Chinese lantern with your own hands: step by step description of how to make a paper craft

Today, a favorite activity of children and adults is to launch lanterns, called Chinese handmade lanterns, into the sky. The fireballs soaring upward are a source of unbelievable excitement. Watching the mesmerizing spectacle can be endless.

In fact, it is not difficult to find information on how to make a Chinese lantern with your own hands. There are many videos on the Internet from experienced craftsmen who will explain the manufacturing process in every detail. It is important to understand that such a well-known fun requires compliance with safety rules, so as not to cause harm to others.Such crafts in the Asian style can decorate the room or outdoor veranda in a country house or at the cottage. Showing creativity, you can make a night light or desk lamp, for which it is sufficient to equip the design LED. Most often used paper products.

The origin of the idea

About the country of creation of such original objects says their name. For the first time, made of paper, they are mentioned in ancient manuscript texts about military campaigns Zhuge Liang. Famed for his ingenuity, the general instilled fear in his opponents by invoking divine powers. He used his own paper bag and oil lamp for this purpose. The cloud that was launched into the sky was a convincing indication of the patronage of higher powers.

Such an invention, already in use 300 years before the new era, also served to transmit signals between military units. It is not inconceivable that the products intended for flight replaced religious rituals.In 2005, an unusual discovery made its way to Europe, where the demand for lanterns became truly massive. It was after the 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean. To commemorate the victims of the earthquake in Thailand, an enormous number of lanterns were sent up into the sky, beaming with light all around them. The photograph of the event subsequently won a World Press Photo prize. Since then the colorful action has spread to European countries.

Device

To make a Chinese paper lantern with your own hands, you will need pre-prepared:

A frame made of bamboo.
Installed on a thin wire cloth torch.
Dome soaked in non-combustible composition of rice paper.

Choose as desired - in the form of a balloon or cylinder. They take off by analogy with balloons. The Montgolfier brothers once filled shells with a fuming substance that traveled kilometers in the air.The principle of heated ozone, which becomes lighter due to a decrease in density, is triggered. They are propelled by the difference between the density of the air inside and outside. In this regard, there is a recommendation for flashlights - choose a dark time of day without clouds. On average, their flight lasts up to 20 minutes.

Launch restrictions in the city

If not properly secured, the launching of lanterns can lead to unpleasant consequences, such as:

Scaffolding fires.
Failure of power plants.
Injury to animals.

Because of the damage caused by the exciting event, bans are imposed in the world. In Russia, there are also corresponding regulations. According to the law passed, planning a mass launch of Chinese lanterns involves obtaining permission from the agencies responsible for movement in airspace.

Launches are carried out only in open areas away from residential areas with the possibility of controlling the place of fall. It is forbidden to use such designs in strong winds.

Materials

To make Chinese flying lanterns with your own hands, you should stock up beforehand:

Corrugated paper or cardboard.
Scissors to make a template.
PVA glue or double-sided adhesive tape.
A needle and thread.
Tassel yarn.

You may also need: beads, paint, sequins and beads. For a functioning flashlight required components will be: LED lamp and working mechanism.

Activities

The craft will not take much effort and time:

A 30x50 cm strip cut off is folded.
It is divided by 1 cm. for evenness.
The resulting model is spread out.
Assembly along the larger side.
Stitching and tightening.
Do the same on the other side.
Edges are fastened with tape or glue.

In the final stage of the resulting sphere is straightened.

Variety

Because of the many different assembly algorithms, it is necessary to first develop a design. The handicrafts differ from each other. Often they serve a decorative purpose. In Asian states, cute hanging things decorate cafes, restaurants and places of trade. Often they are an attribute at marriage ceremonies. In everyday life they are an excellent decoration for the New Year or any family event.

For children

For a homemade lantern you need to have: colored paper, scissors, glue, a ruler and a pencil. Having prepared the accessories, begin the work:

A strip 2 cm wide is cut off.
The remaining part is folded in half.
The workpiece is outlined: a line is drawn with an indentation of 4 cm from the edge. From the fold to it lead a lot of lines at the same distance.
Vertical strips are cut, and then the paper is unfolded.
The edge is glued.

In conclusion, a pen is attached at the top.

Traditional View

You need to have a template for the item in advance. A suitable ready-made pattern is found on the Internet or drawn by yourself. To do this:

A sheet with an aspect ratio of 1:2 is taken.
On the longer one, draw 3 horizontal lines - 1 central and 2 with equal indentation from the edges.
Paper vertical stripes divided into 6 parts, in each of which you need to depict another 1 line.
Draw a circle diameter of 2 cm.
Located above and below the circles are connected rounded.

As a result, the pattern looks like 6, connected together in the center, similar segments. It is then used as a template for the lantern, which is not divided into segments!

Now it's the turn of connecting the edge pieces. Lower circles are combined, stitched and decorated with a tassel of thread. The same is done with the upper circles, but leaves a thread for hanging.

To run upwards.

You will need a frame, which can easily be made of foil-covered wooden skewers for fruit. For fuel we can use candles or absorbent cotton bound with wire. The casing is made of rice paper or tissue paper. On the Internet many people recommend the use of a garbage bag.

Decorating

Usually flying lanterns are not decorated. If you wish, you can use this way:

With a hole puncher on the decorative paper is made a huge number of holes.
The circles are glued evenly.

Because of the many methods of assembly, it is necessary to think in advance what it will look like - round, spherical or made according to the principle of kirigami.

It turns out that making a Chinese paper lantern, flying up into the sky or to decorate the room is not difficult. It is important that they remind you of ancient traditions, filling your life with new, unforgettable experiences!