Have you ever decorated with paper lanterns? I’ve used them at parties of all kinds, but Halloween is just the best time of year for them! They fit the look of the holiday perfectly, and in this instance, the bat paper lantern is just a little spooky. Perfect for this time of year and all of the Halloween parties. I love that these little lanterns can go inside or outside your house as part of your Halloween decorations!

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Spooky Bat Paper Lantern Halloween Decoration

Bats are one of the most iconic images of Halloween. I love them because they are just so simple to add to any decoration. A few little swoops of your pen or pencil and you have a bat outline that is instantly recognizable. Plus, being solid black works great for these little creatures!

In this instance, a paper lantern is the base for what might be the easiest decoration you’ll make this year. If you are hosting a party or decorating a large space, this is a great choice to add alongside my ghost paper lanterns to make a fast and easy decoration that is also affordable. Plus, you could hang some of these Halloween paper fan decorations on the walls to make the look complete!

Where Do I Find Paper Lanterns?

My favorite place to get paper lanterns is online. You can buy them in bulk at such a great price, it’s so much easier this way if you are making a lot of the lanterns. Otherwise, you can usually find these in any department store near the party supplies. I’ve picked them up at Walmart, Target, Meijer, and even the dollar stores in my area. Party City is always a great place to find paper lanterns in tons of different colors and sizes.

Can I Use a Stencil for the Bats?

I am far from artistic and that means when it comes to drawing shapes, I like to use a guide. Bats are pretty simple to make, but you may want to print off a template online, or even use an SVG file to print them and just cut around the shapes. You could even use a kids coloring book and just cut out a picture of a bat. There is no set way to make the bats or an exact style you have to use. Think outside the box and use what you have on hand!

How do I Attach Bats to the Lantern?

I tend to do things as simple as possible. That means I will reach for what I have on hand. For this project, that meant double-sided tape. It’s easy, affordable, and it works well for this craft.

When working with paper lanterns, one of the first things you will notice is how fragile the lanterns themselves actually are. It’s very easy to tear them if you aren’t careful. So, what you use to attach the bats has to be gentle. Staples and hot glue are one of my favorite things to use when crafting, but neither work too well with this craft.

Tape or a simple glue like craft glue or even kids Elmer’s glue is also more than sufficient for this project. Just be careful as you attach the bats so you don’t tear the lantern. It will fall apart very easily if torn.

How do I Hang This Lantern?

Most paper lanterns come with a hook or extra string on top to easily hang them from the ceiling. If yours does not, you can easily add a length of fishing line through the metal pieces on the inside to hang it up from the ceiling. A simple tack or hook is all you need on a windowsill, ceiling, or doorway to keep this in place.

What Do I Use to Create the Glow in My Lantern?

Traditionally paper lanterns have a small candle placed inside or a wick lit so they glow and float off into the night. For this project, you’ll be using these to hang around your home or lawn as a decoration, so you won’t want to use something to catch fire.

I prefer to use a small flameless candle inside my lanterns to make them glow but keep them for using regularly. You could also use glow sticks inside your lantern for a different look. It could even make it more colorful with the bright neon colors of the glow sticks. I love the idea of using the orange or green ones on this lantern!

Supplies Needed

How to Make Bat Paper Lanterns

Open your paper lantern up completely and set aside.

On black craft paper, draw a bat wing shape and cut it out.

Use this as a template and cut out multiple bats in various sizes.

Add double sided tape to the center of the bat.

Attach the bats all over the lanterns randomly so they look like they are flying.

Hang the bat using fishing line or ribbon.

More Fun Halloween Crafts

Get creative this year with your Halloween decorations. I’ve gathered up and created tons of great options to really add to your Halloween decor. Whether you want cute and fun or spooky, this list has a little of everything to suit your needs.

Crafting Tip

If you aren’t good at freehand drawing, you can use a template or one of these bat SVG files to create your bat cut outs. This makes it super easy if you are using a Cricut or other similar device to help cut the paper.

Yield: 1

Spooky Bat Paper Lantern Halloween Decoration

Turn a basic paper lantern into a great Halloween decoration. This spooky bat lantern is a perfect Halloween addition with easy steps and cheap supplies.

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $1

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Open your paper lantern up completely and set aside.
On black craft paper, draw a bat wing shape and cut it out.
Use this as a template and cut out multiple bats in various sizes.
Add double sided tape to the center of the bat.
Attach the bats all over the lanterns randomly so they look like they are flying.
Hang the bat using fishing line or ribbon.