Ecopaper lantern

This is the 'recipe' for the paper lantern. I used the Kit for ecoprinting on paper to create the paper design. Basically, you will need some thin paper (let the light shine through!) a light source and some leaves.

The paper

I used el cheapo 80gsm photocopy paper. It's amazing that it will withstand the ecoprinting process, but it does. The thin paper works well because it lets light shine through.

I layered the paper with leaves and bits of cardstock, and simmered it in a coloured soup for 40 minutes. If you don't have the ecoprint kit you could use any fine paper.

The light

I used small lights from Woolworths that are designed to be used as children's night lights. They are LED and hence cool (they won't burn the house down). The brand is 'Crest' and they cost about $7 each. For the big lights I used the amazing Luci solar light. Check it out here. Everybody should have at least one of these great solar lights. They are a bit exxy but ours has lasted for 10 years.

The botanicals

There is no water in this lantern light, so your botanicals should be capable of lasting water free for several hours. Australian natives are perfect for this. Or use dried flowers. You can even do this without flowers, but you will find that the LED lights are so bright they will hurt people's eyes. You can overcome this by tucking tissue paper into the top.

A good layout for making the ecoprinted paper for the small sized lanterns (a layout that suits this project) is to cut two 33cm x 15cm pieces out of an A3 sheet. Fold the paper into thirds and layer with botanicals.

Brief You tube video here