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The warm glow of paper lanterns in the evening makes an inviting atmosphere for just about any summer gathering. These Asian inspired lanterns are easy to put together and a great project to share with your children. Whether you choose to cover glass votives or hang them up, these lanterns will brighten up your table, porch and pathways with luminous light.
It is fun to think outside the box and experiment with materials that are typically used in other ways. Iron-on veneer edge banding is usually used in woodworking, however it can be applied to craft projects as well. In this project it is used to make the cylindrical structure at the top and bottom of the lantern. With just the heat of an iron to set its adhesive there is no mess.
Materials:
Iron-on veneer edge banding (about 1"wide) available online and at woodworking supply stores
Sheer Japanese paper (Both white and green) or another of your choice
Dried plant material (leaves and grasses)
Wood glue
Tacky white glue
1/8" wooden dowel
LCD lights
Copper wire
Tools:
Cutting blade
Cutting mat
Ruler
Small paintbrush
Iron and ironing surface
2 Cotton press cloths
Drill with 1/8" bit
2 small clamps
Directions:
1. Cut 1 piece each of white and green Japanese paper 8" long by 19" wide. The paper should have a slight stiffness. Very light weight papers sometimes buckle in the lantern making process. Brush backs of pressed leaves with tacky white glue and arrange the leaves glue side down onto green paper. Place the white paper on top of the green paper and match the edges.
2. Set iron to cotton setting and allow it to heat. Cut 4 pieces of veneer edge banding about 1" longer than the width of the lantern (20"). Lay one press cloth onto ironing surface to protect it from adhesive. Lay one strip of veneer edge banding onto the press cloth with the adhesive side facing up. Lay the long edge of the paper (both sheets) half way onto the veneer edge-banding surface. Lay another piece of veneer edge-banding adhesive side down on top of the first, sandwiching the paper sheets between. Iron the veneer edge-banding to heat set the adhesive and seal the edge. Add veneer to the opposite long side of the paper in the same way and repeat the heating process.
3. Heat both sides of the edge banding again so the veneer and glue become pliable. Bend the veneer and paper into a cylinder and clamp the seam closed with small clamps. Let the veneer adhesive cool for 2 to 3 minutes then remove the clamps.
4. With sturdy sheers, trim the ends of veneer to be flush with the paper. Brush wood glue onto the inside seam of the veneer and clamp the seam until it is dry. Remove the clamps and glue the paper seam with tacky white glue.
5. Drill two 1/8" holes opposite each other in the top edge of the veneer. Cut dowel 1"longer than the diameter of the top of the lantern and slip it through the two holes to span the diameter of the Lantern. Hang LCD light from the dowel. Wrap a 12" piece of copper wire around the dowel where it penetrates the outside of the lantern. Draw the loose end of wire over the top of the lantern and wrap the other end around the opposite end of the dowel. Hang the lantern from the wire.
Resources:
Woodcraft: Iron on adhesive veneer edge banding
www.woodcraft.com