The Simplest Autumn Lanterns

It’s no secret that we love lanterns, this site is full of various lantern designs of varying complexity. (falling leaves lantern, star lanterns, harvest moon lanterns, frost lanterns) But when my kids were toddlers this was the go to lantern craft. It’s super easy for little hands and can be upgraded in any number of ways. The supplies and simple and easy to manipulate. Fall is lantern time for me. The nights are darker and longer and a lantern brings a cozy flickering light. A number of traditional celebrations and festivals include lanterns this time of year and it’s the perfect time for a lantern walk.

Easiest Tissue Paper Jar Lanterns

In their simplest form these lanterns consist of a recycled glass or plastic jar, tissues paper, glue, and some wire or string. This is perfect for younger friends, it’s extremely tactile, you can be as globby and messy as you like and they will still look great. If you want to make them a little more complex you can add some opaque black paper and make shapes that will be highlighted when the light shines through. You can also swap the tissue for fall leaves or pressed flowers or a combination. You can also use other flat opaque objects to block part of the light like leaf skeletons. Sometimes we make them huge with those big bulk jars that pretzels come in, sometimes we make them small and dainty, The sky is the limit!

Materials:

• glass or plastic jars any size that an led tea light will fit into
• modge podge or white glue
• tissue paper cut or ripped into squarish shapes. (or make different shapes!)
• wire or string
• foam brush
• LED tea light

Method:

Brush a thin layer of glue over a section of your jar. Stick tissue paper on until all the glue is covered. Continue all the way around the jar.

Once the jar is covered brush another layer of glue over the tissue paper and then allow the whole thing to dry. You can smooth out clumpy tissue paper and make sure everything is stuck down to the jar pretty effectively with this step.

Wrap a wire around the lip of the jar and create a loop to hang your lantern. (Or do the same with string.) Add a tea light and and glow!