If you would like to make a lantern for either of our Halloween parades you can get in touch and collect a kit from our workspace on the High Street. More information about our events can be seen here.
It will take between 60 and 90 mins to finish your lantern. It will then need to dry overnight.

Each kit contains:
· Willow:
4 x base lengths (short)
4 x side lengths (longest)
2 x cross brace lengths (medium)
6 x very short pieces
· Masking tape
· Wet strength tissue 10 x sheets (white)
· Coloured tissue
· Glue
· Sponges
· Lantern light
· Wire
· Bamboo pole
You will need:
· Scissors
· Secateurs
· Craft / sharp knife
· A bin liner
· Old clothes
1. Making the square base.
Find the four shortest sticks that make the base. Attach tape on the stick lenghways as pictured below. Attach another stick at a right angle and wrap the tail around both sticks to form a tight bond. Continue to do this until you have a square. You can reinforce each join with a second piece of tape if required.




2. Making the sides
Starting with one of the 4 medium sticks, attach a piece of tape lengthways and again use the it to wrap around a corner on the base. Repeat on all four corners.

3. Forming a Pyramid
Tape the willow where it meets in the centre. Trim off any overhanging bits using secateurs.

4. Cross-bracing
Place the two remaining lengths of willow between the base corners to make a cross brace at the bottom of the lantern. Tape it in the middle where the lengths meet.

5. Top of Pyramid
Use the shortest pieces of willow to create a square at the top, and cross brace this as with the base.
6. Cutting out the paper
Using the lantern frame as a template, cut out triangles of paper for each side. You will need two sheets per side and two sheets for the base. Allow 1-2 inch overhang around each edge.
You can cut eight triangles and two squares and set them aside.


7. Decoration
It is best to cut out shapes for decorating your lantern before you start glueing. These will show us as silhouettes so shapes should be simple - moons, stars, witches hats, pumpkins and bats all work well. You may even want to think of something that fits with the Scottish Mythology and Folklore theme for the parades! Cut your shapes out and set them aside ready to be added once the sides and base are attached.
Leaves also work well but it's best not to use too many as they will block out a lot of light.

7. Papering
Have the frame of the lantern on its side. Put a bin bag down before you start to protect your work space. Wear old clothes as the glue provided is extra strong PVA and won't come easily off clothes or surfaces.
Soak a sponge in the glue mixture and wet a triangle of tissue. Once it is completely wet with glue, lift it carefully by the bottom corners and drape over the frame. On the first sides, wrap overhanging paper around the willow so it sticks to the underside of the glued paper. Repeat for all four sides. As you add more panels, you will be able to stick the paper to adjacent side as you work your way around. Once you have done one layer on each side panel, cover the base as well.
Once complete, you can repeat all the steps above until you have two layers of paper on each side as well as the base.
You can then add your decorations. Glue these as with the white panels on a table so they are totally covered in glue and then place them glue side down on to your lantern. Wet the sponge with glue again and dab it on to the shape so that it has a glue varnish layer - this will protect your lantern from light rain and make it more robust.

10. Drying
Allow your lantern to dry overnight. Depending on how much glue you have used, it may require a bit longer.

11. Attaching The Light And Wire
Using a sharp craft knife, cut one of the top triangle apertures. Loop the lantern light over the cross brace and tie. Pull the light to illuminate.
You want to put the wire through the top of the lantern so that it hangs on the pole. You do this by putting it through the paper layer close to the top of the pyramid on the panel opposite the opening you made for hanging the light. You may find it easier to use your knife to cut a small hole in the paper for this. Thread it through and twist it above the lantern to make a loop.
Your lantern is now finished! Remember the light provided is single use to use it sparingly until after the parades. If you would like to join either of our parades you can click here to compete a form and let us know you're coming.
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