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How to… make a (very quick & easy) Lantern

22 October 2010 19 Comments

I am sometimes guilty of being too enthusiastic about crafts and making things, that can take a little more time to make. Not everyone has the time, nor the inclination. So here have a VERY quick and easy lantern for busy mum and dads (and aunties and uncles and carers). It will take 10-15min max and will look great!

I made this one last year in time “St Martins Day” – a lantern walk traditional to Germany, Austria and many other European countries! All children in Germany make all sorts of different lanterns in school and then on the 11 November come together at dusk and go for a walk with their lanterns and sing lantern songs. Here is modern version of one of my favourite Laterne Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne – Red Ted and I listened to it over and over again (much to The Englishman’s boredom):

I love how this gives us an opportunity to introduce Germanic customs for our bilingual family and yet it still “fits” with British tradition – change the designs on the lantern and you have a fab decoration for Halloween!

So, only final product photos I am afraid, but this is what you do:

Materials: a paper lamp shade (I bought a cheap set of three in Argos, but you can get them in places like IKEA too), black paper, scissors, glue & and a lantern stick. We bought our “light stick” from Germany, from place like this. But maybe have a hunt around the internet for one? (**check my comments below for some alternative ideas, e.g. electronic tea lights or small torches**)

1) Choose a lantern shape – if you can find smaller ones, great, but the “big” ones look fab too.

2) Cut out simple shapes: we did stars, rockets, moon, cat. For Halloween, you can do a pumpkin, witch, cat etc. I haven’t had a chance to do some stencils for you, but Single Mummy has some cute In The Nightgarden ones here and a cat & jack o’lantern one here - go and take a look and make this craft super duper easy and effective!

3) Glue on

4) DONE!

How easy is that?!?!

Enjoy!

For more easy lantern ideas, go visit my fellow bloggy mum Mummy Do That.

I would love to hear about your special family or country traditions – what do you do every year in Oct/ Nov?! Leave me comment and tell me all!!

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19 Comments »

miri said:

Adorable!

# 22 October 2010 at 1:39 pm

Chris at Thinly Spread said:

Oh they are fabulous, we’ll be doing these when we get back!

# 22 October 2010 at 4:28 pm

Zoe @ Playing by the book said:

We celebrate Sint Maarten too – the girls make lanterns, come and knock on the front door, sing me some songs and then they get a bag of sweeties

# 22 October 2010 at 8:06 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Zoe – love that! We do a small Lantern Walk with local German mums… but should that ever stop, we may just have to do the same as you guys!! Love it!

Chris – have fun crafting!

# 23 October 2010 at 7:22 am

cathy@nurturestore said:

Thanks for sharing this with the Play Academy Maggy – it’s a great idea for a child’s bedroom lamp too. We observe Stir Up Sunday in Novemeber – baking our Christmas cake and making a wish as we stir it.

# 23 October 2010 at 9:39 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oooh, Stir Up Sunday sounds GREAT!! Love it!!

Yes, was thinking of exactly the same thing – decorating lamp like this for Pip Squeak’s bedroom… maybe with tissue paper and butterflies?!

M x

# 23 October 2010 at 10:49 am

Little Wonders' Days said:

Very cute! What a fun holiday too. We’ve been enjoying evening fall walks, maybe we’ll have to take a lantern with us next time.

# 23 October 2010 at 2:34 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oh, I like the idea of going for lovely walk and then having a lantern to brighten your day!!

# 23 October 2010 at 5:09 pm

Steve Morris said:

This looks great – but where can I get a lantern stick on a UK high street at short notice. Help please!!

# 28 October 2010 at 1:11 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Aaaaah, there is a flaw to my “perfect” plan. I totally forgot the uneasiness of getting lantern sticks. Mmmmh. Let me get back to you, I am going to do a search….

# 28 October 2010 at 6:27 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Steve, here are some possible alternatives incl. UK high street store Argos:

Would an electronic Tea Light do the trick?

Then “Just” attach the lantern to a stick (any stick)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=electric+tea+lights&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=5707443126&ref=pd_sl_2b9lk11fq_b

Or this ladybird torch may do the trick (5.99)

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7250523/Trail/searchtext%3ETORCH.htm

(sorry, takes away the cheapness of this craft, as the lantern sticks are only £1.50 next year, I will do a giveaway!!!)

Or for 3.99

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7250626/Trail/searchtext%3ETORCH.htm

# 28 October 2010 at 6:36 pm

cartside said:

beautiful! If I get time, I’ll also blog about the one we made this year, which is also very easy.
We’re lucky, we have a large St Martin’s celebration in Glasgow thanks to a considerable number of German parents here, and they import the light sticks and sell them at the door for, yes, £1.50!

# 31 October 2010 at 10:24 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oh wow! Lucky you! I am in fact “importing” 12 for our playgroup!!! (i.e. one of the mothers is buying and them and bringing them over). Fabulous!

Can’t wait to see your lantern! We are making another (even simpler one) at Playgroup this week! Yay!

Maggy x

# 31 October 2010 at 10:49 pm

Kate said:

Hi! I love the song you posted through YouTube! Any idea who’s singing it and/or where I can get a copy??
Danke!!

# 9 November 2010 at 5:01 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

They are called Kuh Katze and you can find them on http://www.kuhkatze.com/ I havent listened to any of their other things, but I would be interested to hear what they are like!! I can’t see the St Martinslied there, but maybe you can email them under their contact section?

Happy Listening!

Maggy

# 9 November 2010 at 5:41 pm

Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive » Review – Schellen Ursuli & International Book Swap said:

[...] more likely to help bring local traditions and concepts to my children – e.g. St Nikolaus and St Martin do not really exist here in the UK. Books are a wonderful way to introduce and help explain [...]

# 22 November 2010 at 7:55 am

Rae said:

Love love love these! Can you tell me where you bought the lanterns? I’ve done quite a few searches for that particular color and no luck. Most of them are stark white. Please help! Thanks!

# 1 September 2011 at 11:59 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

I bought ours in Argos (UK store) and I have seen some in IKEA? I think you just have to keep hunting.. sorry

# 1 September 2011 at 12:21 pm

Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive » Quick Craft Post: St Martins Laterne said:

[...] German Playgroup this evening to celebrate St Martins Day (it is tomorrow, more about it from our post last year!, a day when you traditional go on a Lantern Walk in the [...]

# 10 November 2011 at 7:28 pm