Ok - so get out your patterned paper and cut it down to size.

I would start with a piece that is 8x6 but you can do any measurements, as long as the sorter sides are just two inches shorter than the longer sides.

So, I did some that were 8x6 and 6x4 and so on, I did mostly smaller sizes but you could bigger, like 10x18 or 12x10!

And when I learned how to do this, I was taught with a ruler, but of course, a paper trimmer would work lovely.

Since you will be able to see both sides of paper, I would use some that is double sided.

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

Now, you're going to want to cut strips in your paper on the folded side. This is important, start your cuts on the folded side, not the open side.
You want them to be fairly the same size and don't cute too close to the edge, as these are your bottom and tops to your lanterns.

It should look like this when you're done:

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

lol 

BethPerry joined VP on { 2009-02-21 } and has made { 1863 } posts.

(EDITED TO ADD: Was having trouble getting the photos to show in this post. You can view them by scrolling down to the revised step five. )

Now stand it up straight.

Take your hand, place it over the top and smoosh it down gently.
Yay! A paper lantern!!!

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

Here are a whole bunch that I made this morning, in some smaller sizes:

Some things I learned.... I had an easier time with the thinner paper than the thicker. Also, these are a bit fragile, and since I've been having to travel back and forth to my dad's lately to I've just sorta been tossing them in the back seat. In other words - they can get bent a bit easily! So I would hang them and leave them if you can!

If you find that for whatever reason the top or bottom band gets a crease in it and wants to bend in a spot, you may be able to round it out again, but if not, I would just start again, since these are so quick and easy!!

Also - to hang them you can poke holes if you want to string them. I just slipped my string through two opposite cuts and tied the string at the top.

They are also pretty just sitting on a table or even with some electric tea lights in them!

You can even stack these on top of one another with different sizes and use ribbons on the bands, lots of options!! Any embellishing would be lovely as well.

I'm working on getting all of my hung up on a light fixture in my house, I'll be taking pics tomorrow to show them.

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

I think I am going to decorate my plain white one with ribbon. I still plan to make more with pattern paper. This was a fun CC. Thanks again!

JessicaAFM joined VP on { 2009-05-04 } and has made { 173 } posts.

The hot dog fold!!

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

Don't forget that if you get your projects uploaded to the gallery by 8pm next Sunday - the 17th you'll be entered into a drawing for this awesome RAK.

I've got about five packs of these awesome label stickers up for grabs from TwoGirlzStuff on Etsy  for the random winner!
I've got some gorgeous colors and styles to share too. These are some of my very favorite label stickers!!!

The gallery is here:
http://www.vintageplum.com/gallery/users/creative_cafe

Don't forget to share you projects with us! I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

You didn't see them on the blog... here are the ones I made to show on the blog:

This way you can see them hanging!

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.

I was having trouble staying in the chat room tonight....it was as if the site was just really busy or something. I dunno.....maybe it was my computer.

Thankfully I had most of the steps down before that though!  It looks really cute and I will definitely be making more of these.

Thanks Dani!

pink joined VP on { 2009-03-25 } and has made { 202 } posts.

Sorry I totally missed CC last night. But Dani, these are SOOOO cute! I can't wait to see the photo with the lights you mentioned. I think they'd be fun to do with strings of Christmas lights on the deck. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us!

Greta joined VP on { 2009-04-15 } and has made { 507 } posts.

Hey everyone! Just wanted to remind you that if you made any of these lanterns, feel free to upload photos to the gallery to be entered into the drawing for the prize!

danilouwho joined VP on { 2009-02-20 } and has made { 675 } posts.