Cardboard box? Great for lantern.

Would you like to make the lantern I created for my son this year?

Go find a good pair of scissors, an empty cardboard box, 16 rubber bands and follow these steps. I used a box for packing a 17" monitor to create this lantern.


If you would like to create templates for the lantern to keep for future reference, here is how each piece should look like.


Method:

1) To draw the circles to form the top (1 pc) and base (1 pc) of the lantern, look for 2 plates with one about 3-4cm larger than the other in diameter.

24cm in diameter

20cm in diameter

2) Where there are straight lines marked around the circumference, cut slits through about 2-3cm towards the centre for both circles. The width of each slits depends on the thickness of the cardboard.

Here is a photo of a slit I made at the base.

Note: You can see that I have included a cover from a biscuit tin to protect the base from being damaged by lighted candle and rubber bands to secure the panels to the base.

3) The slits will enable you to slot in panels "C" (8 pcs) to form the sides of the lantern. The length of my panels are based on the height of the box I used, which came up to about 41cm. The width of the panel is 6cm.

41x6cm

4) Once you have cut out 8 pieces of panel "C", cut along dotted line marked on the template to shape the panel.

5) At where you see straight lines, cut a slit of 1cm through at the top and bottom of each panel.

6) Do not discard the cut offs from the base of each panel. Shape the cut outs (8pcs) to form a semi circle before cutting a slit in the centre along the diameter as shown below.


7) Now cut out "D" (16 pcs) to decorate the lantern. The length should be double the width of panels "C". Mine came up to 12x4cm. Cut at dotted lines to shape them.

12x4cm

Note: Two pieces of "D" will be required to decorate each panel. It will only be stapled to the panels, one on each side, after all panels have been inserted to the top and base of the lantern.


To assemble:

1) Get your 16 rubber bands ready. Secure two rubber bands to the base of each panel "C" as shown here.

2) Bottom to bottom, slot all panels to base, circle "B". The slits at "B" should sit between the "V" of the rubber bands which will hold each panel in place.

3) Slit to slit, top to the top, slot the panels to circle "A".

4) Staple "D" one and each side of panel "C", right below circle "A". Then push a semi cirlce into each panel as shown here.

5) At the top of lantern, cut a smaller circle in its centre. Punched two holes opposite each other. Push a string through one hole then the other end to the other before tying knots at each end. I used a string that I removed from a paper bag I have.

6) You can decorate it further by colouring it or sticking coloured papers on it.

7) Your lantern is ready. Just remove 1 panel to insert candle for a light up.


8) Push the panel back in place once candle is lighted. Enjoy.

If you like this, check out the free tutorials for other lanterns that I have created.

Make a hexangon shaped lantern.

Have you bought moon cakes to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival yet? I have not but lanterns I have created for my children are ready. Here is a tutorial guide on the one I have created for Calvin.

Free Tutorial for Lanterns

View SlideShare presentation (tags: free tutorial lanterns cupboard)

To do the cut out for decorating the surface, check out the instruction for creating a Polish Gwiazdy. It is similar to doing a cut out for snowflakes. The design of the one I have pasted on my lantern is cut out from a square piece of paper.

Keep folding the square to cut out a triangular shape, circle or a rectangle. You can also fold it at an angle to cut. Open it up to check how it turn out before deciding if you need to do more cut outs.

Paper Bag Transformation

The library at Sungai Long Buddhist Society needs book stands for its collection of National Geographic magazines. I decided to create book stands for them since I would like to help the society save some funds.

If you are interested to make your own, I have the instruction on this slide show.

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Embroidery frame and balloon. What's the connection?

If you have kids at home, you are bound to have some balloons from parties the kids had attended. These may have been given out at shopping complexes during promotions. Once these balloons have deflated what can you do with them?

First go and look around for some embroidery frames. You most likely have at least one sitting in your store room somewhere from a past hobby phase someone in your family went through.

Got that? Now sit down and watch Hillar Bergman creates a drum out of them with the help of some clamps.



Drum away abandoned materials.

Table Chic from Trash

I have been watching David Tutera on Party Planner and...




...he has inspired me to create a flora centre piece for dining table.



All you need to salvage from your bin are:

1) 4 Plastic Bags in one or two colours to from stamens
2) 4 Plastic Bags in a larger size to from petals of flower
3) 2 Plastic Bags in smaller size in 2 different shades of colour
4) 7 small batteries to to add weight to piece
5) 2 rubber bands

Equipment Needed
1) Scissors

Here is the instruction.

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Like it? Then make many of them in different shades to decorate your dinning table.

I have been inspired by David. Have I inspired you?

A reminder that words can kill.

So, you like my write up about props and would like to create your own?

These are the material and tools you need:

1) Scissors
2) Rubberbands
3) Magic Pen for writing and colouring
4) Cardboard from a box

Method

1) Create the handle and write the word "Handle" on it. The handle can be in any style you like. I have created mine by drawing circles that overlap one another.



2) Reinforce the cardboard by stapling a narrow strip of cardboard to the back of the handle at the tip and mid section of the handle.



3) Create another piece to form the "T" of the handle. Write the words "With Care" on this piece.



4) Create the sharp end of the sword and write the word "Swords" in the direction as shown in the picture.



5) Staple the handle together as shown below.



This is how it will look from the front.



6) Place the pointed end of the sword on top of the handle, with words facing out.



Turn it around to check to make sure that the handle covers the first letter, "S", of the word "SWORDS".



Use the rubberbands to hold them together.



When you turn the pointed end the other way and hold it in place with the rubberbands. This is what you will get...



... a picture like this when you cannot afford a serious actor.

Drawers cum gift boxes.

Would you like to create this gift box to fit the "Chest of Drawers"?



Method:
1) Cut the bottom off the tissue box. The bottom will form the cover of the box.

2) Place the cover on the opening, as shown below, to get it to fit before stapling the sides of the cover up to hold it in shape.

3) Add thin cardboard to fit the sides and bottom of the box to reinforce it. Staple them to the box.



Here is a picture of the cover beside the box.



Place the cover on the box and this is how it will look.



Paper mache it with 1 layer of white paper to colour it or wrap it up with wrapping paper.

Here is another modified version of the "Chest of Drawers" earlier posted. This one has legs.





The legs are made of leftover strips of cardboard placed laterally to level with that of the extended end on both sides of the chest.