Craft Ideas For Kids - Star Paper Lanterns
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As the nights draw in and the weather isn't quite so inviting, it is a great time to stay inside, get cosy and start thinking about crafting for Christmas.
We really wanted to make these beautiful Waldorf-inspired paper star lanterns. But they looked tricky and to begin with I was a little daunted by our paper project. But with a little practice, I got the hang of it and they turned out to be easy and fun to make.
It's a brilliant project for mixed ages. I set my 2 year old up with painting and oiling (though this did get a little messy) and my 8 year old with helping me with folding and cutting.
They look amazing on dark evenings, and pretty in the daytime too. They are ideal Christmas gifts the kids can make to give to friends and family members.
This is the first of many Christmas and winter craft activity ideas we'll be sharing to inspire and help you through the winter months.
You will need: Painting boards, thick paper, watercolour paints, paint brushes, vegetable oil, scissors.
1. Create water colour paintings. We wet the paper on our painting boards, then used Stockmar water colour paints diluted with water in a glass jar.
2. Once the watercolour paintings are dry, turn over and cover with vegetable oil using a paintbrush.
3. Using a large bowl, draw a circle on the back of your watercolour painting and cut out (the larger your circle the easier it is to make).
4. Fold your circle in half, then quarters, then eighths, then sixteenths. Line your edges carefully and make accurate folds.
5. On the back of your water colour circle, draw a straight line from one edge of the fold to the other and cut. You are left with an octagon shape.
6. Using every fourth fold line as a guide, fold and create a square. Make sure all your corners meet.
7. Unfold your square, turn 45 degrees and using your fold line, fold again to make a square.
8. Turn your square so that the watercolour side is facing you. Look for the kite shape in each corner and outline with pencil, this will make it easier to see the shapes clearly. Fold the top of your kite shape down.
9. Bring the edges of your folded kite shape together.
10. Untuck the inside triangle fold, bring it over and tuck it outside inbetween your drawn kite triangle.
11. Go back to your line kite triangle and bring the fold in and edges together. Continue with these folding techniques all the way around.
12. Press the bottom in to make it able to stand.
13. Finished star paper lantern.
