Recycled TP Roll Chinese Lanterns for Chinese New Year

We’ve been making lots of Chinese New Year crafts lately. We love all the sparkly red and gold, and it’s important for the kids to learn about all the festivals of the world. Today I’m going to share a simple recycled Chinese lantern craft that R (3) made using recycled cardboard rolls, like from toilet rolls or kitchen rolls.

We received our Weekend Box craft subscription box recently and found that the current box was full of Chinese New Year themed crafts, so this is an idea that we made using our Weekend Box supplies.

To make these recycled Chinese New Year lanterns you will need:

Spare cardboard rolls or tubes – eg toilet rolls, or kitchen rolls cut in half
Red paint with gold glitter + paint brush
Strips of paper to make the handle
Glue dots or tape
Scissors

Inside our weekend box, we were provided with the paint and supplies, so we just had to collect a few spare toilet rolls which was no problem since we always have plenty kept aside for crafting.

How to make the recycled Chinese New Year lantern

You can either paint the cardboard tube first, and cut once it’s dry or cut first and then paint. We found the latter version easier.

So, start by folding your cardboard tube in half – so that it forms a short square shape.

Snip down from the fold, creating around 4 snips (whatever fits nicely), this will give the shape to your lantern and allow it to fold out. Once unfolded, you might need to add an extra cut at each side, to allow the tube to fold out into the lantern shape. It can be a bit tricky to cut through two layers of folded cardboard, so young children will probably need help with this cutting stage.

Once you have your tubes cut into the lantern shape, you’re ready to paint. The paint provided in our weekend box was powder paint, so we mixed it up with some water and R got busy covering all of the cardboard lanterns in glittery red.

Once the painted lanterns are dry, all you need to do is add a handle. Cut a strip of paper per lantern and attach with a glue dot on each end, or some tape or blue tack if you don’t have glue dots to hand (they are best though!)

Your Chinese lantern is already to hang or carry around!

You could decorate them further with some gems and jewels, but we didn’t this time – the gold in the paint is sparkly enough!

These were super easy to make, and make a really effective Chinese New Year craft for even toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy.

Weekend Box

The Weekend Box also includes 3 more Chinese New Year crafts within this months box. You can find out more about Weekend Box here.

All In The Playroom readers can claim a FREE weekend box via this link

Chinese New Year Blog Hop

For more Chinese New Year crafts, check out these ideas from some of my blogger friends, as part our Chinese New Year blog hop.

Chinese New Year Fortune Mask from Witty Hoots

Chinese Lantern Sun Catchers from The Gingerbread House

TP Roll Chinese Lanterns from In the Playroom

Thumbprint Chinese Zodiac Craft for Kids from Fun Handprint Art

Cheese Chinese Lanterns from Danya Banya

Wool Painted Fans from Crafts on Sea

Sheep Stick Puppets from Best Toys 4 Toddlers

Felt Shape Sheep from Mama Smiles

Sheep Letter Recognition from Something 2 Offer

Chinese (non firework) Firecrackers from Peakle Pie

Chinese New Year Card from Creative World of Varya

Chinese Dragon from Messy Little Monster

Paper Plate Chinese Dragon from Kiddy Charts

Dragon Painting for Preschoolers from Learning and Exploring Through Play

Bubble Wrap Sheep Craft from Multicraftingmummy

Chinese Dragon Dance from Study at Home Mamma

And if you have any Chinese New Year posts of your own, you can link those up here!

In The Playroom

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Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.