How to make a red packet lantern
Red Packet Lantern: try all 95 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor cut-paper lantern with five red panels, open ends, a hanging loop and a gold paper tassel.
- You need
- Five 9.5 × 17 cm red rectangles, a 7 cm × 2.5 mm red strip, a 1.5 × 13 cm gold strip, scissors, a ruler and a glue stick.
- Start
- Prepare five red rectangles, each 9.5 × 17 cm. Cut them from red packet fronts or use red paper. You also need a 7 cm × 2.5 mm red strip for the loop and a 1.5 × 13 cm gold strip for the tassel.
- Tips
- Use lightweight red paper so the small tabs fold neatly.
- Keep the tassel's upper band uncut.
- Let the joins dry before hanging the lantern.
Your model is ready
Let all the joins dry. Your five-panel red lantern has a hanging loop and a gold paper tassel.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Mark the long middle
Bring the long edges together, press the middle crease and open the rectangle.
- 2
Mark the side middles
Bring the short edges together, press the middle crease and open again.
- 3
Cut the upper right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 4
Cut the lower right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 5
Cut the lower left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 6
Cut the upper left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 7
Crease the upper right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Crease the lower right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 9
Crease the lower left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 10
Crease the upper left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 11
Mark the upper rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 12
Mark the lower rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 13
Mark the long middle
Bring the long edges together, press the middle crease and open the rectangle.
- 14
Mark the side middles
Bring the short edges together, press the middle crease and open again.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Cut the upper right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 16
Cut the lower right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 17
Cut the lower left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 18
Cut the upper left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 19
Crease the upper right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 20
Crease the lower right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 21
Crease the lower left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
Steps 22–28
- 22
Crease the upper left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 23
Mark the upper rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 24
Mark the lower rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 25
Mark the long middle
Bring the long edges together, press the middle crease and open the rectangle.
- 26
Mark the side middles
Bring the short edges together, press the middle crease and open again.
- 27
Cut the upper right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 28
Cut the lower right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
Steps 29–35
- 29
Cut the lower left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 30
Cut the upper left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 31
Crease the upper right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 32
Crease the lower right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 33
Crease the lower left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 34
Crease the upper left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 35
Mark the upper rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
Steps 36–42
- 36
Mark the lower rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 37
Mark the long middle
Bring the long edges together, press the middle crease and open the rectangle.
- 38
Mark the side middles
Bring the short edges together, press the middle crease and open again.
- 39
Cut the upper right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 40
Cut the lower right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 41
Cut the lower left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 42
Cut the upper left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
Steps 43–49
- 43
Crease the upper right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 44
Crease the lower right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 45
Crease the lower left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 46
Crease the upper left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 47
Mark the upper rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 48
Mark the lower rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 49
Mark the long middle
Bring the long edges together, press the middle crease and open the rectangle.
Steps 50–56
- 50
Mark the side middles
Bring the short edges together, press the middle crease and open again.
- 51
Cut the upper right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 52
Cut the lower right joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 53
Cut the lower left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 54
Cut the upper left joining tab
Mark a diamond between the four edge middles. Cut away this corner, leaving a small triangular tab halfway along the diamond edge, as shown.
- 55
Crease the upper right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 56
Crease the lower right tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
Steps 57–63
- 57
Crease the lower left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 58
Crease the upper left tab
Fold the tab behind the diamond, press its root and open it again.
- 59
Mark the upper rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 60
Mark the lower rim
Fold the point toward the middle along the line shown, press the crease and open it again.
- 61
Mark loop fold 1
Press a fold across the narrow red strip at the line shown, then open it again.
- 62
Mark loop fold 2
Press a fold across the narrow red strip at the line shown, then open it again.
- 63
Mark loop fold 3
Press a fold across the narrow red strip at the line shown, then open it again.
Steps 64–70
- 64
Mark loop fold 4
Press a fold across the narrow red strip at the line shown, then open it again.
- 65
Cut tassel slot 1
Cut a narrow slot up from the lower edge. Leave the band at the top uncut.
- 66
Cut tassel slot 2
Cut a narrow slot up from the lower edge. Leave the band at the top uncut.
- 67
Cut tassel slot 3
Cut a narrow slot up from the lower edge. Leave the band at the top uncut.
- 68
Cut tassel slot 4
Cut a narrow slot up from the lower edge. Leave the band at the top uncut.
- 69
Cut tassel slot 5
Cut a narrow slot up from the lower edge. Leave the band at the top uncut.
- 70
Bow panel 1
Bow the diamond outward at its middle. Fold the joining tabs behind and ease the two end points outward along their rim creases.
Steps 71–77
- 71
Bow panel 2
Bow the diamond outward at its middle. Fold the joining tabs behind and ease the two end points outward along their rim creases.
- 72
Bow panel 3
Bow the diamond outward at its middle. Fold the joining tabs behind and ease the two end points outward along their rim creases.
- 73
Bow panel 4
Bow the diamond outward at its middle. Fold the joining tabs behind and ease the two end points outward along their rim creases.
- 74
Bow panel 5
Bow the diamond outward at its middle. Fold the joining tabs behind and ease the two end points outward along their rim creases.
- 75
Fold the hanging loop
Fold the strip into a small square loop, with its long ends overlapping beneath the loop.
- 76
Glue the loop
Glue the overlapping strip ends and let them dry.
- 77
Set panel 1 into the lantern
Bring the bowed panel beside its neighbour. Line up the upper and lower joining tabs, with the red faces outside.
Steps 78–84
- 78
Set panel 2 into the lantern
Bring the bowed panel beside its neighbour. Line up the upper and lower joining tabs, with the red faces outside.
- 79
Set panel 3 into the lantern
Bring the bowed panel beside its neighbour. Line up the upper and lower joining tabs, with the red faces outside.
- 80
Set panel 4 into the lantern
Bring the bowed panel beside its neighbour. Line up the upper and lower joining tabs, with the red faces outside.
- 81
Set panel 5 into the lantern
Bring the bowed panel beside its neighbour. Line up the upper and lower joining tabs, with the red faces outside.
- 82
Join panel 1 at the upper tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 83
Join panel 1 at the lower tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 84
Join panel 2 at the upper tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
Steps 85–91
- 85
Join panel 2 at the lower tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 86
Join panel 3 at the upper tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 87
Join panel 3 at the lower tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 88
Join panel 4 at the upper tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 89
Join panel 4 at the lower tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 90
Join panel 5 at the upper tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
- 91
Join panel 5 at the lower tab
Glue these neighbouring tabs back to back. Keep the two end rims open.
Steps 92–95
- 92
Add the hanging loop
Set the lower part of the paper loop against the outside of one upper rim point.
- 93
Glue the hanging loop
Glue the lower strip to the upper point and let it set.
- 94
Add the paper tassel
Lay the uncut band of the tassel against one lower rim point, with the fringes hanging down.
- 95
Glue the tassel
Glue the uncut band to the lower point and let it dry.
- ✓
Finish
Let all the joins dry. Your five-panel red lantern has a hanging loop and a gold paper tassel.
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