These look incredibly simple to make and are just beautiful.

I’m excited to welcome Kelly fromĀ  Make Grow Gather.

Hi everyone, this is Kelly — thanks so much to Cindy for having me over! My new book Weekend Handmade is out and I wanted to share a project with you. The book features more than 40 projects and ideas for simple crafts that donā€™t require a lot of time or fuss.

Weekend Handmade follows two others in the same series by STC Craft: Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick and Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. Iā€™m flattered to be in such good company! I think each of these books hits the sweet spot of well-designed craft projects that can be completed over the course of a relaxed, creative weekend.

Hereā€™s one project that can be easily modified for any season. If you know how to measure, cut, and iron, you can make these lanterns. The most time consuming part is collecting flowers and greenery to press and waiting until they dry nice and flat. Once the lanterns are made, they give off a soft, gauzy light from the fused waxed paper.


Materials:

Flowers and greenery

Heavy book

Paper towels

Waxed paper

Ruler

Craft knife (like an X-Acto)

Cutting board or self-healing cutting mat

Iron

Ironing board or cloth for pressing

Washi tape (I buy mine here)

How-To:

Collect leaves, flowers and foliage, keeping in mind that delicate, thin leaves and petals will try faster than thicker specimens. Put flowers, etc in between two paper towels and place inside a heavy book to dry.

Measure and cut four 4 Ā½ x 9 inch rectangles of waxed paper. You can adjust and make these any size you want, but Iā€™m partial to a nice-sized cube, which makes the math easy.



Fold the waxed paper rectangle in half to make a square. Open square, place flower or greenery inside.

Close the square so the flower is sandwiched between the two layers of waxed paper.

Working on an ironing board or on top of a cloth, pass an iron set to medium quickly over the waxed paper to seal. This will fuse the two layers together. Repeat until you have four finished square panels.

Lay two panels side-by-side with the edges touching, orienting the panels so the sides you want to be the front of the lantern faces you (not facing the table). Cut a length of tape about an inch longer than the panel. Center the tape over where the panels meet and press in place.


Flip panel over and press the extra tape to the wrong side.


ā€œHingeā€ panels together and run your finger along the tape to make a sharp crease.

Continue joining the panels together until all four panels are taped into a cube.

Set candle (inside of a glass votive) or LED tealight inside the luminaria and enjoy!

Weekend Handmade by Kelly Wilkinson includes more than 40 projects and ideas for inspired crafting. Published by STC Craft. Photographs by Thayer Allyson Gowdy. Available at bookstores and online, or signed copies are available at Kellyā€™s blog Make Grow Gather.

Sunday Surprise! Leave a comment and one lucky person will win a copy of her book, Weekend Handmade!!


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Comments

  1. I love these. I think I will do a crafting get together with my girlfriends and make these

  2. These are so beautiful and look so simply to make. I’ve had my eye on Kelly’s book since this summer, it would make a perfect gift for Christmas.

  3. I love to do crafts! Would love to win a copy of this beautiful book! Lots of beautiful crafts!

  4. I love that you do not have to buy a lot of supplies to make something so special. reminds me of projects i did as a child, memories!

  5. It’s been years since I put leaves and flowers in wax paper – had sort of forgotten about it! Thank you for the lovely reminder – the lanterns are beautiful.

  6. I love Loretta’s idea too – they would make beautiful, safe centerpieces for all sorts of gatherings when used with the little flickering LED tea lights šŸ™‚

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