Light Up the Night With Luminaria

There are so many wonderful ways to integrate paper with incandescent lighting. Paper is often a perfect and simple solution for softening the glare of a bulb. These luminaria are suitable both indoors and out. Use them to line a walkway, provide the focal point for a centerpiece, or add ambience to mantel decorations.

Use paper that is sturdy, translucent, and decorative—this is the perfect project to show it off. If you want to use a fragile paper that will not stand on its own, line the paper with styrene to add structural support.

MATERIALS
1/4-inch double-sided tape or white glue
13- x 8-inch paper (grain must run in the 8-inch direction
4-inch diameter, battery-operated utility light<ol>

<li>1. Apply a strip of double-sided tape to the wrong side of one of the paper’s short edges.
<li>2. Remove the protective strip on the tape and place the bottom edge of the paper (the untaped side) on the edge of a utility light, making sure that the tape on the opposite side is facing in toward the light.
<li>3. Wrap the paper around the light until it fits snugly. Carefully attach the tape to the other edge of the paper.
<li>4. Repeat steps 1 and 3 to make more luminaria.
<li>5. Arrange the lights, turn them on, and slip the shades over the lights. Remember to turn the lights off after you are done using them.
<li>6. Optional: You could place two or three small pieces of tape on the rim to secure the luminaria in place. However, you will have to reach all the way inside the shade to turn the light on.

Read more: Crafts & Design, Green Home Decor

Adapted from Paper Illuminated by Helen Hiebert (Storey Books, 2001).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Tim C.

12:24AM PDT on Mar 27, 2012

send a green star

KS G.

4:10AM PST on Feb 15, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Robert O.

11:38AM PDT on Sep 17, 2011

Thanks Annie.

Sheila V.

4:13AM PDT on May 1, 2008

See environmental sustainablility of hemp versus wood fiber for paper products:
http://www.cement.ca/cement.nsf/e/F11F3614FD4BAADA8525711700105535?opendocument
Hemp is also an environmentally friendly cloth fiber.

3:59AM PDT on May 1, 2008

use hemp paper

KT B.

12:23PM PDT on Apr 30, 2008

Paul,
No one said it had to be virgin or even new paper. One can use lots of things twice (or more) and no one, but the Earth would be the wiser.

Paul A.

12:42PM PDT on Apr 27, 2008

But do we really want to sacrifice trees for decorations? Paper is made from the killing of and processing of a once living tree that made oxygen and removed carbon's from the air.

Laurie P.

11:32AM PDT on Apr 25, 2008

Being a new mexico native, I LOVE luminarios! We had them every christmas (you line the streets and building tops with them on Christmas Eve), and I requested them to light the path at my wedding. They are so romantic and festive!