DIY Paper Lighthouse Luminary - A Fun 3D Papercraft! (2024)

Instructions

STEP 1: GET FREE MY PAPER LIGHTHOUSE DESIGN FILES

Get my free paper lighthouse tealight luminary pattern from my library — look for design #315. You can cut this lighthouse by hand using the printable PDF template, or you can use the SVG cut file to cut it with a cutting machine.

Let me show you how to cut this paper lighthouse luminary with a Cricut cutting machine. If you're not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you're on an iPhone or iPad, here's how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

Here’s what the SVG file looks like when it is imported into Design Space (Tip: Right-click on this image to see it at a larger size).

Adjust the size if needed. The SVG cut file is set up to make one lighthouse measuring approximately 16” tall and 8” wide across the base. If you want to use different paper and color combinations, you may want to designate different colors for the cut layers to keep track of all the pieces. Now they are ready to be cut!

Once you are happy with how everything looks click “Make It.” If prompted, choose to cut it on a mat, then click “Continue.”

Now you will be prompted to select your material settings. Choose “Medium Cardstock” for the cardstock pieces and I always choose “More” pressure.

I am going to use textured cardstock, which is textured on one side but the other side is smooth. We want to place the cardstock with the textured side facing upward on the mat (so adhering the smooth side to the sticky mat).

Place your cardstock on a Green StandardGrip machine mat or a Blue LightGrip machine mat, load your scoring stylus or scoring tool, and press "Go." Once the cut is done, unload your mat, flip it over and roll the mat back to release the cardstock. I used a weeding tool to pop out all the little bits for the decorative pieces.

Once those cuts are done, you will “Browse all Materials” and select “Vellum” for the window pieces. Once that cut is done flip your mat back again and gently peel off those pieces.

Here are the pieces you’ll need to make a paper lighthouse — 20 window frames, 20 vellum panels, vellum strip, roof, roof cap, roof cap side, 2 cupola side pieces, 3 tealight trays, railing, railing base, 2 tower sides, 8 belly band strips, 6 nautical embellishments, 2 collar strips, 2 tower bases, 8 base sides, 1 base, 1 door, 1 door frame, 1 door roof, 1 door triangle piece.

STEP 2: Assemble the windows

To begin, lay out all window pieces which should include the vellum panes, window frames and the sections with window cutouts, which include the base pieces, tower pieces, cupola pieces and the cap windows. Be sure to match up each group of rectangle-shaped vellum and frames to the correct window cutouts as each section is a slightly different size. These are all the window pieces:

First we glue the vellum panels into place on the inside of each window (the non-textured side of the paper) by running a line of tacky glue along the window edges.

There are four sections with windows that we attach the vellum to.

Roof cap windows:

Cupola windows:

Tower windows and portholes:

Base section windows:

Next, flip the pieces over. Apply glue to the underside (non-textured side) of each window frame.

Glue the window frames to the outside of each window (the textured side of the paper).

This is what the window sections will look like after they are assembled:

Step 3: Fold and glue the cupola (top tier)

These are the parts we need to assemble the cupola:

First, let’s assemble the roof and cap. Fold the small cap roof inward on the score lines so the textured side is facing outward.

Apply glue to the tab and glue the roof closed to make the cone shape.

Also fold the larger roof in the same way.

Glue the two ends of the roof together to make a cone.

Next, fold the cap windows as shown below.

Fold in and put glue on the side tab on the short end of the cap window section.

Press the two ends of the cap window section together until the glue holds.

Apply glue to the tabs along one of the long sides of the cap window section.

Press the tabs into the underside of the smaller cap roof, taking care to center it and align the octagonal sides.

Step 4: Fold and glue the paper lighthouse tower (middle tier)

Now, it’s time to make the base of the cupola of the paper lighthouse, which is actually the top of the tower (middle tier). Start by folding the railings and railing tabs inward along the score lines as shown in the image below.

Now, glue each railing section together by attaching the tabs to the inside of each neighboring rail.

After attaching all the rails, center the railing piece on the cupola base piece, making sure all octagon sides line up. Apply glue to the bottom of the rail piece and glue onto the base like this:

Next, assemble the tealight holder by folding inward along the score lines and gluing the tabs on the outside of each section like this:

Center and align the tealight holder inside the railing base and glue into place.

This is what it looks like when it’s all glued together:

Now, fold the the tower sides inward on the score lines as shown below so the textured side of the paper and window frames are facing outward.

Note: There is an extra set of score lines midway down the tower. These lines do not get folded. They are guidelines which will help us align and attach the decorative band later.

Glue the tower sides together. First you glue the two sides together at the tab, then you glue them end to end.

STEP 5: Fold and glue the paper lighthouse base (bottom tier)

Now, it’s time to make the base of the paper lighthouse tower, which is actually the top of the base (bottom tier). These are the pieces we will use:

Start by folding the collar sections inward along the score lines as shown in the image below.

Now, glue each collar section together. First you glue the two sections together at the tab, then you glue them end to end.

Apply glue to the bottom of the collar tabs and glue onto the base. Make sure to center the collar on the tower base piece and that all octagon sides line up.

Next, assemble the tealight holder just like we did in step 4.

Fold the tealight holder along the score lines:

Glue the tealight holder together at the tabs:

Center and align the tea light holder inside the collar and glue into place.

This is what your base looks like so far:

Now, apply glue to the bottom of the collar and tealight section like this:

Align it to the base piece and glue into place. This is the base of the tower, which will become the top of the bottom tier.

Now, we will assemble the bottom tier windows. These are the parts we will use:

Choose one of the plain sections without a window and glue the door just above the score line like this:

Glue the door frame into place.

Now, fold all the base sides inward on the score lines as shown below.

Arrange the paper lighthouse base sections like this, so each plain side is separated by a window.

Glue each of the sides together. First, apply glue to a tab and press two sections together, and go around the circle until each side is glued to the one next to it.

Then complete the bottom window section by gluing them end to end.

Next, assemble the final tealight holder like you did in step 4. Align it in the center of the paper lighthouse base like this and glue it in place.

Add glue to the window base tabs. Align them to the base and attach, taking care to line up the octagon edges.

Next, apply glue to the top tabs of the base section. Align them to the bottom of the collar and tealight section and glue into place, taking care to line up the edges perfectly.

Now, add the base embellishments for your paper lighthouse. First, fold each of the band sections inward along the score lines so the texture will face outward.

Line up the two sections and glue them together at the tab.

Apply glue to the underside of the band and attach it to the base just flush under the collar section.

Next, fold the door roof inward along the score lines like this.

Add glue to the inside of the roof tabs and press the triangle piece into place.

Center and glue the ships wheel icon on the triangle.

Apply glue to the back of the triangle and align it to the band above the door. Press it into place.

This is what the paper lighthouse base (bottom tier) looks like when it’s assembled:

STEP 6: Assemble the paper lighthouse tealight luminary

Tuck a battery operated LED tealight into the holder inside the paper lighthouse base, and add one to each of the other two holders.

Align and place the cupola on the tower section.

Align and place the cupola and tower on the paper lighthouse base section.

STEP 7: Show It Off

We’re done! This is what the paper lighthouse luminary looks like assembled and lit up!