What do you need?
watercolor paper
watercolor and brush
vegetable oil
scissors
a pencil
a ruler
hobby glue and large paperclips
a glass jar
a tea light candle
Today we are making a very special winter lantern for the festive days that are coming soon. A dodecahedron lantern, the name refers to a 3D figure with twelve pentagonal faces. Because we want to burn a candle in the lantern, the top is left open (so we make 11 pentagons).
The Romans made dodecahedrons, it is assumed that they burned candles in them because excavated specimens have been found with wax inside. Our lantern is made of watercolor paper that we will paint with watercolours first. For winter we make the lantern in different shades of blue, from light to dark.
How to make a paper dodecahedron lantern
You can download the pentagon template
Paint with random patterns with dark and lighter paint.
Take the time to allow the paint to dry well.
Trace pentagons on the back of the completly dry paper.
Rub olive oil on the sheets of paper, until saturated.
The oil makes the watercolour paper translucent
Allow the oil to dry overnight.
Cut out the pentagons, they still feel greasy.
Draw 2 lines on the back.
Connect all corners in a star shape..
Here are the actual pentagons with thin pencil lines.
Fold the 5 points in, down to the pencil line.
Stick the pentagons together on the folded points.
Glue 1 point on the inside, 1 on the outside.
Stick on a pentagon, skip 1 and stick on the 2nd.
Continue and let the glue dry completely, with papertclips on.
- Stick on the second row pentagons, two at a time and allow them to dry before you continue
- Now stick the pentagons on 1 by 1 and stick on the side(s) as well
- Let the glue dry completely before sticking on the next pentagon and use paper clips while drying, where possible
Fold the bottom flaps on top inwards and then glue those on the inside.
Place the candle in a glass jar and then in the lantern.
Is it almost dark already? Then we lite the candle ... the dodecaëder lantern looks beautiful!