try!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

    Like

  11. Miranda Avatar

    I love it Elise! My favorite thing is adding another little DIY decoration to our holiday decor each year. That way I don’t spend too much money and don’t feel bad if the next year it isn’t exactly what I want.

    Like

  12. Sam F Avatar
    Sam F

    Oh, I love these!! Definitely going to make them–and I love the idea of using them for a baby’s room! (My sister’s pregnant, and I think they would be great in her nursery!) Thank you for the instructions!

    Like

  13. Gabi Avatar

    I love these!!! I’m going to give it a try and have a little crafty morning with my DD. Thanks for the inspiration, Elise.

    Like

  14. andrea Avatar

    I’m so making this SOON.

    Like

  15. Funnelcloud Rachel Avatar

    Oh, I saw something very similar to these for Christmas a few years ago and have been meaning to make them ever since!
    http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/11/diy-wednesdays-modern-paper-ornaments.html
    Now I’m inspired to make an all season set! Just have to figure out how to hang them without wrecking the ceiling!

    Like

  16. Cara-Mia Avatar

    So cute, thanks for the DIY!

    Like

  17. Lindsey Avatar

    Soo cute! I work at a daycare/before and after school program – we’re always looking for crafts to do with the kids. I think this one will be perfect!

    Like

  18. Suzanne Avatar

    Love this one! Just made a Halloween pennant banner for my door to greet trick-or-treaters! These will be quick and easy additions! Thanks for sharing

    Like

  19. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    uhhh oohhhh are we baby thinking??

    Like

  20. elise blaha Avatar

    oh no… not for a few years!!!

    Like

  21. Laura Avatar

    I’m totally thinking Christmas with this one! “Martha” did a similar thing with old Christmas cards and paper fasteners to make ornaments. They’re great for daycare because they’re unbreakable and cheap!

    Like

  22. brideen Avatar

    These are SO pretty!! Think I’ll make some for my sister’s wedding next June! I wonder would a candle be safe inside it?!

    Like

  23. elise blaha Avatar

    I dont think so… too much paper.

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  24. brideen Avatar

    yeah might not be a good idea! Maybe a tea light candle ๐Ÿ™‚

    Like

  25. Glynis Avatar
    Glynis

    this is awesome! can’t wait to go home and try this. Thanks Elise

    Like

  26. Giuseppina Avatar

    so super cute!!

    Like

  27. sophie Avatar

    LoVe this idea! Thanking about making a set with little leaves (like the one PS sells) for Thanksgiving for everyone to write “what you’re thankful for” on them. Thanks for sharing!

    Like

  28. JennG Avatar

    Elise,
    I totally went out and bought some pretty fall colored card stock! & as I was walking into the craft store I found the prettiest fall leaf , coincidence? No!
    Jenn

    Like

  29. Lisa Avatar

    Oh! These are cute! I wonder if my mubby and mom would go for it? I know my son would love it.

    Like

  30. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    OMG … SO CUTE. Where do you get the baker’s twine at? Do you have a good online place to order it from?

    Like

  31. elise blaha Avatar

    That twine is Martha Stewart from michaels. But I like divine twine.

    Like

  32. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    You are just too AWESOME!

    Like

  33. Laura Avatar

    You could try a battery operated candle or maybe a string of fairy lights?

    Like

  34. Jess Avatar

    They are such a cute idea, love them!

    Like

  35. Samantha Avatar

    I made these today! I wish a had a cropodile, I had to hand punch them all one by one. These are soooo Great Elise; my dorm looks so much cuter.
    I did Gold, Navy and Kraft Paper. The thickness of the Kraft Paper is great for these!

    Like

  36. Allison Kimball Avatar

    such a fun project.
    Could you please tell me about the hole punch you used? Thank you.

    Like

  37. elise blaha Avatar

    its the crop-a-dile II and super strong. goes through catalogs and also sets eyelets. sold on amazon and large craft stores.

    Like

  38. Lisa R Avatar
    Lisa R

    I teach a dual credit English class and their next essay is the process essay. After I saw your blog entry, I had an idea that instead of writing an essay, they will create one DIY blog entry with step-by-step instructions, pictures, and videos. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Like

  39. Ameliairene Avatar

    Elise where did you get that whole punch? Looks like it punched holes though all of that cardstock in one swoop!
    BTW I miss seeing you at the Paper Source in Georgetown!
    Amelia

    Like

  40. elise blaha Avatar

    its a crop-a-dile II. available at amazon and most large craft stores. my favorite!! xo.

    Like

  41. Rachel Avatar

    They look so pretty hanging up like that! Thanks so much for this, I’ll be linking.

    Like

  42. Sara Rivka Avatar

    These are just great! I’m going to add you to the end of my crafty international linking party,@creativejewishmom.com, and would just love it if you’d drop by sometime as well! It’s a great get together which starts every week on sunday, and is open until about Wednesday. So if you see this comment, do feel free to drop by and link to several more projects! All the best!

    Like

  43. Helen Avatar

    Cool! Iยดm so doing these tomorrow with the kids in school! Thank you so much!

    Like

  44. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! fun site!

    Like

  45. Stephanie Avatar

    Very cute idea! I think I’m going to modify it a little so I can use a bunch of Wikki Stix that I just ordered for Halloween crafts. They bend and stick together, so I think it will work well for this project. We’ve already made some spiders and ghosts with Wikki Stix.
    They’re offereing 25% off your online order right now if you use coupon code MB24! http://www.wikkistix.com

    Like

  46. Katie @ Cheep Ideas Avatar

    How fun and easy are these?? Just in time for my last minute decorating too! ๐Ÿ˜‰ I’ve added these to my roundup today. Thanks for sharing!!

    Like

  47. Danielle (elleinadspir) Avatar

    I love these. I am making them to hang for Thanksgiving for sure!

    Like

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