"Vintage" Paper Lanterns

Have a ghastly good time making these delightful paper lanterns inspired by photographs of vintage Halloween lanterns from the 1920s and 1930s. Make the lanterns in the shape of pumpkins, vampires or even scary ghouls using papier-mache and a balloon.

Materials:

small round balloons
newspaper
papier-mache medium: liquid starch, white glue or wallpaper paste
paper clay or papier-mache pulp mix (optional)
artist gesso
acrylic or poster paint - various colors
sheet of vellum or tracing paper
permanent markers - black and pastel colors
thin chipboard
tea light candles or small light set
optional: silk leaves, raffia, grapevine, thin wire
tools - hobby knife or scissors, paintbrushes

1. Blow up balloons to desired lantern size (figure A).

4. Puncture the balloon through the layers of papier-mache using a craft knife or sharp scissors (figure C). Cut out an opening at the top of the balloon to make a bowl shaped shell and remove the balloon. Coat the shell inside and out with gesso and allow to dry (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

6. Paint the outside of the shell with a base color, then embellish with desired detail color. Paint the inside of the shell in a contrasting color.

8. Make a base for standing the lantern by cutting a shape from chipboard. Apply gesso and paint the base, then glue it to the bottom. For hanging lanterns, punch two small holes near the top and place a thin wire through the holes to create a handle.

9. Decorate lantern with raffia hair or silk leaves. Make hats from bits of chipboard and small pieces of paper tubes. Add tea lights inside, or string several lanterns onto a set of tiny lights.

Caution: These lanterns are not inherently flame-retardant, so candles should be used with caution. Candle-filled lanterns should be placed on a brick hearth or ceramic tile surface and should not be positioned next to any other flammable materials. Cut large openings in the shell of the lantern to avoid candle burns along the edges. To use the lantern with a small electric lamp instead of a candle, cut the opening in the bottom instead of the top of the shell, then set the lantern over the light. The lamp bulb should not touch the lantern. Since paper can easily flame when exposed to heat, monitor carefully.