Christmas Lanterns to #LIGHTtheWORLD
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It’s time to spread some light and cheer again this year! I love how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has stuck with the theme #LIGHTtheWORLD for Christmas these past few years. It’s been such a great way to add light and love to our home and hopefully yours too.
Be sure to check out the new #LIGHTtheWORLD video with your family or group and talk about what it means to share light with others. In 2019, there is a daily service invitation calendar. I love how doable they are all while also reminding you to stretch a little and serve. Now let’s start making our lanterns!
Save it for later, pin it now!
There are four different lantern patterns you can take advantage of in this free printable:
A scene with Mary and Joseph holding baby Jesus.
The Christmas star and others hovering over the world (get it, light the world)
Light the World with a Christmas Star
Christmas tree with a star on top
Print each one on to a paper bag then trace the design poking holes with a pin. The bigger the pin or needle, the larger the holes (If you don’t want to print on a bag, you can print the design and tape it over your bag then poke the holes).
I knew our group of Primary Activity girls wouldn’t have the patience for all that pin poking so we ended up coloring the designs on each bag instead. As you can see in the photo below, the design still shines through and makes a great gift day or night. We’ll be leaving our bags on doorsteps as we go Christmas caroling to spread some cheer.
Fun Ways to Use your #LIGHTtheWORLD Lanterns
Line them up around your Christmas tree as you read the Christmas story in Luke 2. It’s the perfect mood lighting to make things even more special.
Leave them on doorsteps as you drop off treats or sing Christmas carols.
Fill them up with popcorn and an invitation to watch the new Nativity video, “The Christ Child” put out by the Church. I have a cute tag to add to it!
Put all sorts of Christmas goodies inside like cookies and fudge and give it to your neighbors with an invite to join you at church on December 24.
Use it as a gift bag for all those teacher gifts.
Line your steps with the lanterns when you have your Christmas party- it’s a simple way to share the message.
Put them out on the table at your ward’s Christmas party for everyone to color. Then at the end of the night, give everyone a battery-powered candle to put inside, turn the lights down low, and sing a few Christmas songs together to end the night.
I recommended using battery-powered tea lights (these are the ones I have) in these bags so you don’t have to worry about fires. If you are putting these lanterns outside, weigh them down with sand or rocks as well.
If you haven’t printed on paper bags before, it’s pretty simple once you know how your printer works. Follow the instructions in the printable. If you have a laser printer like me though, you’ll want to flip your bag around the other way so the design won’t be upside down. The key to successful bag printing is taping the bottom and top of the bag down on top of my template so everything prints just right.
