Color Changing Rice Paper LED Orb Lanterns

This is a project I did in memory of a dear friend who passed away. They were put at the top of a hill and left to glow all night and were given away as gifts the next morning. I love there lamps they are so easy and fun to make. They are especially great for people who aren't good at drawing/painting, with there the more abstract the better. For a look at this lamp in action go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nox1mbMAvM 


Please rate and.or leave a comment I'd love to hear you thoughts.

List of supplies needed;
-rice paper
-clear tape and duct tape
-wire cutters
-bead caps
-glue gun and glue sticks
-gorrila glue or something that will bond to plastic
-embroidery floss
-scissors
-thick gauge wire
-dye bottles and dye or paint....
-Led orbs or battery powered string lights
-decorative tape

Cut six wires 26in long, six wires 8in long, and four 10in long. Straighten wire lengths out and bend the last inch up. Keep lengths separate.

Tear or cut off eight small peices of tape. Line up the long and the short sides of the wire so that the bent up piece line up and tape in place. It should look like half a rectangle.

Line up and tape the half  together so you have three rectangles.

Lay out rice paper and and cut with 2in on the top and bottom of the rectangle.

Fold over edges and hot glue in place.

Note- You can trim the side of the rice paper if you like I left mine long enough so they almost over lap so that a thin strip of brighter rice paper will be down the center for extra depth.

Mix dye and make abstract pattern of your choice. For this one I did a gentle back and forth shaking motion. If you have paints on hand those work well to but remember rice paper is very absorbent so it will take a lot of paint and a lot of time. Let dry for at least 12hours and handle gentle until dry the rice paper will rip easily.

Use the three 10in length to form a triangle and cut rice paper with an inch allowance all around it.

Take the remaining length of wire and align down the center of the triangle, tape in place.

Fold edges over and glue into place. You can paint the lid if you like I left it blank so it will show a solid color thru it.

Lay panels face down on table and take the duct tape and make on large panel. Flip over and useing your decortive tape repeat the process folding the tape over the top and bottom edges. (The next part is easier with a freind) Cut two peice of tape. Gentle bend the panel into a triangle and tape edges to hold in place. Run a piece of tape down the outside to close up the panels.

Gentle press the panels together where they are joined with the tape to make sure its on good.

Add bead caps to the top of the LED orbs with your gorilla glue. If you don't have gorilla glue hot glue will work for short term.

Tie orbs on to string, make sure to knot them so they stay in place hold string next to lamp to make sure you like the placement. Turn them on. If your using string lights just get them untangled and turn them on.

Tie string securely on the middle wire. Lowe orbs into lamp, you can place the lid lined up or offset. Then turn off the lights, play some music and enjoy!


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