Watercolor DIY Paper Lanterns

I am just thrilled about the project I am sharing with you today – these fun watercolor DIY paper lanterns!  This project is so easy that even a child could accomplish it, yet the end result feels more like ART than like a craft.  Plus, it’s watercolor, and I’m a little obsessed with anything watercolor at the moment.  Anyone with me?

The only problem with traditional watercolor is that it can get overly messy–and it is easy to use too much water, which runs the risk of ruining a project as fragile as this one.  There is a reason why watercolor paper is so thick.

But, then I saw these AMAZING DIY WATERCOLOR NOTECARDS a fellow contributor shared here.  (Seriously beautiful, right?).  This notecard was made with Spectrum Aqua markers that do everything watercolor–only it’s in a marker.  Yes!

I had to try it.  And so, I combined my love of watercolor and my love of outdoor entertaining and come up with these fun and artistic DIY paper lanterns.  If you’d like to make your own, follow along.

Supplies needed to make your own DIY paper lanterns:

• White Paper Lanterns.
• Spectrum Aqua Watercolor Markers.
• Spray Bottle with Water.

Set up your lanterns as described in the packaging instructions.

After this there are really one 2 steps to this project and they are both fun and easy.

First, select a few of the watercolor markers and start scribbling!  Scribble all over the lantern, making sure the entire surface is generally covered.  No need to be perfect here. In fact the watercolor effect will be better if you aren’t perfect.

For my two lanterns, I did one with vertical sections of color and for the other I did horizontal sections of color.  I thought both turned out really cool.  Just a note here about placing your colors.  Keep in mind that we want these colors to run together and blend on the finished lanterns.  So try to pick colors that will mix nicely.

After the scribbling is done it time to get these DIY paper lanterns looking like they have been watercolored!

To do this, hang your lanterns up over a surface that will either clean easily or you don’t care if it gets dirty.  The colors are going to drip.

Grab your spray bottle filled with water and just start spraying your lantern.  But, you don’t want to get it too wet!  Remember, you are working with very thin paper.  Spray just enough water so that the colors run. Also, resist touching the lantern once it is wet.

Allow the DIY paper lanterns to hang and dry completely before you try to move them or touch them.  Once the paper is wet it is very fragile especially the bottom which will be the last place to dry.

Once the DIY paper lanterns are dry hang them up and get that party started!  They are particularly beautiful when lit up at night, and romantic ;).

Thanks for being here,

Nancy

Nancy is the play-at-home mom of 3 little ones, ages 3 and under. When she gets a chance she blogs at dosmallthingswithlove.com about the intersection of motherhood and creativity. She has a special passion for embroidery, something she has been doing and experimenting with since she was a girl. A farm girl at heart, she now lives in Minneapolis and enjoys gardening, reading, stitching, traveling and painting. Most any day you can find her with a baby on her hip, barefoot, chasing her kids around the yard and eating beans fresh out of the garden.