kids summer crafts lanterns, miy, miycreations

Miycreations Project article and photographs
by Madeleine M Langlois MaddyLane Designs

"Illuminating collage” Recycled Paper Luminaries Collage
“Creative Luminaries Kids can make at home, camp or the cottage”

Hands-on time: Less than one hour.
Total time: plus drying time for the medium and top coat.
Skill: Super easy and kid-friendly. (Great cottage project)
Cost estimate: pennies per lantern

Materials & tools:

Plain glass votive holders or drinking glasses that have a few scratches on them or that you
no longer use, or other glass container type of your choice (available at dollar stores or
garage sales)

Paper remnants ~ Tissue paper in assorted colours, textured white rice paper, and
decorative paper with a design of choice such as dragonflies, butterflies, or flowers. (I used
the various colours; green, lime, yellow, white swirl textured rice paper and plain paper with
moss green dragonfly designs)*

Scissors

Newspapers

Mod-Podge for outdoor projects

A 2.5 cm foam brush or a wide paint brush

Exterior as varnish water based brush-on type, matt or gloss

Tea candles or votive candles of your choice

(available at art and craft supply stores and around your home)

Paper collage luminaries make an ideal cottage or camp project to keep children creative
during the summer. It’s actually a great summer activity to do with a group of children. Chic
paper collage luminaries are easily achieved using only a few basic supplies to elegantly
illuminate summer nights in style. A creative patchwork of colourful tissue papers, perfect to
utilize remnant pieces are applied directly onto small glasses or votive types using Mod-
podge. Since these luminaries are for outdoor patio décor it is best to use Mod-podge
medium made especially for use on outdoor projects. They can be made using various
glass containers in assorted sizes and quantities to illuminate a table, a deck, a patio, a
path around a pool, porch, stairs or garden. Have a look in your cupboards and see what
you are not using, it’s a great way to reuse and recycle glassware. The soft glow of the
flickering candles, create the perfect ambiance for outdoor parties and gatherings in the
city or in the country.

Wash and dry the glass items beforehand. Cover your work area with newspapers.
Using a variation of colours and shapes cut out small pieces of tissue paper with scissors or
by simply tearing the edges with your fingers.

Using the foam brush, apply a thin layer outdoor Mod-podge medium to one section of the
exterior of the glass item at a time. Apply some medium to each piece of paper prior to
positioning them all around the outside of the container. Once a paper piece is positioned,
using a foam brush or your fingers gently smooth it into place, removing any air bubbles.
Continue to apply pieces of paper randomly or strategically, overlapping them to create
unique design or colour play, until the glass item is completely covered. Apply paper pieces
along the edges, folding then as you apply the medium with a foam brush to slightly cover
the rim area along the inside of the border.

To add the focal point and embellishment to the luminaries; cut out a decorative design
such as a dragonfly, a flower, or stripes from the paper type of your choice and apply it to
the collage with medium and the foam brush. Let the glass containers fully dry.

Once the glass items are completely dry apply a coat or two of exterior varnish, letting them
dry between each coat application. Wait 12 hours before bringing the luminaries outdoors.

Place a tea light or votive candle inside the glass container at the center, secure it with
sticky tack, tape or wax if desired. Enjoy the soft colourful glow on a summer’s eve.

Variations;

Other items that can be created with tissue collage, are lamp bases, lampshade's, charger
plates (using clear glass plates doing the collage on the back side of the plate), galvanized
buckets and watering cans. Decoupage pictures from magazines of fancy napkins can also
be incorporated in any creation.

Recycled wine or fancy juice bottles make cool collage creations to decorate the cottage
with wild flower arrangements or to use as candle holders.

Asian style luminaries can be created combining red and gold rice papers with Asian
newsprint pieces, then paint prosperity symbols on the finished collage. For a contemporary
look, use bold geometric shapes or paper band strips in vivid colours. For a country garden
feel use pastels with flower images. Monograms, letters or words can be painted on the
luminaries with exterior acrylics. If you are making several projects at a time, make sure to
clean the foam brush between projects. Modge-podge mediums are also available in matt,
high gloss and sparkling finishes.

Quick summer entertaining idea: Great idea for an outdoor centerpiece; transform and
decorate a large glass bowl with the decorative paper collage treatment and once dry place
water and floating candles inside. Sure to be the highlight of the night.

Miy Kids Eco Craft Project
Kids Summer Crafts ~ Lanterns
"f o r t h e p u r e j o y o f m a k i n g t h i n g s"