Get crafty with your kids and create these versatile paper lanterns that are perfect for the Year of the Tiger.

These paper lanterns are so easy to make with just a few supplies. I love to use recycled cardboards and cut them into shapes, so my boys can either color or paint them. They are always excited whenever I put out our coloring materials.

Let’s make some Chinese Paper Lanterns:

Materials needed:

• Recycled cardboard
• Red patterned paper
• Red paper
• Gold washi tape
• Glue gun and stick
• Black and gold acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Lantern template and measurements
• Tiger head template

Instructions:

• Cut the base of the lantern from cardboard using the downloaded template.
• Paint the base with black paint. Let dry.
• Using the tiger head template, trace and cut the head from the cardboard.
• Paint the tiger with gold acrylic. Let dry.
• Draw the tiger’s face and stripes with a black marker.
• Cut a 21.5 cm x 11 cm patterned paper and fold it into small (0.5cm) pleats (accordion fold).

• Attach the tiger head on a 10.5 cm x 8.5 cm red paper.
• Glue the red paper onto the red patterned paper (accordion fold) and attach the patterned paper onto the black cardboard.
• Cut a 8.5 cm x 7 cm size red paper and make a tassel.
• Glue the top of the tassel on the lower back part of the black cardboard.

• Cut strips of the gold washi tape and attach them on the top and bottom of the black cardboard.
• Cut a strip of red paper, bend it and fasten the bottom with hot glue.
• Glue the handle at the top back of the black cardboard.

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