DIY Halloween Paper Lanterns

Are you looking for DIY Halloween paper lanterns? Here is a quick and easy paper lantern craft. I've also created free spooky faces to download just in case you don't want to draw your own. These super cute glam shrouded ghosts would make fabulous Halloween party decorations too!

This easy Halloween craft is also suitable for children to make.

An incentive for making paper lanterns for Halloween

I wasn't always a big fan of Halloween. When we first moved to Germany all those years ago, Halloween wasn't a thing at all. I guess I got out of the habit of crafting and decorating for it.

It wasn't until my boys started growing up that I began to feel that they were missing out on a whole load of Halloween craftiness! My boys always loved to craft with me and Halloween is such a super opportunity for making all sorts of weird and wonderful decorations. It's a perfect crafting time for boys!

As luck would have it, we had some American friends living just across the road from us. It turned out that their boys loved to craft just as much as ours did – hurrah!

From then on, Halloween was a BIG THING for our kids. They looked forward to it every year! The costumes and masks got better and better as they got older.

Now, my boys are all grown up. That means that Halloween crafting has all but died a death (pun intended) in our house.

Halloween Blog Hop to the rescue!

So, when some blogger friends invited me to take part in a funky Halloween blog hop, I didn't think twice about it! I can't tell you how lovely it is to craft just for the fun of it! Don't forget to visit my friends' blogs to see all their creative Halloween designs. You'll find the links at the bottom of this post.

These DIY Halloween paper lanterns were made in memory of all the fabulous lanterns our boys have made over the years. Maybe I'll hang them outside the front door, ready to greet this year's trick or treaters (That's if they are allowed to come – thanks, COVID!).

On the other hand, I quite like the idea of creating an adult Halloween buffet around them.

Either way, I can't wait to see our boys faces when they see them!

SAVE IT FOR LATER

If you'd like to save this DIY Halloween paper lanterns tutorial for later, be sure to pin it to your most relevant Pinterest board. If you hover over the image below with your mouse or tap the top left corner of the image the Pinterest 'Save' button will appear

Here are some more DIY lantern projects you may like:

• How to make beautiful pressed flower lanterns
• Glass Jar Lanterns with dried flowers

Spooky ghost faces to download

You can draw some spooky ghost faces yourself or you can download my free ghost faces from the free reader library. My ghost faces are large enough for a paper lantern around twenty centimetres in diameter (Approx. eight inches).

If you're not already a subscriber to our blog newsletter, you can sign up on the newsletter page. The password to the download library is at the bottom of each newsletter I send out.

Supplies needed to make ghost paper lanterns

Some of these links are affiliate. This does not impact the price of the items, but I will make a few cents commission if an item is bought.

• White paper lanterns or
• Paper lantern and light pack
• Black cheesecloth
• Spooky faces (free download)
• Black craft paper
• Tracing paper
• Googly eyes
• Mod Podge
• LED String lights or
• LED party lights or
• Lantern holder walking stick
• Pencil
• Paper Scissors
• Silver dot stickers (Optional)
• Black duct tape (Optional)

Shop supplies

A QUICK REMINDER: When attempting any DIY project, please take care to undertake the necessary safety precautions. You should always follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations when using any product or tool. When following my instructions for a DIY project, you are doing so at your own risk.

Instructions for making paper lanterns with lights

Step 1 – Download the 'Spooky eyes' PDF.

See the information above about how to download the PDF template.

Step 2 – Make spooky ghost faces.

Place the tracing paper over a spooky ghost face and trace around it.

Place the tracing paper (pencil side down) onto a sheet of black card and trace around the pencil tracing again. That will transfer your spooky face onto the black paper.

Repeat this step for the rest of the spooky ghost faces.

Cut out the spooky eyes and mouth.

Step 3 – Glue spooky faces to paper lanterns.

Use craft glue to attach the spooky eyes and mouth to the hanging paper lantern. If you are using the googly eyes, stick them onto the paper lantern instead or over the top of the paper eyes.

Step 4 – Stick Silver dot stickers to lanterns

My lantern came with the silver dots already on it although, you can get the same effect with silver dot stickers. Buy silver dot stickers in various sizes for the best result.

Step 5 – Make shroud for ghost lantern

Make a shroud from black cheesecloth or black crafting fabric. Around Halloween, you can usually buy it in the Halloween décor section of the supermarket or at a craft store.

Drape the crafting fabric over the Halloween lanterns and let it hang down over the sides. Cut the fabric to size. (However long you'd like the shroud to be).

Step 6 – connect lights

Now the DIY Halloween paper lanterns are almost finished. All that's left is to add some sparkly lights.

Here are some ideas for adding lights to paper lanterns.

• Buy a lantern holder with an LED lamp to attach to your paper lantern.
• Hook some battery-operated LED lantern lights inside the lantern.
• Wind LED string lights inside the lantern. Attach the battery pack to a handle or stick with duct tape.

Step 7 – Enjoy your DIY Halloween paper lanterns!

• Use invisible string to hang these DIY Halloween paper lanterns from the ceiling.
• Place the ghost lanterns on a buffet table and place party food around them.
• Screw a hook into the end of a wooden dowel for a DIY lantern holder.
• Hang your Halloween lanterns from (a covered) porch.
• Add a ghost lantern to a flower pot outside the front door.

How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments below!

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Shop ready-made lanterns

Love the look but don't have time to make them? Check out these ready-made Halloween paper lanterns.

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Frequently asked

Is it safe to use paper lanterns?

All of the lantern lighting options mentioned above are battery operated. No real candles were used for this project.

Using a real candle poses the threat of fire to the fragile paper lantern.

Small battery-operated lantern lights are attached to metal loops inside the paper lanterns and do not come into contact with the sides of the lanterns.

The LED string lights are cool to the touch and are safe to use inside paper lanterns.

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I hope you enjoyed this DIY paper lantern tutorial. More than anything else, I hope you are able to enjoy Halloween with family and friends this year!

Happy crafting!

Watch it on YouTube

If you would rather watch a video tutorial, you can find this project on YouTube here:

How to make Halloween ghost paper lanterns - YouTube video tutorial.

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These posts are great too!

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More Halloween crafting ideas

Here are some more ideas for creative Halloween crafts from some of my crafty friends.

DIY Halloween Lanterns

Learn how to make these cute DIY Halloween Lanterns from Kippi at Kippi at Home.

5 Fun Halloween Decorations on a Budget

Janet at A Life of Balance has gathered 5 of the best indoor and outdoor Halloween decoration ideas to give you that spooky Halloween aesthetic on a budget.

Vintage Bicycle Rim Wreath

Meegan at What Meegan Makes creates a unique, non spooky Halloween Wreath from a Vintage Bicycle Rim-Along with other components from the craft store. With a touch of Boho style, your friends and neighbors will love this for all of your Halloween celebrations.

DIY Halloween Spider

Learn how to make this spooky spider from Olivia O'Hern.

DIY Scarecrow with Lace Accents

This DIY scarecrow by Cindy at Cloches & Lavender is easy to make. It has an elegant and rustic look. Lace is added to overalls with a straw hat. This is perfect for Halloween and throughout the fall season. Use outside on a covered porch or inside the home

Zombies Garage Door Halloween Decoration

Rebecca at Zucchini Sisters teaches you how to create haunted garage door Halloween decorations with a zombie theme that's easy, budget friendly and sure to scare kids and adults alike!

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