DIY paper lanterns are some of my favorite things! They are simple to make, and can add ambiance to any space instantly.
You can download the free DIY paper lantern templates at the end!
( Update: After I published this tutorial, many people have told me that they used these DIY paper lanterns for their weddings! It is so rewarding to hear that! )
These 3-dimensional flower DIY paper lanterns with lights are made with very simple materials:
old drinking glasses or vases, paper, and LED lights or candles! ( Some of the helpful resources are affiliate links. Full disclosure here. )
You may also love these new improved DIY paper lanterns: this new set of paper lanterns are made with plastic bottles and LED string lights!
Materials and tools for the DIY paper lanterns:
- glass with straight sides, such as cylinders or cubes
- paper : I used this great quality index card stock .
- I used a Silhouette Portrait – LOVE that little machine! – but it’s easy enough to cut with an X-acto knife
- double sided tape
- to light up our paper lantern, I recommend LED candles or micro LED Warm White String Lights which are very bright, and are safer than real candles!
You can download the free DIY paper lantern templates at the end!
Step 1: Print and cut paper lanterns designs
Print the template on paper, I used sturdy 110lb index card stock such as these.
Cut out the leaves and stems, and cut along the lines of the petals, be careful not to cut too much and cut them off.
Next, measure the size of your glass and cut the excess paper away.
Step 2: Attach paper lanterns to glass vase
Now the fun part! Gently fold those petals up so the blossoms become three dimensional!
Use double sided tape to tape the paper onto the outside of the glasses. You will have a beautiful paper lantern!
Now we can patiently waiting for sunset to light up the candles and appreciate the beauty and magic of these DIY paper lanterns!
Although it is nice to have a bright candle flickering inside the paper lantern, I highly recommend using LED candles or these LED Warm White String Lights which are very bright, and are safer than real candles!
Download the free paper lantern templates below-
Love paper and art? You need no art experience to make this watercolor in 10 minutes, but you do need a toothbrush, wha?!? 
Another set of paper lanterns are here! With colored glow!
Happy crafting!
Sofie
July 30, 2014 at 12:22 amThey are very cool!! They look easy to make but the cutting part ….oh!
Besitos
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 5:50 amcome on sofie, you can do it! =) especially knowing how talented you are! xo
Tarun
July 30, 2014 at 3:15 amThis is so beautiful dear friend. I wish you had this idea for my contest :).
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 5:56 amnice to have ya here tarun! my problem is i have ideas to keep 100 of me busy but there aren’t 100! =)
Jamie
July 30, 2014 at 10:34 amI just LOVE these! Thank you for the templates – making them today!
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 11:16 amawesome jamie! =)
Julie
September 18, 2018 at 5:15 amI cant find the templates arghhh . HELP a woman out here please😁
ananda
September 18, 2018 at 8:42 amhi julie, did you check junk mail? subscribers confirmation email has a button that leads to all downloads 🙂
Betsy
July 30, 2014 at 11:36 amLOVE these! I can’t believe how easy they are to make….and they look so great!
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:22 pmthank you betsy! =)
Neely Stoller
July 30, 2014 at 11:57 amThis is so neat!
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:19 pmthank you neely!
Emma Harris
July 30, 2014 at 12:48 pmA gorgeous make as always, you’re innovation is just brilliant x
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:19 pmemma you are so sweet!! xo
Alexa
July 30, 2014 at 12:57 pmGreat idea. Might be nice for a wedding too 🙂
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:14 pmhi alexa! i love weddings, especially the decor =)
Cailin @ Mommy Dove
July 30, 2014 at 1:33 pmEasy and so fabulous! Could be cute to glue thin paper of another color on the back before cutting too…that way when they fold out, there’s a pop of color visible. Just a thought!
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:13 pmlove love the idea cailin! it may just be my next project! =)
Lynn
July 30, 2014 at 1:45 pmLovely! Nicer than candles as a centerpiece for a nice company dinner!
