How to Make a Rice Paper Lamp

Rice paper lanterns were first used in china as a simple source of light, but over time they became an object for artists to decorate with creative patterns. During the Lantern Festival celebrations, the streets of China are covered with red lanterns. Even if these lanterns are not part of your culture, they can still make a beautiful decoration for your home. A rice paper lamp will softly illuminate a room, giving your home a cozy and relaxed ambience. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Draw a 12-by-6-inch rectangle on the corner of your cardboard. Cut this out with scissors.

2

Place this rectangle on the cardboard and use it as template to draw another three rectangles. Cut these out with scissors.

3

Measure 1/2 inch inside the all of the rectangles' sides and draw another rectangle inside each cardboard rectangle.

4

Cut through the lines you have drawn with a utility knife. Discard the smaller rectangles that you cut out. You should now have a 12 inch by 6 inch rectangular boarder.

5

Draw a 13-by-7-inch rectangle on a piece of light-colored rice paper. Cut it out and use it as a template to make three more rectangles.

6

Position one of the 12-by-6-inch cardboard rectangles roughly in the center of one of the rice paper rectangles.

7

Gently wrap the rice paper over the sides of the cardboard and glue it down on the back.

8

Cut off any excess so that there is just enough rice paper to cover the cardboard.

9

Repeat Steps 6 to 8 for the remaining cardboard rectangles.

10

Measure along one of the long side of one of the rectangles; make a small pencil mark every 4 inches. Make the exact same pencil marks on the opposite side of this rectangle.

11

Repeat the previous step for each rectangle.

12

Poke a sewing needle through the pencil marks.

13

Cut out four pieces of thread measuring 40 inches each.

14

Position two of the rectangles side by side. Make sure that both rectangles are positioned so that the side completely covered in rice paper is face down on the table.

15

Tie the two rectangles together with one of the pieces of thread. Tie this just as you would your shoelace.

16

Knot the end of the thread to secure the two rectangles together. Cut off any excess thread.

17

Add another rectangle to the free side of one of the rectangles you have just laced up. Lace up this joint just as you did the previous one. Repeat this technique until you have tied together four rectangles and they are in a line.

18

Tie the first and last rectangle together just as you did the rest to make a cuboid that is missing a top and bottom.

19

Position the box over a candle. Make sure the candle is in the center of this space.