Paper decor

Decorate your house during the festival of lights with fashionable, easy-to-create, eco-friendly paper lanterns, which look like the ones that had charmed Rapunzel, writes Gaurav

Diwali is round the corner. To bring your touch to this special celebration of togetherness with your family and friends, here is a step-by-step guide to making super cool Diwali paper lanterns. These are fashionable, eco-friendly, easy to create and decorate and look quite like the ones that charmed Rapunzel in the Disney movie Tangled.

Rapunzel gets charmed with beautiful lanterns in Disney movie Tangled

You need

n Scrapbook/colourful papers

n Ruler

n Scissors

n Glue dots

n Decorative gems or sparkle pens

n Thin beading cord or

decorative thread

n Buttons (2 per lantern)

Instructions

n With the help of an adult, cut a paper in rectangular shape from the scrapbook/colourful sheet. The bright and colourful it is the better the lantern would look. It should measure 24 inches wide and between 6.5 and 8.5 inches high (depending on how tall a lantern you want).

n Set the rectangular sheet down, with the colourful part facing downwards (as shown in the image). Fold the top down half an inch and use the ruler to smooth the crease. Then fold the top a second time (another half an inch) to create a paper "hem". Do the same with the bottom edge of the paper.

n Next, fold the left side over half an inch (do not fold it a second time).

n Fold the paper sideways so that the right edge just meets the fold you made in step 3. Press this new fold to create a sharp crease.

n Unfold the paper and refold it, this time bringing the left edge to the crease you made in step 4.

n Fold the left side of the paper toward the crease, as you did the right side. At this point, you should end up with four equal-size lantern panels.

n Now form the lantern box by tucking the half-inch fold on the far left panel between the top and bottom hems of the far right panel, as shown. Use glue dots to secure the connections in the corners.

n Now that are very own Diwali lantern is ready. It’s time to add some sparkle to it. Take some nice sparkle tubes and beads and stick it on your lantern and make it look even prettier.

n Finally, fashion a hanger for the lantern by tying a button on each end of an 8-inch length of thin beading cord or decorative thread. Use glue dots to attach the beads to opposite sides of the lantern top.

So go ahead and add a glittery flare to your bedroom, living room and even gift it to your friends, family or your teachers. Hang them in front of a window to catch the light, or string them together for a wall-to-wall garland.