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Spiderweb Halloween Paper Lanterns

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These classy Halloween spiderweb lantern are the easiest way to decorate this year! 

Decorating for Halloween is so much fun! We love adding lots of spooky. And even though I normally scream and run if I see a spider, I love using them to decorate for Halloween.

Three black Halloween lanterns on a table with candles inside.

This year I wanted some new paper lanterns to decorate for Halloween. Instead of going for a classic lantern shape, I had fun with the design and created these tall, skinny lanterns that look so sleek and expensive. 

Then I added the spiderwebs to the arched openings and they turned out perfect for Halloween. A little bit of spooky and a whole lot of classy!

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Living room decorated for Halloween with paper spiderweb lanterns on the coffee table.

Decorating with Paper Lanterns

Decorating with these Halloween lanterns is super easy. Add a flameless candle to your table and plop the lantern on top. 

You can use these lanterns for table centerpieces, on the mantel, on a shelf, in a bookcase, or as a little vignette anywhere you need a little more Halloween goodness.

Close up view of the large and medium paper Halloween lanterns.

For our lanterns, I draped a piece of creepy cloth I bought at the dollar store over our coffee table. I let it hang over the edge in places. 

Then I added the lanterns to the top of the coffee table. Instant Halloween and oh-so-easy!

Coffee table decorated for Halloween with creepy cloth and black spiderweb lanterns made from paper.

How to Make Paper Halloween Lanterns

Supplies:

  • Spiderweb lantern patterns
  • Coverstock paper
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Floral wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Black spray paint
  • Hammered bronze spray paint
  • Optional: Silhouette Cameo
    • You can use an electronic cutting machine to cut out the lanterns or use scissors and an X-acto knife to cut them out. 

Cut out the Template

Cut out the lantern templates out of coverstock. I prefer to use coverstock since it is stiffer then regal cardstock. 

Also, if you have black coverstock you can skip the black spray paint step. But since I only had white, that is what I used.

When removing the paper from the cutting mat, always turn the mat upside down and carefully peel the mat off the paper. This will prevent the paper from curling when you take it off the mat. 

Picture of the Halloween lantern template cut out of coverstock and being removed from the electronic cutting machine mat.

For the large and medium sized lanterns, you will need to cut out 2 of the lantern pieces and 1 of the top pieces per lantern. For the small lantern, you only need 1 of each. 

Assemble the Lanterns

Fold along the dotted lines. I prefer to fully fold and crease all lines before assembling to get the best looking finished project. 

Add glue to the side flap on one of the side pieces. Glue it to the side of the other piece. Repeat with the other flap making a closed square.

Three picture of the process of folding and glueing together the paper spiderweb lanterns.

Next add glue to one of the flaps on the top triangles. Glue it to the inside of the triangle next to it.

Repeat on the rest of the top triangles until you close up the lantern. 

Glueing together the top flaps of the paper halloween lantern.

To assemble the top to hold the handle, fold along the dotted lines.

Go around the octagon adding glue to the flaps and attaching them to the coordinating section of the top piece.

Pull tightly as you go around the octagon to keep things lining up properly. Finish off the top by glueing the final flap down.

Steps for folding together the lantern top.

Fold up the flaps in the bottom of the piece. Add a dot of glue on all the little triangles. 

Press the cut square into the tip of the lantern. Hold until the glue is dry.

Glueing the handle piece to the top of the lantern.

Add a Handle

Cut a piece of floral wire to make a circle the size of the handle you want. I cut my large on 9″, medium 8″ and small 7″. 

Curve the handle into a circle. Use the pliers to smooth any pieces that are kinked. 

Make a loop on either end of the wire. Carefully slip them into the holes on the sides of the top.

Loop them around each other and squeeze to secure. Reshape the circle as needed. 

Adding a handle to the top of the paper lantern.

Paint the Halloween Lanterns

Spray paint the lanterns, inside and out, with a coat of black spray paint. Make sure to get the handle as well.

Let the paint dry.

To give them a shiny bronze effect, lightly paint the black with a hammered bronze spray paint.

Painting the spiderweb lanterns with black and bronze paint.

After the paint is fully dry you are ready to decorate!

Close up view of the smallest black Halloween lantern with spiderweb decorations.

Make sure to use flameless candles, we do not want you to start a fire. I love the real wax flameless candles. They look real and I don’t have to worry about them!

Living room with farmhouse coffee table and glamorous Halloween decorations on it.
Three paper Halloween lanterns on a table with black creepy cloth.

Spiderweb Halloween Paper Lanterns

Yield: 3 Paper Lanterns
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $1-$5

Create these tall, skinny Halloween paper lanterns that look so sleek and expensive. Add flameless candles for a beautiful addition to your Halloween decor.

Materials

Tools

  • Wire cutters
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Optional: Silhouette Cameo or Cricut cutter

Instructions

  1. Cut out the lantern templates out of coverstock.
  2. Turn the mat upside down and carefully peel the mat off the paper. 
  3. You will need 2 of the lantern pieces and 1 of the top pieces for the large and medium lantern, and 1 of each for the small.  
  4. Fold along the dotted lines.
  5. Add glue to the side flap on one of the side pieces and glue it to the side of the other piece.
  6. Repeat with the other flap to make a closed square.
  7. Add glue to one of the flaps on the top triangles and glue it to the inside of the triangle next to it.
  8. Repeat on the rest of the top triangles until you close up the lantern. 
  9. Assemble the top to hold the handle by folding along the dotted lines.
  10. Add glue to the flaps and attach them to the coordinating section of the top piece.
  11. Pull tightly as you go around the octagon.
  12. Finish off the top by gluing the final flap down.
  13. Fold up the flaps in the bottom of the piece.
  14. Add a dot of glue on all the little triangles. 
  15. Press the cut square into the tip of the lantern.
  16. Hold until the glue is dry.
  17. Cut a piece of floral wire to make a circle the size of the handle you want.
  18. Make a loop on either end of the wire.
  19. Carefully slip them into the holes on the sides of the top.
  20. Loop them around each other and squeeze to secure.
  21. Spray paint the lanterns, inside and out, with a coat of black spray paint.  
  22. Lightly paint the black with a hammered bronze spray paint.
  23. Decorate with flameless candles.

Share the fun!

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Michelle

Sunday 20th of October 2019

These are beautiful! You would never know they are made from paper.

Kati

Monday 11th of November 2019

Thanks Michelle! I love how they look on our table.

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