How to Make a Simple Asian Hanging Lantern
- 1). Blow up balloon to the desired size. Tie the end into a knot or tie it off with string so the air does not escape. Hang the balloon from a fixture so you can work on all sides. It can be a knob on an upper cabinet or a hanging light fixture.
- 2). Tear the rice paper into strips about 1 inch wide but no narrower than half an inch. Do plenty now so that you will not have to stop during the gluing process.
- 3). Mix equal parts of flour and water in a bowl, which will serve as the glue for your lantern. Dip one of the torn strips into the mixture and coat both sides. Remove excess glue by running the strip between two fingers while holding it over the bowl. That way nothing gets wasted.
- 4). Lay the saturated strip on the balloon, starting at the top and running vertically down to the other end. Tear off excess material at the bottom of the strip so the lantern will look even when it is finished. Wet another strip of paper and repeat this procedure, overlapping the edges slightly. Cover the entire balloon in this manner, leaving an opening at the top from which to remove the balloon.
- 5). Let the lantern dry. Since there is only one layer of paper, it should not take too long. When the paper and glue are dry, snip the tied end of the balloon and deflate it. Remove the balloon from the lantern.
- 6). Clean up the edges of the opening in the top with a pair of scissors. Make sure the hole is large enough to fit the tea light through. Hot glue a piece of string to either side of the hole on the inside so you can hang your lantern.
- 7). Turn the tea light on and place it in the bottom of the lantern. Hang the lantern as desired.
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