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:15 pmthank you! we’ll use them for our next company dinner =)
kendall
July 30, 2014 at 6:10 pmOkay, this is really really cool! Great work!
ananda
July 30, 2014 at 6:23 pmthank you kendall!=)
Crystal C
July 30, 2014 at 6:42 pmgreat idea, I love these candles they are gorgeous
estherjulee
July 30, 2014 at 7:04 pmthese are beautiful. great job!! 🙂
Myrabev
July 30, 2014 at 9:47 pmThis is super cute thanks for sharing, I have bookmarked this post for future use
Paulina Dragoeva
July 31, 2014 at 2:13 amThis is amazing! It looks so beautiful! Great job and thanks for sharing! 🙂
ananda
July 31, 2014 at 7:17 amthank you dear paulina! =)
Katie Matthews
July 31, 2014 at 2:23 amThese are beautiful, what a lovely and inventive idea! I’d love to see this with coloured glass shining through the paper holes!
Katie <3
ananda
July 31, 2014 at 6:57 amthank you katie! i love colored light and will have to make one! =)
Raewyn Smith
July 31, 2014 at 2:54 amWoah! These look so fancy!!!
Elizabeth Moyle
July 31, 2014 at 6:44 amLove this will re-use small jars that hold my scented candles x
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:28 amthank you elizabeth! Xo
brita
July 31, 2014 at 10:02 amThose are awesome! I’m pinning this for later
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:26 amthank you brita!
Rebekah
July 31, 2014 at 1:00 pmBeautiful! Totally pinned so I can try this sometime – can’t wait to see your next design!
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:22 amthank you rebekah!=)
Sarah
July 31, 2014 at 1:26 pmThese are amazing, I’m pinning this later 🙂
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:26 amthank you sarah! =)
Sarah M
July 31, 2014 at 5:13 pmWow, they look amazing with such simple materials!
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:24 amthank you sarah! xo
Ashley
July 31, 2014 at 5:55 pmThese are beautiful! Thank you for sharing! I am going to pin for sure.
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:21 amthank you ashley ! =)
Jenn @ hellorigby!
July 31, 2014 at 9:17 pmSo pretty! What a great DIY.
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:20 amthank you jenn!
Xilaa
July 31, 2014 at 11:52 pmMerci beaucoup pour ce partage ! Les photophores sont magnifiques !
ananda
August 1, 2014 at 12:18 amthank you so much! =)
Jemma Andrew-Adiamah
August 1, 2014 at 1:13 amThese look gorgeous!
Jessica
August 1, 2014 at 5:22 amThose are beautiful! This will definitely be my next project!
Tawny @GlamorouslyMommy
August 1, 2014 at 5:49 amThese are so simle and gorgeous!
Lissa Cole
August 1, 2014 at 9:21 amThose lanterns are really pretty! I would probably butcher the job but I still might give it a try
ananda
August 2, 2014 at 8:20 amthank you lissa! i am certain you will make some amazing ones! =)
Carly Brydon
August 1, 2014 at 11:48 amThose lanterns are so pretty! I’m going to have to bust out my Cameo and make some of these!
ananda
August 2, 2014 at 8:21 amthanks carly! those little machines are so fun!
mel
August 1, 2014 at 4:04 pmOh my you’re amazing! They look absolutely beautiful, well done you. Mel xx
ananda
August 2, 2014 at 8:22 amthank you mel! i so loved reading about your home on design sponge!! xo
Ashley
August 1, 2014 at 5:19 pmThese are SO cool! Definitely will be making these.
Leanna Ranieri
August 1, 2014 at 5:49 pmThese are so gorgeous! Very simple!
Jessica Doll (@teamwiking)
August 2, 2014 at 12:41 amThese are really cute!
