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Paper-strip pumpkin lantern
Age: 6–9 (adult helps) · Time: 45–60 min · Level: Challenging
Materials
orange paper (A4 or US letter-size), a piece of green paper, child-safe scissors, ruler, pencil, craft glue or stapler, one battery-powered LED tea light (no real flame!).
Steps
- Measure and draw 8 strips, 2 × 29 cm, on the orange paper. Cut them out.
- Lay the strips in a star (like spokes) and fix the center with glue or a staple – this is the bottom.
- Bend each strip up and gather the ends at the top. Fasten together – now you have a round pumpkin.
- Cut a stem and a leaf from green paper and glue them on top.
- Let the glue dry for 10 minutes.
- Gently part two strips at the bottom and place the LED tea light inside.
Safety for grown-ups
NEVER use real candles in paper crafts – only a battery LED tea light. An adult handles the stapler and button-cell batteries (dangerous if swallowed). Use round-tip children's scissors.