How Do You Make Chinese Flying Lanterns?
Chinese flying lanterns are also known as Chinese sky lanterns. They are lightweight, paper lanterns constructed of tissue paper on a bamboo frame that are open at the bottom. When a fuel source, such as a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, is placed at the open bottom of the lantern and set alight, the heat fills the lantern much like a hot-air balloon and the lantern takes flight. Fireproof the blue tissue paper since it will be used for the bottom of the lantern that will be near open flame. Hang the tissue paper on a clothesline with clothespins. Spray with the flame retardant until saturated. Do not spray the corners where the clothespins are; that area will not be used in the lantern and if they get wet the paper will tear. Allow to dry. Make a pattern for the lantern. Draw a pattern on brown craft paper. The pattern should be 40 inches long and 12 inches wide at the base. It will flare to 22 inches at its widest point, which is about 2/3 of the way up the panel. After the fl