Alicia @ Felt With Love Designs
August 2, 2014 at 1:06 amSo pretty!! I need to make some of these!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen
August 2, 2014 at 4:20 amWow!!! These lanterns are BEAUTIFUL! I love how gorgeous and almost 3-D like they are. I need to make some of these because I love things that glow in the night too! And, I have to laugh – because you and I have the exact same glasses. Hahaha! So, now I know exactly how mine will look provide I can cut them out right! 🙂
ananda
August 2, 2014 at 8:24 amdear kristi that means we both have a lot of miss-match plates too haha!! xo
Carly from The Puzzled Palate
August 2, 2014 at 12:04 pmThese are beautiful! I love that it is a fairly simple concept that creates a very dramatic look!
Cam | Bibs and Baubles
August 2, 2014 at 10:38 pmThose are so beautiful! What a great DIY! I’d love to use these for an outdoor dinner.
régine
August 4, 2014 at 12:19 amMerci de nous faire voir ce très bel ouvrage de décoration , très facile à faire avec un résultat magnifique ,il faut continuer à nous faire de si belles choses ,beaucoup d’imagination , merci encore . Régine
James
August 4, 2014 at 1:00 amWoww !!! Amazing…. How thick is the paper ?? How weight , 100 gr ?? Or 150gr
ananda
August 4, 2014 at 6:55 amthank you! it’s more like 165gsm or a little heavier. i wish all the paper is labeled in gsm! =)
Jordan
August 4, 2014 at 2:22 pmSo delicate! This would be absolutely perfect on my desk!
Julio(Brasil)
August 5, 2014 at 4:44 amSimply lovely and creative.
excellent /
Julia D.
August 6, 2014 at 9:54 amOh how delightful! I just love them and looking forward to making them in all shapes and sizes.
Thanks for sharing and just love your blog site.
XXOO
Marilyn
August 6, 2014 at 10:27 amThese are stunning
Hannah
August 11, 2014 at 6:55 amVery pretty, love lanterns like this 🙂
Susan Cocjin
August 11, 2014 at 5:36 pmI have a Silhouette Cameo and have found the perfect giveaway I’ve been looking for for my son’s wedding. Thanks for sharing!
ananda
August 12, 2014 at 12:09 amyay! congrats! so glad to know that! =)
Rose Schneider
August 11, 2014 at 8:37 pmI love these! I downloaded template into SIL DE but it did not trace well. Was I supposed to import a different way? TIA
ananda
August 12, 2014 at 12:07 amhi rose, that’s what i used, & some readers have made them too, not sure why yours are not cutting right, make sure all lines are set at 0 !
paige
August 29, 2014 at 3:49 pmlove these! I am trying to download them and they download to my computer but when I try to open the silhouette one I get a message “There is no application set to open the document “dimensional-paper-apieceofrainbow.studio3”. I have a silhouette cameo and updated the software – I know I must be doing something wrong – can you help me out?
ananda
August 29, 2014 at 5:53 pmhi paige, you may need to unzip the file first – try stuffit, it’s free – then it should open! =)
sam christensen
September 4, 2014 at 9:04 amAnanda,
when i pull the file in to the silhouette studio it only has one of the deisgns and i know there are 3 on the first and 2 on the second.
suggestions? trace?
thank you they are very beautiful!
ananda
September 4, 2014 at 12:26 pmHi sam, the studio file has 1 design because i just moved things around to make variations according to the glass sizes. =)
baileyrosy
September 14, 2014 at 4:31 amBeautiful ! Thanks so much of sharing these beautiful projects just in the process of making them.
Marie
dakshinamurty ramasamy
September 26, 2014 at 12:23 amsuper idea. thank you so much
DIYselfies
October 9, 2014 at 11:42 pmWhat a great article, and thanks for posting it to DIYselfies! i will add them to my queue today! i hope you will get loads of new fans!
Mia Maria
ananda
October 10, 2014 at 6:03 amthank you dear mia! i am so honored! =)
DIYselfies
October 10, 2014 at 7:17 amAnanda, i love your articles! we now feature them on our Facebook and DIYselfies pages! I hope they will bring you many new fans!
Mia
Anita
October 31, 2014 at 6:09 pmHi!!!
