Easy Rainbow Tissue Paper Lanterns for Kids

The other day my two were glued to the window watching a rain shower move out, and my youngest said, "Mommy, where did the rainbow go?" Well. That was all the excuse I needed. We raided the craft drawer, grabbed a mason jar, and made our very own rainbow — one we get to keep on the kitchen table.

These tissue paper flower lanterns are pure magic for kids. A plain glass jar, some colorful tissue paper circles, a few flowers, and a little glue — then pop in an LED tea light and the whole thing glows. My kids gasped when we turned off the lights. Actually, so did I.

Why You'll Love Making This

This is one of those rare crafts that keeps little hands busy for a good stretch without much help from you. Kids can tear or cut the tissue paper, pick their colors, and place everything exactly where they want it. There's no wrong way to do it, which means zero frustration and a whole lot of proud faces.

It's also secretly a sneaky science moment — talking about light shining through translucent paper, layering colors, and what happens when two colors overlap. But to the kids, it's just a glowing jar of rainbow. Fine by me.

Materials You'll Need

A clean glass mason jar (any size works; pint jars are perfect for little hands)
Tissue paper in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
A small circle punch or scissors
White school glue or Mod Podge, thinned with a little water
A foam brush or paintbrush
A battery-operated LED tea light (never a real candle)
A few pressed or dried flowers, optional but so pretty

Step-by-Step Directions

Cut or punch circles out of the tissue paper — about 1 to 1.5 inches across. Let the kids help; crooked circles are totally fine.
Paint a thin layer of glue onto a small section of the mason jar.
Press tissue paper circles onto the glued area, overlapping them so the colors layer into each other.
Brush another thin coat of glue over the top of the circles to seal them down.
Keep going around the whole jar, adding dried or pressed flowers in between the circles wherever you like.
Let the jar dry completely, about 30 minutes.
Drop the LED tea light inside, find a dim corner, and enjoy the glow.

Tips If Things Go Sideways

Tissue paper tearing? That's almost always from pressing too hard with a dry brush — keep the glue layer wet and let the paper float onto it.

Wrinkles bothering your perfectionist? Gently smooth with the foam brush while the glue is still wet. But honestly, a little texture looks beautiful when it glows.

Run out of a color? Improvise. Our jar is missing purple because somebody (no names) used it all on a butterfly yesterday, and it still looks fantastic.

Fun Variations to Try

Use only warm colors (red, orange, yellow) for a sunset lantern.
Cut leaf shapes from green tissue paper and make a garden lantern.
Make a set of small jars and line them down the middle of the table for a family dinner centerpiece.
Let each kid design their own jar and use them as nightlights in their rooms.

FAQs

What ages is this good for?

Preschoolers and up can do this with a little help. The gluing is easy, and even toddlers can place pre-cut circles while you handle the brush.

Can I use a real tea light candle?

Please don't. Tissue paper and glass get warm, and little hands wander. Battery LED tea lights give the same glow with zero worry.

What kind of glue works best?

White school glue thinned with a splash of water works great and washes out. Mod Podge gives a slightly sturdier finish if you have it.

The tissue paper keeps ripping — help!

Use less pressure. Paint the glue on the jar first, lay the circle down, then lightly brush over the top. Wet glue is your friend here.

Will the decorations peel off later?

If you sealed them with a top coat of glue, they hold up well. These are meant to be enjoyed for a season, not forever — and honestly, making a new one is half the fun.