DIY Christmas Lantern: How to Make and Color Step by Step

Coloring Bunny IconByColoring Bunny Team Hours Published:
Making a DIY Christmas Present Lantern Craft Idea

Looking for a fun, creative, and cozy Christmas craft? This step-by-step guide will show you how to design, color, and assemble your very own Christmas present lantern! Perfect for decorating your home, brightening cozy winter nights, or adding handmade charm to your festive table display.

⚠️ Adult supervision is required. Some steps involve scissors, hole punching, and glue, and must be done carefully by an adult or with close supervision.

What You Will Need

  • Blank sheets of card or thick paper (A4, Letter, or larger)
  • Pencil and eraser
  • Optional: Ruler
  • Scissors (child-safe recommended)
  • Non-toxic coloring supplies (colored pencils, crayons, or markers)
  • Tissue paper (for the glowing lantern windows)
  • Safe, non-toxic glue stick
  • Hole punch
  • Ribbon or string (for tying the top)
  • Battery-powered tealight (no real candles!)

Safety Notes

  • Scissors: Use child-safe scissors; adults should handle detailed cutting like windows and holly leaves.
  • Cutting Surface: Always cut on a safety mat or cutting board to protect your work surface and avoid slips.
  • Glue Stick: Use only non-toxic, child-safe glue.
  • Hole Punch: This step must be done by an adult.
  • Tissue Paper: Handle gently – it tears easily, so adults may need to assist with cutting and gluing.
  • Battery Tealight Only: Never use real flames – paper lanterns are flammable.
  • Unattended Use: Do not leave battery-powered tealights on or unattended. Switch them off when not in use.

DIY Christmas Lantern Step by Step Guide

Step 1:
Fold a piece of card or paper evenly into four vertical sections, leaving clear crease lines. These folds will form the sides of your Christmas lantern.

A folded sheet of white card on a pink background, showing four vertical sections created by even creases for the lantern’s sides.

A sheet of card folded in half with a small tab on the left hand side.

A sheet of card folded in quarters with a small tab on the left hand side.

A folded sheet of white card on a pink background, showing four vertical sections created by even creases for the lantern’s sides.

Step 2:
Fold the same piece of card or paper horizontally into four sections, making the top section slightly larger. These folds will act as guides for drawing your design and forming the base and top of your lantern.

Two hands folding a white piece of card horizontally into quarters on a pink background, creating guideline rows for the Glow Christmas Present Lantern coloring craft.

A sheet of card folded vertically and horizontally into rows and columns.

A hand folding a white piece of card horizontally into quarters on a pink background, creating guideline rows for the Glow Christmas Present Lantern coloring craft.

A folded sheet of card into rows and columns

Step 3:
Draw a simple lantern design within the folded sections. The top section will be used to tie the lantern together, the middle sections will form the main body of the lantern, and the bottom section can be left plain to create the base.

A hand-drawn lantern outline sketched across the folded sections of a white sheet of card on a pink background, showing the top, middle, and base areas for the Glow Christmas Present Lantern craft.

Step 4:
Color your lantern design using bright, festive colors like red, green, or gold.

A hand coloring a drawn lantern with a red marker on folded white paper, adding festive color to the Glow Christmas Present Lantern craft.

Step 5:
Once you’ve finished coloring, your lantern design should be bright and festive – ready to cut out and assemble.

A red hand-colored paper lantern design with four panels and diamond patterns, laid flat on a pink background, ready for cutting and assembly.

Step 6:
Carefully cut out your lantern shape, including each panel and window section. Make small slits along the base tabs so they can be folded and glued later. This step should be done by an adult or with close supervision.

A hand using red scissors to cut out a red paper lantern design with diamond-shaped window patterns on a pink background.

A fully cut-out red paper lantern design with four diamond-patterned window panels and a white folded base strip, laid flat on a pink background.

Step 7:
Cut out small rectangles of light-colored tissue paper (like yellow or gold) to fit behind each lantern window. These will act as glowing panels once light shines through.

A hand holding a yellow piece of tissue paper in front of a red cut-out paper lantern design with diamond-shaped windows, ready to be glued behind the openings.

A hand gluing yellow tissue paper behind one window of a red paper lantern with diamond-shaped cutouts, showing how the glowing panel effect begins to take shape.

A red paper lantern design with all four window panels backed with yellow tissue paper, creating a bright and glowing stained-glass effect.

A hand folding a red and yellow paper lantern along its creases, shaping it into a box form with glowing tissue-paper windows.

