Paper lanterns can be made in some very intricate designs.
A floating lantern ceremony is a way to remember loved ones who've passed, reflect on memories and hope for a peaceful and harmonious future. An Asian tradition, lantern floating symbolizes the wish for all beings to live in peaceful coexistence. There are lantern floating ceremonies all around the globe bringing together all cultures, nations and faiths for a beautiful and memorable experience.
Instructions
1. The ridged side of the cardboard sheet will be the outside of the lantern.
Lay the sheet of corrugated cardboard flat side up on the cutting mat.
2. Use the width of the ruler as the measurement to create the vertical lines across the cardboard's length. Line up the ruler to the left edge and draw a line across the cardboard along the opposite edge of the ruler. Move the ruler over so the left edge is lined up with the line you just drew and draw another line to the right of the ruler. Continue across the entire sheet.
3. Line your ruler up with the top of the cardboard and starting at the second column in from the left cut slits across every other column across the entire sheet. Move the ruler down a width of the ruler and continue making slits until you are a ruler width from the bottom edge.
4. Line your ruler up halfway between the slits in the cut row and make slits in the uncut rows the same way. Continue making slits across and down the entire cardboard sheet so it looks like a brickwork pattern.
5. Turn the sheet of cardboard over exposing the corrugated side and weave the skewers from top to bottom in and out of the slits. There should be about 1-inch of skewers extending on either side of the cardboard. Do not weave through the first and last row of slits yet.
6. Roll the skewered cardboard into a tube overlapping the edges and join the lantern edges together by weaving the last skewer through the double thickness of cardboard.
7. Position the tea light or press light in the center of the Styrofoam base and secure with a piece of tape. Press the ends of the skewers into the base.
8. Do a practice float before lighting your candle. If you had a successful "maiden voyage" then you can gently remove the lantern from the base, light the candle, insert the skewers back into the holes on the base and float away.
Tags: across cardboard, across entire, across entire sheet, cardboard sheet, entire sheet, from bottom, lantern floating