How to Make Fourth of July Paper Lanterns for Your Summer Celebrations

Crafters of all ages will have fun making these Fourth of July paper lanterns. They can be used as home decor decoration or strung together to form a lantern garland. Create easy evening table decorations with the addition of a battery-operated tea light candle. This is a great kid’s craft for parties and events all summer long!

Gather these supplies:

• 8½” x 11″ red, white, and blue cardstock
• Self-adhesive stars (mine are from the office supply store)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Double sided tape

Let’s make Fourth of July paper lanterns:

1. Cut the cardstock as shown. One sheet of cardstock will make two lanterns.
2. Fold one of the 8″ x 5½” pieces in half lengthwise. Use a bone folder or the side of a pencil to get a crisp fold.
3. Open the piece of cardstock, and score a line ¾” from the top and another ¾” from the bottom.
4. Refold the cardstock with the folded edge toward the bottom. Measure lines spaced 1″ apart. Mark the line from the scored line to the folded edge.
5. Cut the marked lines from the fold to the scored edge.
6. As a strip of double sided tape along the bottom of one of the lantern fins, as shown below.
7. Overlap the edges to form the lantern. Be sure the folded edge faces outward.
8. Cut the 11″ strip in half. These strips will be the handles for the two lanterns.
9. Tape the handle in place as the top of the lantern.
10. Repeat for the other 8″ x 5½” piece of cardstock.
11. Now, decorate your lanterns with the self-adhesive stars. My set had red, blue, silver, green, and gold stars. I used the red, blue, and silver ones, and saved the green and gold for another project.
12. Have fun with your Fourth of July celebrations!

Be sure to visit the Bowdabra blog every Friday for more kid’s crafts and art projects.