DIY Cross Tissue Paper Lantern

2 min read September 13, 2026 Shauna Krantz
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Join Ella and Annie in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ by crafting our beautiful cross lantern! These tissue paper lanterns are child-safe and made from plastic. Create a colorful Christmas mosaic with red and green tissue paper squares. Add a little sparkle with holiday sequins to make your lantern really shine. As soon as the sun sets on Christmas Eve, light your cross lantern with a battery tea light candle in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Project Time
30 to 40 min
Difficulty
Beginner
Step
1

Draw a cross with a light Sharpie® marker on the front of your child safe plastic jar.

DIY Cross Tissue Paper Lantern step 1
Step
2

Paint the jar with Modge Podge® and apply green and red tissue paper squares to the jar. Do not paper over the cross you drew.

DIY Cross Tissue Paper Lantern step 2
Step
3

Paint over the tissue paper squares you applied to the jar to seal it. Allow the jar to dry.

DIY Cross Tissue Paper Lantern step 3
Step
4

Using a piercing tool, punch one hole on each side of the jar. Take a holiday chenille stem and place one end into each hole for the lantern's handle. With glue, outline the cross shape and decorate with holiday sequins. Place a battery-operated tea light candle into the jar to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!

DIY Cross Tissue Paper Lantern step 4 part 1
DIY Cross Tissue Paper Lantern step 4 part 2

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