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Thumb Tack Paper Lanterns

by 24 Comments

I’ve had this project in my head for months, since Lauren from The Thinking Closet guest posted these awesome punched tin ornaments.

I love this project, because you probably already have everything you need on hand, and you can easily make them on the sofa while watching something on TV.

What you need:
1. Cardstock (I used textured card stock like this(Spectrum Cardstock), but you could also use standard like this (Cardstock Starter Kit)
2. A Pencil and Eraser
3. A Thumb Tack
4. Scissors or a Paper Cutter
5. Double Sided Tape
* Optional: Templates or Stencils for the Design


What you do:

1. Lightly sketch a simple design on the front center of a piece of cardstock. I really like the way that the textured paper looks. Remember that you are drawing on the side of the paper that will be showing.

2. Put your paper onto a piece of Styrofoam or foam board and start punching holes with a thumb tack along your design. Be careful to not poke two holes too close together to prevent tearing. This actually takes a lot less time than it looks like.

3. Continue making holes until you have dotted all along your design.

4. Go back and erase the pencil marks with a good eraser. Be careful and gentle and do not press the paper down against a hard surface, or the holes will close back a little bit.

5. Cut the paper into strips. I made tall versions at first, and then some shorter versions. The tall ones were 6.5″ x 11″ and the short ones were 4″ x 11″.

6. Wrap your cardstock around a cylinder (I used a large candle) and secure it with double sided tape. I found that the double sided tape was definitely strong and secure enough for this project.

These could pose a fire hazard if you just place them directly around a burning candle. I would highly recommend small flameless candles, or votive candles placed inside glass votive holders. 




I love how these lanterns look light up with candles. They are also cute during the day when the candles aren’t lit.

These were so much fun to make, I want to make more with other designs and patterns on them. A monogrammed letter would be especially cute for a wedding.

What design would you like to make?

Comments

  1. Wow these are spectacular! Seriously, I would have never of thought you used a thumbtack to create these! Love them and shared them on my FB page.

    Reply

  3. Wow! First of all, these turned out amazingly. You can take such a simple concept and turn it into something magnificent and truly eye-catching. Second, I'm so flattered that my punched tin ornaments inspired you. Seriously, way to make my night with that one! Shared it on Twitter and FB and Stumble-Upon!

    Reply

  12. so very cute. I am going to make these. We did a craft like this in elementary school with a sheet from a coloring book taped to reynold's wrap and punched with a needle!

    Reply

  15. i LOVE THEM!!!!!! their so fun and funky…. I made them at school everyone liked them….
    thanx so much for sharing your awesome creation Rachel…( i have the same name as you ) 🙂 !!!!!!!!!!
    ( its my birthday )

    Reply

    • They are really fun to make. I actually didn’t create templates for them, but I definitely should. You could print the outline of an image or pattern onto one side of the paper and make that the inside of the lantern.

      Reply

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