Skip to Content

Mid-Autumn Festival: Lantern Ideas

Posted on Last updated:


I remember I did a traditional cellophane lantern in my schooling year. When the Mid-Autumn Festival was just around the corner, our Art & Craft teacher would ask us to make a lantern from all sorts of materials.

Mid autumn cellophane lantern & celebration. View lanterns created using cellophane paper, bunny, car, angry bird, chicken. With more lantern ideas

In order to perfect the skill in making the cellophane lantern, I stopped over at a lantern shop on my way back home from school. I stood there for hours watching an old “sifu” (master) sitting on a stool while making the lantern. After the “spying” and learning, I happily went back and tried it out myself. Though the piece didn’t turn out nice I was very happy with the result done by my little hands.

Mid autumn cellophane lantern & celebration. View lanterns created using cellophane paper, bunny, car, angry bird, chicken. With more lantern ideas

Handmade Cellophane / Glass Paper Lantern is a sunset industry due to the tediousness and the skill needed to produce it. Not many youngsters are interested to learn and inherit the skill because it can’t make them a living. If I am able to find this special cellophane again, I will make a tutorial to show you how to make a traditional cellophane lantern.

Mid autumn cellophane lantern & celebration. View lanterns created using cellophane paper, bunny, car, angry bird, chicken. With more lantern ideas

Do you remember the Pagoda lantern I made 2 years ago… gosh!!! Can’t believe that it has been 2 years!!! I am still using it at every Mooncake Festival. Browse through the above pictures and you will find some creative lantern ideas I found in my local township.

recycle jar to make lantern

Here is another one I found on Pinterest on how to DIY a lantern using popsicle sticks, foam sheets (you can substitute it with tissue paper), and double-sided tape. Decorate it with some drawings and light them up with LED lights.

More Mid-Autumn lantern ideas on Pinterest.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!!!

Red Round Lantern hanging high up by the roadside

Cellophane Lantern
Author bio

Joanne Loh

~ Founder and Editor ~
Born into a creative family, Joanne Loh has over 40 years of experience in sewing, crocheting, and knitting. Well-known for her creative approach to DIY crafts, her creations demonstrate a strong dedication to quality and spreading her enthusiasm among the crafting community.
Read More

Nate

Thursday 7th of February 2013

Hey there! Did you ever make the tutorial? I am wanting to make a dragon for a very special person this Chinese New Year AND her birthday, but can`t find instructions anywhere :(

Craft Passion

Friday 8th of February 2013

I didn't have any tutorial for Dragon but I did share an chinese dragon puppet from Family Fun, here. May be it could be a good fit for your special person.

Kim Tran

Tuesday 11th of September 2012

Hi,

My name is Kim, and it's always been a life long goal of mine to make a lantern for the moon festival. As a child, I was always jealous of my peers who competed in our community's lantern competition with pikachu, powerpuff girls, or firefly lanterns made by their parents. I learned that during this time of the year, Vietnamese parents spend time with their kids by making them lanterns. My parents lacked this skill, and so I wanted to preserve this culture when I have kids in the future. During my senior year of high school, I attempted to make a large goldfish using cellophane; however, when it came to lighting up the lantern, I discovered that the heat easily melted the cellophane. I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your lanterns photo and I would appreciate it if you can offer me basic advice to create a traditional lantern, such as what materials are appropriate to use, where I can buy glass paper (if that exists in the US), how to light up the lantern without melting it, etc. Every piece of detail will help me. I look forward to your reply.

- Kim

Craft Passion

Tuesday 11th of September 2012

Hi Kim, thanks for your wonderful story about your childhood with lantern. I am not sure what type of cellophane you used but if it is not very near the the flame, it should be nice and safe. I hope I can make up a simple tutorial about cellophane lantern, let me arrange for that. If possible I would try to do it this year since Mid Autumn is just around the corner, otherwise, sorry for keeping you waiting.