It’s time for another fun Silhouette Challenge. I had so much fun last month with my first challenge that I happily jumped at the opportunity to do it again.
This month’s challenge is Fall-o-ween and since we are busy decorating our home for Halloween, I decided to use my Silhouette to make some more Halloween decor. What did I end up making? These fun and easy DIY paper Halloween lanterns.
Sadly, today I came down with a head cold. I am such a baby for things like that. Since this cold is making my head feel like mush, I can’t for the life of me think of anything to write.
So instead of boring you with mindless words, or even worse, writing something that makes no sense, I am going to show you pretty pictures of these fun DIY paper Halloween lanterns then give you a tutorial. Short and sweet!
And while you enjoy the pictures and tutorial, I am going to drink some OJ and go to bed. Maybe in the morning I will be able to form complete sentences again.
Well, are you totally convinced you need to make some lanterns for yourself? Hopefully the tutorial will make sense, if not, there are lots of pictures so you should be good. Enjoy!
How to make DIY Paper Halloween Lanterns
Supplies:
- Black and orange cardstock
- Vellum paper
- Cut files for the lanterns
- Subscribe here for access to my library of free downloads to download the designs I used for free
- Silhouette electronic cutting machine
- If you don’t have a Silhouette, I also included PDFs of the files in the library of free downloads if you want to cut them by hand
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun with glue sticks
- School glue sticks
- Flameless tea lights
Cut the lanterns out of cardstock. For the small Boo lantern, cut 2 of the lantern side pieces and 1 of the top piece.
For the larger pumpkin lantern, the top is in 2 pieces so you will need to cut 2 of the side pieces and 2 of the top pieces.
Cut 4 pieces of vellum paper just smaller than the side of the lantern. For this I just used a ruler and scissors since you just need 4 rectangular pieces that don’t need to be perfect.
Using the school glue, coat the back of the lantern and press a piece of vellum onto it. Rub it well so the glue sticks well to the vellum. Repeat on all 4 sides of the lantern.
Assemble the sides of the lantern by folding along the dotted lines, then glueing the tabs at the corners until you have a rectangle.
Fold along the dotted lines of the top piece so that there is a little lip around the bottom of the piece as shown in the picture below.
Add a bead of hot glue in the lip and press it firmly until it dries to secure it. Repeat on all 4 sides of the top piece.
Finish assembling the top by glueing the flaps to create a triangle on top of the lip you just created
For the larger lantern, the top piece is cut into 2 pieces, so after you secure the triangle top closed with glue, use a piece of tape to hold the bottom of the piece together.
Now glue the top to the lantern sides by putting some hot glue on the flaps on the top of the sides then pressing the top on them. Hold until it hardens.
Use flameless tea lights (please, please, please do not put real candles inside your paper lanterns, no one needs a fire this Halloween!) inside your lanterns and watch them glow.
My kids are loving these lanterns so much, we will have to replace the batteries in our tea lights many times before Halloween. Or maybe I just need to hide the tea lights so they don’t keep turning them on. It would be okay if they didn’t only turn them on in the daytime when you can’t really see the glow anyway!
Don’t forget to sign up for access to my library of free downloads today. Inside you will have access to the cut files (and PDFs) for these DIY paper Halloween lanterns and much, much more. If you already have your password, click here to access the library.
Now don’t forget to check out the other amazing Fall-o-ween crafts that you can make with your Silhouette. After I get feeling better, I need to take the weekend off so I can get in some more crafting.
Simply {Darr}ling – Sweater Weather Coffee Mug
Dwell Beautiful – Hello Fall Mason Jar
Houseful of Handmade – DIY Paper Halloween Lanterns
Rachel Teodoro – Black and White Halloween
C’mon Get Crafty – Witches Magic Hat Wine Glass
Knock It Off Kim – DIY Halloween T-Shirt with Ghost Elbows
My Life From Home – Hello Fall Sign
Pocketful of Posies – Gone Batty Wreath
Thanks for stopping by,
Shelley Bell says
i cant get access to file
Kati says
I’m so sorry about that Shelley. The files are free to my email subscribers. After you sign up you should get an email with a password. You can download the files by going to https://housefulofhandmade.com/subscriber-library/ and entering your password. If you need any additional help, please email me and I can make sure you can get access!
Laura says
Hi Kati ~ I love your lanterns. Absolutely adorable!! Thank you for sharing.
Would you happen to have the Pumpkin and Boo cut outs in SVG cut files?
Kati says
Hello Laura, I just updated the library so the SVG files are there. Happy crafting!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
Oh my goodness these are so great!!
Kati says
Thanks Joanna, I’m excited to light them in my windows this weekend.
Loretta says
So simple and just darn cute 🙂 I need to remember to pick up the little LED tealights for $1 a pack next time I’m at the store, they’d be perfect for these.
Kati says
I just got me some little LED lights and they are awesome, so bright. I can’t wait to use them this Christmas too.
Antonella | White House Crafts says
These lanterns are so adorable and creative! I hope you will share with us at The Crafty Corner link party!
Kati says
Thanks Antonella. I’ll have to come by and visit.
Amanda says
These are SO cute!
Kati says
Thanks Amanda.
Kati says
Thank you ?
Emily says
Ah, I love these, they are adorable! I would love to make something like this and put them in my front windows, perfect for trick-or-treating decor.
Kati says
These would be perfect in the windows. I think I’m going to put them up there ?
Heidi says
These are so cute! Love that you can make them on a Silhouette! Pinning!
Kati says
Thanks, I do love using the Silhouette ?
Ariel says
These are awesome! I love the fonts!
Kati says
Thanks Ariel!
April R - Uncookie Cutter says
Oh my gosh, how easy and adorable!! pinning 🙂
Kati says
Thank you for sharing.
Megan says
Poor thing, hope you feel better! You did a great job, on the lanterns and the tutorial! Definitely need to make these.
Kati says
Thanks Megan, I wish I wasn’t such a baby about head colds. Feeling much better now!
Rachel Teodoro says
You are a paper crafting pro! Love it!
Kati says
Thanks so much Rachel. I’m getting a bit addicted to making stuff out of paper 🙂
Erica @ Dwell Beautiful says
Oh, these are too cute! It would be awesome to make a bunch of them and line your driveway with them on Halloween night 🙂
Kati says
I love that idea! I need to get to work so I can make a bunch for Halloween 🙂
Amy @ My Life From Home says
These are absolutely adorable! I can imagine what they look like at night. Get better soon!
Kati says
Thanks Amy. I love them at night too!
Laura says
Hi Kati ~ I love your lanterns. Absolutely adorable!! Thank you for sharing.
Would you happen to have the Pumpkin and Boo cut outs in SVG cut files?