Things get mighty hectic around Paper Source during the holiday season, so this year, we decided to start a new tradition with a New Year’s Party.  Our Human Resources director came to us with a picture of Moroccan lanterns that inspired her, and a theme centered around light, warmth and renewal.

Check out our instructions for creating the pear-shaped Lantern (top, middle) and geometric lantern (top, right) at the bottom of this post!

With a palette of White, Cream, Silver, Bronze, Mint, Royal and Coral, paper lanterns of all shapes and sizes were created for the event, and accented with coordinating ribbon and orchids.  With battery-operated candles inside, a warm, convivial glow was cast over the whole event.

These accent lanterns in the cupboard are super easy to make (you may have even done so as a kid!)  If not, check out the instructions at the bottom of the post!

For instructions on creating this megastar lantern, check out the bottom of the post!

The designs came from the minds of many contributing employees.  Here are how to make just a few of them!

Accent Lanterns

These little guys are simple to make and sturdy enough to stand on a table by themselves, but are also ripe for hanging as well!

  1. Fold a piece of paper in half along its width.
  2. Cut lines across the fold towards the outer edges.  Leave a margin of an inch or two.
  3. For an extra-fancy touch, you can punch holes along the outer edges.
  4. Unfold and bring the paper’s lengthwise edges together and adhere them with tape, glue or staples!

Pear-Shaped Lantern (featured in the second photo)

This is a really easy one!  Simply cut strips of paper of equal lengths, then connect all of the strips at one end using a brad.  Join the other end of the strips together at the top and finish off with another brad, add a string and hang!

Geometric Lantern (featured in the second photo, on the right)

We followed this Megan Allan Cole‘s terrific tutorial video on Makezine.com.  All you need is an exacto knife, paper, a cutting mat and a lust for triangles!

Megastar Lantern (last photo)

This lantern was certainly the belle of the ball!  Grab a stapler and 15 sheets of equally-sized paper.  It doesn’t matter the size, as long as they are all exactly the same.

  1. Fold each piece of paper once, lengthwise.
  2. Fold each corner of each paper in towards the center fold-line, as if you were making a paper airplane with two noses.
  3. Arrange your first 5 pieces of paper so that they are lined up across your work surface, width-wise.
  4. Staple adjoining creases together.  It is very important that the staple lie precisely within the crease!
  5. Arrange your next 5 pieces of paper so that they are lined up both across your work surface, length-wise, and flush to your previous row of 5.  Staple adjacent creases.
  6. Follow suit with the last 5 pieces of paper.  As you adjoin creases, you will eventually close the lantern together into its final, starry shape!

 

We’ve just fallen in love with paper lanterns since the party and would like to know… do you have any paper-lantern tricks or patterns of your own you’d like to share?

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1 Response

  1. Lauren says:

    How do you make the circular paper “fans” featured along the wall of the first photo? I totally want to make those for my living room!

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