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Paper-strip pumpkin lantern

Age: 6–9 (adult helps) · Time: 45–60 min · Level: Challenging

Picture: Paper-strip pumpkin lantern

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

  1. Measure and draw 8 strips, 2 × 29 cm, on the orange paper. Cut them out.
  2. Lay the strips in a star (like spokes) and fix the center with glue or a staple – this is the bottom.
  3. Bend each strip up and gather the ends at the top. Fasten together – now you have a round pumpkin.
  4. Cut a stem and a leaf from green paper and glue them on top.
  5. Let the glue dry for 10 minutes.
  6. 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.