Lanterns in the Dark

Today marks the shortest day in the year. That means you are probably experiencing some vitamin D deficiency, your skin may be pasty white, and you’ve been exposed to waaaaaay to much Bing Crosby (or maybe that’s just me). Need a light in the darkness? How about some easy paper lanterns?

You can use these for table decorations for holiday meals, a bedside light to ease you into dreamland, coloring your mandala and instant ambiance for you and your sweetie.

I’m really excited to say that I’m using video here for the first time on Cultivate Creativity. That means the sound is a little echo-ey, the lighting a little too bright, but all in all, I think I’m not too far off from 21st Century Studios. I’ll get there.

If you’d prefer not to watch my smug mug, there are always the written directions for making the lanterns below.

Playdate

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Download the Lantern Template

The play date for this week is making lanterns that can be folded or wrapped around tea lights. There is something about candle light that banishes the blues this time of year. Download the template to make the one I designed, or riff off my idea to make your own.

You’ll need just a few supplies:

a glue stick
exacto knife
cutting mat (or a piece of cardboard)
ruler or strait edge
tea light or small candle
the free printable for this week from Cultivate Creativity

I have a list with all the supplies I’ll be using in future weeks. Pssst! You can also get last minute gifts for the creatives in your life with this list!

Once you have your printout, cut along the solid outline below and remove the rectangle.
Use an exact-o knife to cut out the darker shapes. Be careful with adjacent thinner ‘trunks’.
Either fold toward yourself on the dotted lines or wrap the rectangle into a cylinder with the lines on the inside.
Glue the end pieces together.
Place it over a lit tea light in a dark room and relax!

The Recap

Need a last minute gift idea? Give these lanterns as gifts!
Set the mood for romance, or use them at the dinner table.
Candlelight has been used for centuries during the deep dark depths of winter. Get back to your roots!

Get supplies from the Holiday Wish List to keep you inspired and stocked for taking creative breaks with me.

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I invite you and your grams to follow along and get weekly creative break ideas along with some fantastic freebies!