Wax Paper and Popsicle Sticks Lantern: How-To
This year for the Lantern Parade, we are moving away from our regular 3-Liter plastic bottle lanterns because we can no longer find them!!!
We got a little creative and decided to use the opportunity to move away from plastic…
Learn how to make your own lanterns from popsicle sticks and wax paper below….
What you’ll need
Included in your kit from Boing! Toy Shop:
1 string of fairly lights
12 x 24 inches of wax paper
20 popsicle sticks
24 inches of yarn
Bring your own:
Scissors
Tape
Glue
Tools to jazz it up! Markers, oil pastels, colorful tissue paper, glitter, dried flowers…
Step 1
Arrange your popsicle sticks
You’ll want to make 5 squares with 4 popsicle sticks in each square
Line them up to make an X-shape, like in the picture
Try to keep each stick that is touching another square at the same level. This will make the next step easier.
Step 2
Tape your base together
Tape the outside squares to your inside square by wrapping each pair of adjoining sticks with tape
Keep this as tight as possible!
Step 3
Tape your walls together
Stand the outside squares up so that they form a wall
Use tape to keep each of the 4 walls together
Step 4
Bring out the wax paper
You should have a sheet of wax paper that is about 24 inches long and 12 inches wide
Step 5
Fold and decorate the wax paper
Fold your wax paper the long way and decorate it as you see fit! We used oil pastels, but here are some other ideas:
Gluing colorful tissue paper
Pressing crayons in between the wax paper and pressing with iron
Placing pressed flowers in between the wax paper
Step 6
Wrap your cube with your art
Line up your cube at one end of your wax paper sheet.
Tape the end of the sheet to the inside of one corner of your cube
Roll over the cube until it is fully wrapped, using tape to secure the paper at each corner
Step 7
Stand up your cube and tape the end
Use tape to fasten the end of your wax paper sheet to the cube
If the sheet is taller than the cube, you can trim it. We chose to keep it long here.
Step 8
Use yarn to make a handle
Take the yarn and tie it to the top of your cube, making a handle
You can also want to create a little bridge on the inside, to wrap your fairy lights around. This isn’t necessary if you decide to use another bit of wax paper to make a bottom to your lantern
Step 10
Drop in your lights
Twist your fairy lights around the little bridge you made for support
If you put a bottom on your lantern, you can just wrap it around
You’re done!
Now bring your art work to the Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade! October 22 and 23rd!