DIY 4th of July Paper Lanterns with the Cricut

Get the free SVG cut files for these 4th of July paper lanterns! Delicate cut-outs made using your Cricut make these star-spangled lanterns a hit at any Fourth of July party.

We’re in the full swing of summer here in Northern California! This time of year always means backyard parties, barbecues, swimming, and of course, the Fourth of July!

If you’re throwing a Fourth of July party, why not cut out these cute decorative lanterns in red, white, and blue? Grouped together they make a patriotic centerpiece, or line your driveway with them to welcome your guests.

You can use LED tea lights to illuminate them! I had this thought and then realized my tea lights are in the attic and it’s 100+ degrees here today on the ground and I didn’t really want to die of heat stroke in our attic—so, mine remain unlit.

They are designed to match my 4th of July Pinwheels and my 4th of July Paper Banner, so make sure to grab those, too!

4th of July Paper Lanterns Supplies + Tools

• Red, white, and blue paper (I love the Stardream Metallics from PaperPapers.
• Vellum
• Glue stick
• Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore (there are too large to be cut on your Cricut Joy)
• Tea lights (optional)
• SVG File (download below)

Download the Free 4th of July Paper Lanterns under SVGs C442

This file can be found in my Free Craft Resource Library. The file number is: C442.

Want access to this free file? Join my FREE resource library! All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below!

4th of July DIY Paper Lanterns Directions

Setting up the file in Cricut Design Space

These paper lanterns are designed to be cut on a Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore, or other cutting machines. If you need help with your Cricut, check out my Learn Your Cricut ebooks! There’s one for each Cricut machine, meaning you’ll get all the details on your current machine and nothing else.

When you upload the SVG file into Cricut Design Space, you have to do a couple things to make it cut properly on your machine. Start by ungrouping your image.

Then change all three horizontal cut lines (the ones that run horizontally across each lantern) into a score line by selecting each line and clicking the Operation dropdown at the top. Choose Score.

You’ll see that your lines turn to dashed lines, indicating a score line. If you are using a machine that does not have a scoring tool, you can delete this line and just fold by hand.

Then use the Attach tool to attach the corresponding vertical cut and horizontal score lines to each lantern. Each lantern should be nested under an Attach heading in the Layers Panel on the left.

In the Prepare Screen, if you see your cut/score lines on their own mat, go back and re-attach things properly.

Cutting the 4th of July Paper Lanterns on Your Cricut

Once your cut and score lines are attached, you’re ready to cut. Place the paper or vellum on the Cricut mat. Then make sure you have the Fine Point Blade installed, and insert your mat into your Cricut. Press the blinking Go button and your Cricut will cut your lantern pieces.

Assembling Your Lanterns

You’ll have three large lantern pieces, three vellum inserts, and three strips of paper which will become the handles. First, fold the lantern piece in half along the score line. Then curve it around and overlap the two ends, creating the lantern. I found that a glue stick works best to secure it—craft glue rippled the paper a bit.

Curve the vellum into a tube and test to make sure it fits inside your lantern. Depending on how creased your lantern is in the middle, you may need to trim the vellum a bit. Once you have it correctly sized, secure it into a tube using glue, or if you’re not really planning on moving the lanterns that much, you can just set the vellum inside.

Then glue on the handle, add a tea light if it’s not a million degrees in your attic, and you’re done!

Remember, these are just decorative! Don’t light a real candle inside. I’m not responsible for any fires you create!