Today I am going to share a lantern swag tutorial with you. I was looking to add a little red white and blue to one of my lanterns, and ended up deciding to try my hand at creating a little lantern swag. Having never made one before, I was surprised at how easily it came together. And how little it cost me!
For your lantern swag you need:
- faux greenery of your choice- I used one full bunch of ferns & a few pieces of a green and white leaf plant (I had long since cut it apart & tore off the tag, so let me know in the comments if you know what it’s called, ha!)
- zip tie
- 2 pipe cleaners
- 2.5″ wired ribbon- I got this one from Michael’s.
- blue styrofoam scatter star
- scissors
- wire cutters (optional)
Step 1 of the Lantern Swag Tutorial
Clip your greenery from the main stem. I used a full stem of ferns and a few pieces of long green leaves with white edges. Lay them out, and begin arranging them the way you think will look good hanging from the top of your lantern. I started by holding the stems in my hand, adding longer pieces in the middle and smaller toward the edges. Keep adding pieces and moving them around until you are happy with the look.
Once you are happy with the look, pull the tops together so you now have kind of a wide “V.” Pinch the plastic ends in a bunch, place the zip ties around them, and tighten. Cut off the excess zip tie. If you’d like, you can make a second, smaller bunch to add to the top of the swag, above the bow. I decided to only make one this first time.
Step 2
Next you need to make a bow to add to the lantern swag. If you need a tutorial for one, this one is an easy DIY. If it’s hard for you to hold lots of loops, this bow tutorial is so easy that my 10-year-old son can do it! My bow is a lot sadder than hers too! It was my very first attempt at a bow that wasn’t just a regular kind of bow. When you tie off your bow with your pipe cleaner, leave it long to attach to the greenery.
If you don’t feel like you can make a more experience required bow, a simple bow will work as well. Just a two loop, or if you’re feeling fancy, adding two more behind those is really easy too. Not much harder than tying a hair bow. You can see a tutorial for one in my flip flop wreath tutorial.
Now you will attach your bow to your greenery using your pipe cleaner. Lay the bow face down, then lay the greenery on top, also face down. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the zip tied portion, and twist it closed.
Step 3
In order to attach your lantern swag to the lantern, you will need a longer pipe cleaner. Take another one and twist it to the end of the one already attached. Wrap the entire piece around the square top section of your lantern. Twist it closed tightly, then clip off any excess.
Adjust and fluff out your bow and the greenery until you’re happy with the look and position. Now you’re done!
It’s that easy! Isn’t that crazy? I mean if I’d have known it was that easy, I would’ve made one a looong time ago!
For now I added my lantern to my patriotic tablescape. After the 4th all I have to do is change out the bow, and I can keep using the lantern swag all year around. But if you enjoy decorating for patriotic holidays, check out this post which shares nine easy DIY tutorials for patriotic decor!
Share this tutorial with all of your farmhouse loving friends and family. I think they will love it! I hope you have as well. Make sure you tag me on social media when you make your own. Use the buttons below to follow me on there as well, and I would appreciate it so much!
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