‘Crafters’ to make paper lanterns in library session

Madison residents with a ‘crafty’ flair will make paper lanterns on Oct. 21 at Madison Public Library.

The session will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. The class fee is $5. The class is intended for adults, so anyone 18 years or older is welcome, adult services librarian Rachel Hooper said.

Susana Vizcarra, a frequent volunteer at the library, will return to teach this class. “We see that there is a great interest in multicultural classes,” Hooper said. “Her classes has been completely full.”

“The instructor will tell us the history of the paper lantern and then we will actually create our own colorful lanterns to take home,” Hooper said.

“Most people associate paper lanterns with China and Japan, but Hispanic communities also have traditions around the holidays where they use the paper lanterns,” Hooper said. The paper lanterns can be all shapes and sizes. Individuals use the items for holidays, festivals, carnivals and for decoration.

This class is open to beginners, and no experience is necessary. The class fee is $5. The library will supply all needed materials. “The materials needed for this class include thin florist wire, newspaper scraps, glue, bright colored tissue paper, flour and water,” Hooper said.

To make a lantern, a participant will fold pieces of paper with sharp creases. Sometimes, crafters opt to add designs, such as gluing ribbon or painting images on the paper.

Next, the paper is rolled and glued. A line, like florist wire, is placed on the lantern so it can hang from a ceiling or other location. The participants can use the finished lanterns as decorating items with an international flair.

Registration is required and available by visiting hmcpl.org. For more information about the session, send email to rhooper@hmcpl.org.

Madison Public Library’s address is 130 Plaza Blvd. Sarah Sledge is branch manager. For library information, call 256-461-0046 or send email to madison@hmcpl.org.