By: Sutton Rizzo
These origami lanterns are a great decoration to get you into the holiday spirit. In eight simple steps, you can complete an amazing product.
Materials:
- Washi tape
- Hole punch
- LED tealights
- Ribbon
- A4 paper
Step 1: Fold the paper
Take one sheet of A4 paper and fold it into 16 equal sections across the length. Unfold, then fold each crease in the opposite direction, creating concertina folds across the length of the sheet.
Step 2: Draw Lines
Using a ruler, draw two horizontal lines on the back of the paper, one 9cm (3⅝”) down from the top long edge, and one 12cm (4¾”) down.
Step 3: Make Diagonal Folds
Crease zig-zagged diagonals between each horizontal fold, inside the marked pencil lines. It can help to press the paper against the edge of a ruler to get a more accurate fold.
Step 4: Bundle the Folds
Turn the paper right side up, then gather the folds together. The concertina will change direction when it meets the diagonal fold, but as the folds were pre-creased in both directions, this should happen fairly easily.
Step 5: Repeat
Repeat Steps 1-4 with the second A4 sheet, then join the two sheets together along a short edge, using washi tape to help the concertina folds link together smoothly.
Step 6: Hole Punch
Use the hole punch to add holes 1cm (⅜”) down from the top long edge of the lantern, creating one hole per section of concertina.
Step 7: Bring Together
Bring the two short edges of the lantern together, creating a circle. Join together with washi tape, as per Step 5, then thread the ribbon through the punched holes. Pull the ends together carefully, gathering the concertina at the top, then knot to secure.
Step 8: Lights
To finish, place an LED tealight under the lantern.
You’ve finished your Christmas origami lantern.
Credits to Esther Thorpe for the design .
