It's Electric

Posted by Katie, Fashion Editor

To coincide with the wallpaper story in our July/August issue, I thought I would share my method for making wallpaper lanterns. If you try any of those projects, this would be a perfect use for some of the leftover supplies.

Disclaimer: I am not guaranteeing that these are safe. I only use them at parties, while I'm awake.

Step 1: Start with a generously sized piece of wallpaper, in the neighborhood of 32" (in this case, the width of the wallpaper) by 44", and make accordion folds about 2" deep until the whole piece is folded. Hole-punch each accordion fold on both sides, as shown here.

Step 2: Flip the paper over, and make a fold in the opposite direction of the accordion folds, as shown here (this will form the wide middle part on the finished lantern -- let's call it the "belly fold"). I placed my fold about 1/3 of the way down the paper.

Step 3: Unfold, and bring the two sides of the paper together (parallel to the accordion folds). Glue them together, forming the lantern's tube shape.

Step 4: Thread cord through the holes on the lantern's top and bottom. On the bottom, tie the cord in a loose knot. Leave the top cord untied so you can reach a hand inside the lantern. Gently push the paper outward along the belly fold. (I couldn't get a picture of myself doing this because I don't have three arms, so here's a shot of what it looked like before I reached in.)

Step 5: At this point in the process, I'm usually worried the lantern is going to be ruined because the paper looks wrinkly, but it always holds up. (I used to make these out of paper bags with the bottoms cut out, and even that worked.) As you are pushing the paper outward with one hand, it's a good idea to follow along on the outside with the other hand, defining the points where the belly fold and the accordian folds meet. 

Step 6: Once your lantern is all pushed out and your points sharpened up, insert your light fixture. This one's from Ikea. I wouldn't recommend more than a 60-watt bulb, for safety purposes.

Last Step: Then, tighten the cord at the top, plug it in and you're all set.   

They fold up nice and flat for storage and are surprisingly resilient.

I'm sure you can see some wrinkles in mine, but I don't think it ruins the effect. They're kinda cute unlit, too.

Comments

[hello]

ha!!! i just found them. these come in a pack of 6 for 5 dollars but the ones i saw u can get individually.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=307219&navAction=jump&navCount =0&skuid=sku3470279&id=prod3471436

[hello]

this is really cool. wat u could do is go to walgreens and in the candle section they have these little battery powered tea lights.
they look like this. => http://www.100candles.com/Images/Items/4_pack_flameless_tealight_ candles_amber.jpg (of course u have to take off the space before amber)

except the ones that they sell at walgreens are alot more realistic looking. the little light also flickers as if it was a real candle. its really neat. the last time i saw them, they were like 99 cents.

[Talley Sue]

I would NEVER use a bare flame in this--instant flame.

You could perhaps set a glass cylinder vase inside them, w/ a candle in it. Tea lights, as I understand it, have a less intense flame, so that would be good in an enclosed area.

A bit hard to light--something to worry about. There are lighters w/ extra-long necks.

How you'd hang them would be another potential problem, bcs most glass cylinders don't have holes.

There are picture-hanging gadgets that are a tab (usually lick-and-stick) with a hole in the top; you could put one on each side, and then tie your twine to those.

Or these, which are much the same thing (100 minimum, which would be $20 or $25):
http://www.dkhardware.com/product-29928-2625-small-polyethylene-stick-on-hangers.html

http://www.dkhardware.com/product-7288-2627-large-polyethylene-stick-on-hangers.html

And of course, you could rig up something simliar w/ duct tape (tear off a skinny piece and tape one end vertically to the vase, shape into a loop above the rip, and press the rest of it against the vase again--the length of tape will increase its holding power; wrap a piece of tape around the top over those loops, to make them more secure)

But if you're hanging a flame in the air, you want to be sure it's secure.

[britni]

I absolutley love this lantern !
I'm throwing a garden party and would
love to use a lantern like this outside,
is there any way to replace the bulb with
a candle, such as a tealight ?

[MacGoover's Mom]

Socket and cord kits are fairly common, especially at places that sell paper lanterns. I know you can buy them online at a website called Luna Bazaar (http://www.lunabazaar.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=247).

[warren Brown]

where did you buy that type of socket? (socket and cord together)

[warren Brown]

where did you buy that type of socket? (socket and cord together)

[Silvia]

Oh... so nice!!! Thanks!!!
Kissies.

[catie]

im studying textiles at uni, and for this semesters project, i was thinking about makeing something similar, but useing polyester fabrics and thermoplastics (permenant moulding of the fabric) to make the "consatina". im not quite sure if it will work yet, but this was a helpful starting point for how to construct it! thanks!

[stamp]

if you use a compact fluorescent bulb, you'll pretty much negate any fire hazard- the whole point of those bulbs is that they stay cool (that's how they save energy).

fluorescent bulbs tend to cast a coldish light, but if the paper you choose has a warm tint, that should correct the light colour to something cozy.

this is a great project- thanks for posting!

[Mary]

I've done a very simmilar 'party lantern' with heavy weight vellum that I printed on at kinkos back during the toille craze. It was very cute. Great idea:)

[patricia]

this is beautiful!!

[Jess]

This is a great idea. Love it!

[katie hatch]

the wall paper is by cole and son, pattern 69/8132 cs, mimosa in white. also, for what it's worth, i left this on overnight once to see if it was safe--and it was fine. one of the keys is tightening the string at the top enough so the paper doesn't rest on the bulb. but they are cute just hanging from trees too.

[Blueprint]

Katie's out of the office but promises to track down the wallpaper info a.s.a.p.! Check back in a few days.

[Chernise Spruell]

Yes, would you tell me who that wallpaper's by? It's absolutely lovely!

[m. heart]

i'm not 100% sure, but i believe you can find a fire-retardent spray for projects like this at craft/hardware stores. might be worth looking into!

[a bon vivant]

Great idea, but I admit that I am terrified of the bulb and paper issue. For us firestarters, it is a great idea to just take them outside (minus the bulb) and hang in the trees for festive garden party decor!

[shoepirate]

great idea! i love the wallpaper. who is it made by?