Paper fairy light DIY lanterns

  
There’s something magical about fairy lights, they have the effect of making anywhere feel cosy! If you’d like to add a personal touch to your fairy lights, follow this simple guide. With Christmas coming up, these will be a festive addition to your decorations, and it only takes 30 minutes to make. With the pattern side on the inside, only when the light is on it the pattern revealed!

You will need:

– funky paper (about 90 gsm or less) with some white in the pattern
– fairy lights
– ruler
– scissors

How to make paper lantern fairy lights:

1. Cut your paper into squares, the one shown is 10.5 cm squared which will make quite small lanterns. If you’re looking for bigger lanterns, it might be best to experiment with different sizes and scrap paper.

2. Fold the square diagonally from corner to corner.

3. Pinch the fold between your finger and thumb at opposite sides and push it in. 

4. Flatten the paper into a triangle.

5. Fold the corners of the triangle down to the middle points on each side.

6. Fold the side points into the centre, repeat this for all 4 points.

7. Tuck the 4 spikey points into the folds created in the previous step. 

8. Fold the two end points into the centre and back again to create a fold line.

9. Poke your index fingers in between the little wing pockets and pull apart gently so that the lantern takes shape.

10. Place the fairy light through the gap in the lantern and hey presto!

If you’re looking for more DIY Christmas decorations to make, take a look at Picker’s Kits DIY Christmas decoration kit.

Fabric button rosette DIY brooch


If you’re looking for a brooch to brighten up your coat or jacket, this one’s the answer. It costs pennies, takes just 5 minutes to make and looks neat and pretty too! This would make a lovely gift, or would work as an ideal item to sell on a charity or fundraising stall.

You will need:

– a strip of fabric
– a large button
– safety pin and thread
– fabric scissors

How to make a fabric button DIY brooch:

1. Cut fabric into a strip, the one shown in the photo is 35cm long x 8cm wide. Fold it in half length-ways, wrong sides together. Do a running stitch along the raw edge with stitches about 1cm apart. A red thread has been used in the tutorial so that it stands out in the photo.

2. Pull the thread at either end so that the fabric crumples up.

3. Tie the two threads together, place a button in the middle, flip it over and sew it in place.

4. Sew a safety pin on that side if you’d like to make it into a brooch, and there you are!


A brooch in 5 minutes! If you’d fancy a button like the one used in the photos, check out the Liberty buttons kit on Picker’s Kits.