I have the cutest Dollar Store project to share with you! Chinese lanterns were used to make hot air balloons for shower décor! I made these chinese lantern hot air balloons for a baby shower, but they could also work for a wedding shower or as home décor in a nursery.
I’m part of the Dollar Store Design Squad, sharing thrifty projects with you 6 times a year—make sure you check out the rest of the projects at the bottom of this post.
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Materials to make Chinese Lantern Hot Air Balloons
- Chinese Lantern
- Cardboard candy/ice cream cups to match or coordinate
- Sheer Ribbon to match the colored ring on chinese lantern
Tools needed
- Scissors
- Glue Gun
- Glue Sticks
- Pencil or Wooden Skewer
This project is so easy to make, that you won’t need a lot of directions.
Assemble Dollar Store Chinese Lantern
Open the chinese lantern and place the brace inside that holds the lantern open.
Close-up view of how the brace fits in these chinese lanterns from the Dollar Store.
Cut Ribbon
Cut two ribbon pieces 34” long to suspend the chinese lantern hot air balloon to the candy cup basket.
Punch Holes in Candy Cup
Punch four holes in the cardboard candy cup that will be the hot air balloon basket. I used a knife. Use CAUTION on this step.
Weave Ribbon Through Chinese Lantern
Weave the two pieces of ribbon underneath the brace that holds the chinese lantern open. Make sure the ribbons are even at the bottom.
Hot Glue Secures Ribbon
Add a small amount of hot glue to hold the ribbon in place around the upper ring of the lantern.
The four ribbons will now be dangling, but secured in place. This is where you can choose to secure the ribbon pieces at the bottom ring or leave them free and unsecured. I couldn’t decide which way I liked them best, so I did them both ways.
Thread Ribbon Pieces Into Holes on Candy Cup
Push each end of ribbon through the holes using a pencil or wooden skewer.
Secure Ribbon Ends With Hot Glue
Secure the ends of the ribbons with more hot glue.
Trim Away Extra Ribbon
Trim away extra ribbon.
Suspend Chinese Lantern Hot Air Balloon
The Chinese Lanterns from The Dollar Tree light up!
This is how the Hot Air Balloon Chinese Lantern looks if you don't attach the ribbon to the bottom ring of the lantern.
I hung several of these Chinese lantern hot air balloons at the shower celebration we hosted for my new grandson Eli. The theme was “It’s a Small World”. There are hot air balloons throughout the ride at Disney.
See more Dollar Store Design Squad projects from My Repurposed Life here
This project was not just easy, but each hot air balloon deocration costs less than $3. Remember, everything is just a dollar at DollarTree.com
Now, it's time to take a look at the fabulous projects from the rest of the "squad".
Debbie
Love it Gail and I know it was the perfect accessory at the baby shower!! Congratulations!
XO
Debbie
Jacque Knowlton
These balloons are just the cutest, perfect for a baby shower!
Jessica
This would be so sweet in a nursery!
Kathy Owen
ah, those are so cute and perfect decor for a baby shower.
Jennie
How ute is that, and the theme is so perfect for Eli. When I did my daughters baby shower I did a lego theme. Found yellow Chinese lanterns at the dollar store, put a ring of yellow paper on the top and bottom, used black vinyl to make faces, 1 face for each side. Hung them from the ceiling with boxes made to look like lego blocks
Gail Wilson
Andy is the lego fan in their family.
That sounds like a really cute idea for shower decor Jennie!
gail
girlfromwva
such a great idea. i love how they look. i was going to say maybe they could light up with a small solar light, but they come with one!!!
Jeanie
So cute! And what a good idea for a shower. Pinning!