All Activities
Paint Lanterns in Night Sky

Paint Lanterns in Night Sky
Green highlight

Paint paper lanterns with stars and colors, add battery LED tea lights, and hang them to create a safe glowing night sky display.

Orange shooting star
Download Guide
Collect Badge
Background blob
Challenge Image
Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to Paint Lanterns in Night Sky

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

🌙✨ Magical Night Sky Lantern Painting | Free Demo Session for Beginners | Oil Pastel Art

What you need
Adult supervision required, apron or old shirt, battery led tea lights, newspaper or table cover, paintbrushes, paper lanterns, paper plate or palette, pencil, string or fishing line, tape, tempera or acrylic paint set

Step 1

Spread newspaper or a table cover on your workspace to protect it.

Step 2

Put on an apron or an old shirt to keep your clothes clean.

Step 3

Open and assemble one paper lantern so it stands ready to paint.

Step 4

Lightly draw stars and simple shapes on the lantern with a pencil.

Step 5

Squeeze small amounts of paint onto a paper plate to make a palette.

Step 6

Paint the stars with white or bright paint so they shine.

Step 7

Paint the rest of the lantern in night-sky colors like blue and purple.

Step 8

Add tiny dots and sparkles with a small brush to make a starfield.

Step 9

Let the painted lantern dry completely before touching it.

Step 10

Turn on a battery LED tea light so it is ready to glow.

Step 11

Carefully place the lit LED tea light inside the dry lantern.

Step 12

Attach string to the top of the lantern using tape or a secure knot for hanging.

Step 13

Hang your lantern in a safe spot to create your glowing night sky display.

Step 14

Share a photo of your finished glowing lantern creation on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share
Challenge badge placeholder

Help!?

What can I use if I can't find a paper lantern or a battery LED tea light?

If you can't find a paper lantern or a battery LED tea light, paint a clean clear jar or plastic container assembled like the lantern and put battery fairy lights or a small flashlight inside once the paint is dry.

My paint is bleeding through or the lantern collapses while drying—what should I do?

To stop paint soaking through or the lantern collapsing, use thin coats of acrylic or washable paint, prop the paper lantern open with a cup or jar while it dries completely, and only place the battery LED tea light inside after it's fully dry.

How can I adapt this activity for different ages?

For younger kids, pre-draw stars with the pencil, give washable paints and stickers and supervise placing the LED, while older children can blend blues and purples with a sponge, add fine sparkles with a small brush, and tie the hanging string knot themselves.

How can we personalize or extend the lantern project?

Personalize the lantern by painting constellations with glow-in-the-dark paint, adding glued-on glitter or star stickers, linking several painted lanterns with twine into a mobile, and photographing the glowing display to share on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to Paint Lanterns in Night Sky

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Chinese Lantern Acrylic Painting 🎨 | Sky Lanterns in Night Scene

4 Videos

Facts about paper crafts for kids

🎨 Acrylic and tempera paints dry quickly on paper, so kids can decorate lanterns and hang them the same day.

🔋 Battery LED tea lights are cool to the touch and can run for many hours (some last 24–48 hours), making them safer than real candles.

🌬️ Hanging paper lanterns with LED lights are reusable and won’t float away like sky lanterns, reducing fire and wildlife risks.

🏮 Paper lanterns have been used for centuries — the Lantern Festival in China celebrates light and marks the end of Lunar New Year.

🌟 You can paint constellations like Orion or the Big Dipper on lanterns — the Big Dipper helps people locate Polaris and find north.

How do I create a painted paper lantern night sky display?

Start by protecting your workspace and stretching out your paper lanterns. Paint each lantern a dark base color (navy, black, or deep purple) and let dry. Add stars with a small brush, sponge, paint pen, or star stencil — try clusters and constellations for variety. Once fully dry, place battery-operated LED tea lights inside, secure the bottom if needed, and hang lanterns at different heights with string or fishing line to create a glowing night-sky effect.

What materials do I need to paint lanterns with stars and add LED lights?

You’ll need paper lanterns (store-bought or DIY), acrylic or tempera paints in dark and bright colors, paintbrushes or sponges, star stickers or stencils, and a palette. Also gather battery-operated LED tea lights (no real candles), scissors, string or clear fishing line, tape or hot glue (adult use), newspaper or drop cloth, and non-toxic sealant or varnish if desired. Optional extras: glitter, glow-in-the-dark paint, and a smock for kids.

What ages is painting lanterns in a night sky suitable for?

This activity suits a wide range: preschoolers (3–5) can dot stars and stamp shapes with supervision; elementary kids (6–9) can paint more detailed designs and help place LEDs; tweens (10+) can lead layout, hanging, and secure attachments. Always supervise handling of scissors, small parts, and LED batteries. Adjust complexity: simple stamping for young children, detailed constellations and hanging arrangements for older ones.

How can I keep the painted lanterns activity safe and what fun variations can we try?

Use only battery LED tea lights—never real candles—and ensure LED batteries are secure and out of reach of small children. Choose non-toxic paints, let everything dry fully before hanging, and fasten strings to stable anchors. Variations: use glow-in-the-dark or metallic paints, paint specific constellations, create recycled-jar lanterns, or make a classroom timeline of stars for an educational twist. Supervise all cutting and hanging steps.
DIY Yeti Character
Join Frame
Flying Text Box

One subscription, many ways to play and learn.

Try for free

Only $6.99 after trial. No credit card required

To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!

Discovery Tools

DIY Wiki

DIY TV

Creativity Tools

How to draw

Teacher Tools

SafeTube

DIY Blog

2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraft™, Mojang, Microsoft, Roblox™ or YouTube. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.