Don’t leave the lantern closed when you paint it since you won’t be able to get even coverage. Be careful not to poke the sides of the lantern with the wire or you will make a hole in it. If you have a lantern that does not have a wire frame, just lay the lantern flat on your work surface instead.
If you don’t have a drop cloth, you can also use scrap pieces of cardboard, newspapers, or plastic sheeting to protect your work area.
It’s okay to use a glass that you would normally drink out of for rinsing your brushes. Just make sure to wash it thoroughly before using it again.
You can buy acrylic and watercolor paints from art stores or craft shops. Mix colors with black paint if you want darker tones, or use white paint to make lighter tints of colors.
The size of the brush you use depends on how thick you want the strokes. Get a brush set that has multiple sizes so you can try them out. Work from the lightest color to the darkest color so it’s easier to apply. Paper lanterns usually have horizontal lines running across them where they were folded. Try painting horizontal stripes on your lantern using the lines as guides.
Using foam brushes also works well for painting sky lanterns, which use candles to float, and homemade lanterns made from construction paper.
Combine colors together to make your spray a different shade. For example, you can mix a solution of red and blue paint to get a purple spray. Be careful not to spray the mixture on anything else, or it will leave a stain. Spray clean water through the spray bottle when you’re finished painting with it. That way, you can get any leftover paint out of the spray nozzle.
Test the color of the dye on a paper towel or scrap piece of paper to see if you’re happy with the color. This works best for making pink blush paper lanterns, which have a paler tone than others. You can also just dip sections of the lantern in the dye if you want it to have polka dots or unique shapes in the design. Avoid dipping sky lanterns or construction paper lanterns in dye since they’re more likely to get damaged.
You can buy craft spray paint from art stores or online. If you choose to spray paint, work in a well-ventilated area or outside since it can create harmful fumes. Spray paint also works great for sky lanterns. Spray paints blend well together and can create ombre patterns on your lantern. Try making stripes of 3–4 different colors of spray paint so the edges blend together.
You may be able to run a fan on low in the same room as the lantern to help it dry faster.
Make an LED paper lantern with an energy-efficient bulb if you want the lantern to look a little brighter. You can also set the lantern on top of a small disk light or artificial candle if you want. You do not have to use a light in your lantern if you just want it as a decoration.
You can also use 18-gauge wire if you want to. Just bend the ends of the wire into loops or hooks and put attach it to the lantern.
Put a bouquet of artificial flowers through the top hole of the lantern to make a unique vase.
