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Wooden christmas lantern

duration: 20 - 40 minutes

age: from 7 years

A wooden christmas lantern that lights up.

Wooden christmas lantern

tools

  • Laser cutter
  • Laptop with lasercut software
  • Wood glue
  • Sanding paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue-stick
  • Hobby knife

materials

  • 3mm / 1/8inch plywood
  • Electric tea light (LED)
  • Crêpe paper

downloads

step 1 - Make the design

  • Open the provided template in your lasercut software (I use Lightburn)
  • Find some nice Christmas silhouettes on the internet.
  • Trace the image and scale it to fit a panel. Make sure to keep some room at the bottom to accomodate the bottom of the led light.

step 2 - Repeat the design for all panels

  • Repeat the previous step for all the big panels. You dan also add something to the smaller top panel if you wish.

step 3 - Cut your design

  • Cut your design with the laser cutter.

step 4 - Add the crepe paper

  • Cut pieces of crêpe paper a bit larger than the cutouts in the panels.
  • Apply glue stick to the back of the panels and glue the crêpe paper over the cutouts.
  • Trim any paper that sticks out over the side with a hobby knife.

step 5 - Glue the lantern together

  • Do a dry-fit to see how the panels fit together.
  • Use some sanding paper to loosen up any joints that are too tight.
  • Use some wood glue to glue the panels together.

step 6 - Place it over your led light and.. Merry Christmas!

  • Make sure to only use an electric led tea light, not a real candle!
  • Place your lantern over the tea-light and enjoy your creation.
  • Merry Christmas!.