Step 8:
Apply glue along the side tab and attach it to the opposite edge to close the lantern. Hold it in place for a few seconds until it’s firmly sealed into a box shape.

A person using a glue stick to attach the side tab of a red and yellow paper lantern, forming it into a glowing 3D shape.

Two hands pressing the sides of a red and yellow paper lantern together, helping it form into a standing 3D box shape.

Step 9:
Fold in the bottom flaps and glue them securely to create the base of your lantern. Press gently until it holds firm and stands upright on its own.

A hand holding a red and yellow paper lantern while gluing the bottom flaps together to form the sturdy base.

Hands gluing the bottom flaps of a red and yellow paper lantern to form the solid base of the lantern.

Step 10:
Use a hole punch to make a small hole at the top of the lantern. This is where you’ll thread your ribbon or string. An adult should do this step, as the punch can be sharp and requires care.

A hand using a hole punch to make a hole at the top of a red and yellow paper lantern for attaching a ribbon.

A red and yellow paper lantern with four punched holes at the top, ready for a ribbon to be added.

Step 11:
Place a small battery-powered tealight inside the lantern before tying the ribbon. It will softly shine through the colored tissue paper, making your lantern glow beautifully!

⚠️ Safety Note: Always use battery-powered lights. Never use real candles, as paper lanterns are highly flammable.

A hand placing a small battery-powered tealight candle inside a red and yellow paper lantern to make it glow safely.

A glowing battery-powered tealight placed inside a yellow and red paper lantern, viewed from above.

Step 12:
Thread a piece of string or ribbon through the holes at the top and tie securely to close your lantern.

A hand threading yellow ribbon through the top of a glowing paper lantern, ready to tie it closed.

A hand tying a bright yellow ribbon through the top of a red paper lantern to close it.

A finished handmade red and yellow Christmas lantern tied with a bright yellow ribbon, glowing softly against a pink background.

Step 13:
Draw a simple holly and berries design on a small piece of card to decorate the top of your lantern.

Hands sketching a holly and berries design with a pencil on a small white card, next to a red and yellow paper lantern.

Step 14:
Outline your holly and berries using the same colors you’ll be coloring with – green for the leaves and red for the berries. This helps make your design stand out and stay neat when filled in.

A hand outlining a holly and berries drawing in green and red marker on white card beside a red paper lantern.

Step 15:
Color in your holly and berries with bright red for the berries and green for the leaves. You can add a small white highlight on each berry to make them look shiny and festive.

A hand coloring in red holly berries with green leaves on white paper beside a red and yellow paper lantern.

Step 16:
Finish coloring your holly and berries, filling in the leaves with a deep green to complete your festive decoration. Once done, it’s ready to be cut out and added to your lantern.

A hand coloring in the green leaves of a holly and berries drawing beside a red and yellow paper lantern on a pink background.

Step 17:
Carefully cut out your holly and berries decoration. Take your time around the edges. An adult should do this step or supervise closely to make sure it’s done safely.

A hand using red-handled scissors to cut out a colored holly and berries drawing beside a red and yellow paper lantern on a pink background.

A cut-out holly and berries decoration placed on a pink background beside a red and yellow paper lantern.

Step 18:
Glue your holly and berries decoration to the top of the lantern for a festive finishing touch. It’s now ready to glow and shine for Christmas.

A finished red and yellow paper lantern decorated with a yellow ribbon and holly and berries on top, held against a pink background.

A finished red and yellow paper lantern decorated with a yellow ribbon and holly and berries on top, glowing in the dark.

A finished red and yellow paper lantern decorated with a yellow ribbon and holly and berries on top, glowing in the dark.

A finished handmade red and yellow paper lantern decorated with a yellow ribbon and holly and berries, glowing softly on a pink surface.

A finished handmade red and yellow paper lantern decorated with a yellow ribbon and holly and berries, glowing softly on a pink surface.

Let us know how your Christmas lantern turned out in the comments.

🖨️ Explore All Pages
Coloring Bunny Icon

Our team of designers, illustrators, and editors works together to craft original, family-friendly coloring pages for print and online use. Each page is thoughtfully created, then reviewed for accuracy, accessibility, and quality. Since launching in May 2025, we’ve grown from a cozy online coloring tool into a full library of printables, cozy and mandala collections, and a vibrant creative community. We’re dedicated to making creativity accessible for all ages, with new designs and features shaped by user feedback. Learn more about our story and the roles of our team on our About page. You can reach us directly via our Contact page or connect with us on our social channels. We also share relaxing, cozy coloring videos on our YouTube channel.