Quick and Easy Party Lights

Use blank board blocks to create your own paper lanterns for party lights. You can create the lanterns in a variety of designs with the help of supplied patterns. Create for a birthday party or holiday decorating.
 

Materials:

• Ready-to-Go!® Blank Board Blocks 3” Blocks (or size that best matches string of lights)
• Timtex
• Acrylic paint
• String of holiday lights
• Craft knife
• PDF design

Instructions:

1. Transfer PDF design (or your own design) onto 5 sides of each block.
    
2. Using craft knife, cut out the black areas in pattern.
    
3. Paint pattern using acrylic paints in your color of choice.
    
4. Cut a small hole on the top of box. Using craft knife, slice slits around hole.
    
5. Push lights into hole until it stays in place without popping back out.
    
6. Trace leaf motif onto Timtex, cut out the shape using scissors.
    
7. Paint leaves with green acrylic paint on both sides. Use a darker green paint for edges and center vein.
    
8. Using a glue gun, adhere 4 leaves to each block over the lighting fixture on top, to cover it from view.

Options, options, options!

• Use varying sizes of blocks on your string— 1 ½”, 2 ¼”, and 3″.
• Use Japanese hole punch or the Fiskars Craft Hand Drill to make additional holes in the block to let light through.
• Use smaller Christmas lights.
• Consider Birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Easter themes.
• Add some bling.

Find more craft ideas at www.ctpubblog.com.