Two of my favorite people on the planet (Tuesday of Muggy Tuesday and Jess of Milton & Margie’s Soy Wax Candles) and I have recently started a new business designing and making party decorations for everything from arts benefits to first birthday parties. This weekend was the first birthday party for one of our favorite clients, and it was HOT AIR BALLOON-themed. So, so, so cute! We made 15 unique hot air balloons, party bunting, and a photo booth backdrop for this party, and today, I want to show you how we made the hot air balloon decorations.
Supplies
Chinese lanterns
acrylic paint
paint brush
string/fishing line
yarn or tapestry needle
ruler
scissors
packing tape
paper cut into a square (or origami paper, which comes square)
push pin
Directions
Paint your lantern however you like with acrylic craft paint. For the first birthday party, Tuesday chose our color palette, and we used different patterns and color combinations on each of the 15 lanterns we were commissioned to make. When your lanterns are painted, you’ll need to create paper baskets for them using square paper, packing tape, and string. Here’s how to make the baskets I designed…
Fold your square piece of paper in thirds one way, and then the other, creating a tic tac toe board shape. I measured and marked where the exact lines should be so my thirds were perfectly even on both sides.
Fold a diagonal line within each corner’s square on the sheet of paper, as shown.
Fold the paper into a cube shape, securing the “basket” with packing tape.
Use a bulletin board push pin to poke four holes on each of two sides of your basket. They should be the sides that aren’t thickened by the folded corners and tape (this will make your life easier – believe me, I made 15 of these).
Sew your string through two of the holes, diagonally across the bottom and up the far side of the basket. I used some catfish-specific fishing line, but I realize not everyone has that stuff just laying around. Sturdy thread will work just fine too. Sew the other side, forming an “x” across the bottom of the basket.
Then, tie the basket to the base of the lantern. The way I designed the string on the baskets makes them incredibly adjustable in case the baskets are looking crooked to you when they’re hung. The adjustable design totally saved our butts when we hung the lanterns since they were transported across Chicago in my car. The back seat was literally full to the ceiling with these cute bad boys!
Setting up the party space
Tuesday and I handled setting up our decorations at the party venue, a perfectly weathered white space. Tuesday’s dress matched our ladder. :)
While we were both operating on significantly less sleep than anyone should use a ladder on, we had so much fun seeing everything come together. Check out some shots from our setup, and our sleepy attempts at making the most of the adorable photo booth backdrop Jess made for the event.
This is me being all “I haven’t slept like at all, but I’m trying to not look like I’m dying!”
Tuesday, equally tired, being way more adorable than I!
I can’t wait to see the professional photo booth and event photos! If I get permission, I’ll share some of the highlights. :)
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