bright blooms: a pretty petal lamp DIY
And this Petal template to help you cut precisely if you’re a perfectionist like me.
*(Specifics: To cover my 8″ diameter paper lantern — about $10 including the hanging cord — , I used about 12 sheets of wool felt, which I found at my craft store for 25 cents a piece. Cheap, right?)
Step 1. Print out the template and cut out the petals. Be sure to use extra sharp scissors or else the felt will fray. I used fabric scissors and they worked wonderfully. Plus, sharper scissors allow you to cut multiple pieces of felt at once, making the whole process go muchhh faster (trust me, you’ll regret it if you go one by one).
Step 2. Using a hot glue gun, dab a small bit of glue onto the center of the wide end of the petal. Wait a few seconds and then fold the corners inward, squishing the petal in between your thumb and pointer finger together to ensure a tight bond. Hold it for a few seconds or else the corners will slowly unfurl. Caution: do not squeeze your fingers directly on the glue. That glue is hot. Like super hot. If you’ve never been burnt by hot glue before, you want to keep it that way!
Step 3. Starting at the bottom opening of the paper lantern, begin attaching the petals in a circle side by side with hot glue. The tighter the space between the petals, the more full and beautiful your lamp will turn out. In the next layer, overlap the petals about halfway over the first, as shown in the picture. This part takes a while but its fun to watch your lamp gradually come to life!
And that’s it! Hot glue dries pretty quickly so your lamp will be ready to hang almost as soon as you’ve finished glueing the last layer of petals. Since the paper is so thin, be sure to use a cool, low-energy lightbulb to prevent catching on fire. (They’re a tad more expensive than average lightbulbs, but it’s worth staying fire-free).
The petals create fun shadow play and a nice, soft glow.
I loved my paper lantern so much that I made a second variation for the opposite side of my bed. I used all the same steps, just on a flared lampshade.
