How to Make Paper Luminaries

Paper luminaries are easy to make and add a homey appeal to your sidewalk and steps during the holidays. Traditionally, you saw them only around Christmas but now they are popular on other holidays, especially Halloween.

Step 1: Cutting the Design

Place the heavy cardboard inside the paper sack and lay it flat on a table or counter top. Use your pencil to draw the design you want for your luminary. For Halloween, a jack-o'-lantern face is popular or the silhouette of a quarter moon and a bat. Use the box knife to cut out this design. Remove the cardboard and open the sack. Pour in about an inch of sand to weight it. Place the votive and holder or the battery powered candle in the sand. Place them at regular intervals along your walk or steps.

Use a Christmas or holiday design for a festive holiday luminary.

Step 2: Paper Lanterns

You can use Japanese paper lanters in a similar way. Instead of cutting out a design in the lantern, cut them out of black contact paper or black construction paper and glue the designs to the lanterns. Put the candles on the ground and set the lanterns over the candles. If useing a battery operated candle, they can also be hung from trees.