Japanese Lantern Craft

Yesterday I made this Japanese Lantern using a plastic container that used to be Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanutbutter Cups. I am alergic to peanutbutter so I had hubby wash out the container.
Then I took GooGone and gently rubbed off the label.

I found some nice pictures of Japanese Cherry Blossoms on the internet and printed them out on regular paper. Wait a day to let the ink set so it doesn't run when applying the Mod Podge.

I measured and cut eight 1 inch strips of black construction paper for the sides.



Then I glued down the paper prints taking care not to wipe off the image. Wipe with Mod Podge in 1 or 2 strokes.


I filled in the lid with a square of black construction paper.
It dried over night.

Inside is a batery operated tea light.

Koi Windsock made from a waterbottle and a trash bag

Here is a Koi windsock made from an empty waterbottle and a clean kitchen trash bag
Instructions and pictures

Using a sharp pair of kitchen sheers, cut off the top and the bottom


Slide the waterbottle into the trash bag just till the bottle top is inside the top part of the bag. Cut off the remaining bag leaving 1 inch to tuck inside the bottle later.


With another bag cut about 6 to 8 1 inch strips the length of the bag. These will be the fish's tail.


Tape bag around the inside of the top and the bottom. I used packing tape. Cut off any extra lengthwise and tape along the bottom seam.


Tip: I found the side seam of the bag and used that to form the top "fin" Then I taped along the fin on both sides so the string wouldn't tear the bag.


Drawing! I looked up some images of Koi on the internet and roughly copied one. Here are the eyes drawn.


Drawing the scales. I used BIC Mark-It permanent markers to draw and color the scales free hand.


Filling in the drawing. I used a lighter shade of orange to color in the scales


Finishing: Use a hole punch and make one hole at each end of the top fin. String with yarn and hang in the breeze!