File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Tomorrow night is my friend's birthday, and I'd like to make her a few paper lanterns. Anyone have relatively easy instructions on constructing these bad boys?
>> Anonymous
I've been looking for good chinese lanterns like that too!

Intricate ones, not the shitty kiddycraft types
>> Anonymous
Wow bump! i have been lookin high and low for these too! i did find some gaymo ones that were like a cylinder with some random symbol on it. LAME, i want one of them in the OP!
>> Anonymous
BUMP BUMP BUMP.! i want it too!
>> M.
Hmm, this might be slightly out of the papercraft-only sphere. I'll see what I can find and get back to you.
>> M.
Okay, let's give it a go. Bear with me though, as my brain is mush right now.

First, check the picture on the intro page of this Instructable : http://tinyurl.com/347uwm This is the closest you'll get to a cool paper lantern without *too much* trouble. I'm not saying it's impossible : just much more complicated.

1) Draw a pentagon the size you want.
2) Measure the total perimeter of the pentagon : that'll be the width of paper you'll need.
3) Choose how tall you want your paper lantern to be : that'll be the length of paper you'll need.
4) Cut out the adequate quantity of paper. I'll assume here you're using a large sheet of paper. Don't forget to cut some more in all directions for tabs !
5) Decide on the spacing you want between the thin pieces of wood/bamboo you'll use to give the lantern some rigidity - think stretched popsicle sticks. These pieces will run on the outside, perpendicular to the sides of the lantern and parallel to the floor.
6) Valley-fold between the popsicle sticks, mountain-fold on the sides to define each face of the lantern.
7) Now cut two pentagons that fit the top and bottom of your lantern. Reinforce them with the popsicle sticks, about 1 centimeter away from the sides, and add to the lantern. Don't forget to cut a hole in the top one : you can cut so that you'll have tabs folding around a metallic wire circle so you have a clean opening through which to put candles and such.
8) Now of course, candles. You can either design a system of your own to hold the candles in mid-lantern (metallic wires, again) or go the easy way. 2 to 3 cups of play sand at the bottom of the lantern, a tea-light candle, and you're done.

Disclaimer : You can't sue me if you set your place or your friend's on fire. All this is just top off my head ;)
>> easy paper lantern Anonymous
the easiest way to make one would be to take some large origami sheets 81/2 x 11 would be about right, and do alot of realy tight alternating valley and mountain folds to get the texture. then valey and mountain fold twice in oppoite dirrection to shape. form ito circle and tape glue or fold to secure. if you do several like that and connect then you'll end up with a long one.
>> Anonymous
>>55105

I think the Dahlia origami instructions could be a good reference but it would take a sizeable sheet of paper to make a lantern like the op without breaking it into modules.

I like using wrapping paper for this kind of thing actually, cheap, easy to work with, large and patterned.