Making paper lanterns for local village event to walk streets

[what..the?]

Never made one before, looked on line found very little out, Does anyone know anywhere on the high street cheap for thin wire or tissue paper? I have a huge mega roll of thick heavy brown paper but i assume this it too thick and wont let the light through, it could only be used for cutting shapes out like when you carve a pumpkin you need to cut shapes out of a solid and let the light shine through so if I make a plain lantern and then cut pictures or hole punch patterns the light would show them up.

[bednobs]

won't it be a bit difficult to walk the streets whilst holding onto a lantern whilst trying not to let it go out or catch fire?? Wouldn't it be easier to get something battery powered or a torch?

[bednobs]

also how are tyou going to light it? If using t-lights if you are walking about surely the wax will drip?

[what..the?]

They haven't said how others light theirs but im going to use a battery powered light seems safer

[bednobs]

i would have to agree with you there :)
you can buy battery powered mini lanterns from millets

[what..the?]

thanks for that but i think you have to make your own...I like crafts so I don't mind giving it a go

[jaydah]

A4 sheet folded in half, fold twice more & snip out Vs on edges. Open and staple lengthwise (against the folds). Cut a length of paper for top handle & staple. Hang night-light from handle by string, to drop into lantern.

[Answerprancer]

"Japanese tissue" can be bought in Ryman (at least it could a year or two when I last bought some). It's that rattly stuff like you find in shoeboxes. Any hardware shop should be able to supply thin single-core wire. As for gluing, I recommend rice paste. Just simmer some rice for much longer than normal and strain off the lumpy bits. Apply with a paint brush.

Or you could try this:
Go out and by a load of small WHITE paper bags, a small bag of sand and some nightlights. Put about a cupfull of sand in the bottom of each bag, place on floor then light a nightlight and put it on top of the sand in the bag.
They look like this:
http://upload.wikimed...s/d/dc/Luminarias.jpg

[Answerprancer]

...then again, they would need to be stationary (I just noticed you said "..to walk streets")

[Answerprancer]

Theyre great aren't they PL - some great friends of mine have night time garden parties twice a year and they use these to light the way for everyone.

[jaydah]

The floaty ones are 3 for £1 in poundland.

[joko]

you could buy one of those paper ball lampshades...that have like a coil of wire running through it...
set it up with the wire holer bit, then attach some sort of candle holder...

you can also get other shaped ones but theyre quite cheap

[what..the?]

Thanks for all these answers xxxx