Looking at this photo, you'd probably never guess this lantern is constructed from manila folders and wooden skewers. With those inexpensive supplies, you can make your own version for ambient, Japanese-style lighting in your home.
Dollar Store Crafts offers a detailed tutorial from Jeanette Strole Parks showing how to turn manila folders into a lighting fixture. The folders are very opaque and golden-toned when lit; Parks advises you should look for folders without obvious printed logos. Besides the folders and wooden skewers (or chopsticks), you'll also need decorative textured paper like rice paper or colored tissue paper and some basic craft tools (e.g., hot glue gun).
The skewers are used to make a grid to support your hanging lightbulb fixture (about $5 at Ikea). (In case you're wondering about potential fire hazard: Light kits with a plastic housing or basket around them will keep the bulb from touching the paper, but the way the folders are put together, the lightbulb doesn't come within 2" on either side. You can use compact fluorescent bulbs that are cooler too.)
It's amazing the stuff you can make in a few hours with just a few dollars worth of supplies or things you have lying around already.
$1 Japanese Lantern Tutorial | Dollar Store Crafts
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