I want to make these for gifts, but I can’t get the templates to download 🙁
ananda
October 31, 2014 at 7:36 pmtry ask some friends to download it and email it to you! it works – thousands of downloads already =)
Lisa
November 3, 2014 at 7:21 pmSo cool and beautiful! I could see one as a gift for a “crafty” friend, but also include your new template and paper as part of the gift. 🙂
Goerski
November 5, 2014 at 1:49 amBonjour,
Avez- vous d’autres modèles de “paper cutting” pour lanternes?!
Merci
Cordialement.
Lora
November 8, 2014 at 7:03 am: ) I got it, just double tapped on it.
I was making it harder than it should have been.
These mac computers are a little different.
ananda
November 9, 2014 at 8:02 amthank you lora for sharing! this will help other mac users! =)
lisa
December 21, 2014 at 5:05 amHi there, love these candles..I used to be a cardmaker and love doing paper crafts so I know I’d love this but am wondering what I could use for other templates as well, is there somewhere you got your deisgns…or could you share more designs with me?? Thanks,Lisa
ananda
December 21, 2014 at 8:14 amthank you lisa! there’s another set on this blog if you go to DIY on the top menu. i will create more in 2015. i did try to design one for the holidays but was not 100% satisfied with how they turned out, will keep working on them! =)
Lizzand3
June 3, 2015 at 12:26 pmis there a file to down load for this candle wrap?
These are beautiful. great job!
ananda
June 3, 2015 at 1:52 pmyes Liz, link is in the post somewhere! =)
Dawn
August 27, 2015 at 8:38 amAt first glance, I thought these were pinecones… a thought for the holidays?
ananda
August 31, 2015 at 9:07 pmgreat idea Dawn! thank you! more on the way!! =)
Marty
November 6, 2015 at 5:11 pmHi I just love those luminaries but I have a Cricut. Is it possible to just get the SVG file as I can’t cut Silhouette files They are really beautiful would love to make them, hanks
ananda
November 6, 2015 at 10:03 pmhi marty! use this and the pdf – http://image.online-convert.com/convert-to-svg
Abigail Cain
May 8, 2016 at 1:58 pmSo pretty and unique. I will have to try with my cutting machine.
Michele
July 4, 2016 at 6:57 amHI I have just come across your wonderful post !! I really want to make some of these for he summer. Can I ask is there an issue with health and safety for the paper white and coloured that you use alongside the candle?
thanks
ananda
July 5, 2016 at 2:58 pmhi michele, the papers are non toxic. if you use real candles, just take basic cautions because there is fire. LED candles are great and much safer! =)
Nery
September 20, 2017 at 10:34 pmHello! I’m trying to download the pattern and nothing. It keeps asking me to join the emailing list and I have. I also tried emailing the project to myself am still nothing. I really need to print the pattern out because I will be hand cutting them and I need to make 50! Help please!!
ananda
September 21, 2017 at 8:22 amhi nery, you can find it here – http://www.apieceofrainbow.com/creative-fun/
enjoy!
KATE
August 18, 2016 at 10:45 amVey interesting!
Barb
October 28, 2017 at 4:52 pmWould love the SVG file for these as well! so cute!!
Aya
April 1, 2018 at 11:43 pmHi, it’s so beautiful. Somehow I can’t find the templates for both lanterns. It says download below and them there’s nothing there. Can you tell me where they are? My daughter and I are really excited to try this! Aya.
Julie
September 18, 2018 at 5:14 amI thought I was going mad cos I can’t findvtemplates either. HELP PLEASE as I’m desperate to try this. They are gorgeous
Elise Roberge
January 7, 2019 at 11:07 amHi Ananda,
Thank you for sharing this tutorial and tamplate. I wonder if you have the svg version of the template to use with the cricut to be able to cut and score the lines.
ananda
January 7, 2019 at 5:07 pmhi elise, i think cricut can convert the pdf to cut line. no score lines in this project, just curle the petals by hand. hope that helps! 🙂
Alice
June 15, 2019 at 10:57 pmNo templates! 🙁
ananda
June 16, 2019 at 5:36 pmA button at the bottom of each newsletter takes you to all downloads 🙂