How to Make a Luminary with Cricut Knife Blade

How to Make a Luminary with Cricut Knife Blade

I love the new Knife Blade for the Cricut Maker.  This was my first knife blade project and I love how it turned out.  Learn how to make a fabulous lampshade or luminary with paper and chipboard.  

Makes a unique piece of home decor or centerpiece for a fancy event. Just place over a simple lamp or use a battery operated candle inside.

I posted this back in 2018 and then Cricut made some Design Space changes and my pattern was no longer available for a while. It's updated now and you can make this gorgeous luminary today!

My luminary was designed to fit over an existing lamp that I made--all the details for this reclaimed wood lamp is on this post here.

This gorgeous luminary is easy to make and just uses paper and chipboard. 

This paper luminary is beautiful on it's own. It looks like church windows, stained glass or delicate rice paper partitions. 

This same pattern makes a great candle lantern too and the glow is perfection. Keep an eye on it if you are burning a real candle, since it's made of paper and you don't want it to catch on fire.

Check it out!  This is a fun project that can be made in an afternoon and can be enjoyed all evening.

Supplies Needed for Luminary made with Cricut Knife Blade:

• Cricut Maker 3 (Cricut's website link) 
• Cricut Maker 3 (Amazon link)

The Cricut Maker is unlike any other cutting machine.  It's powerful, it has the ultimate cutting ability and has incredible versatility! Only the Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 3 can use the Knife Blade.

• Cricut Knife Blade (compatible to cut materials as thick as 2.4mm)
• Cricut Chipboard
• Cricut Metallic Posterboard
• Hot Glue/Gun
• Candle or Lamp with less than 4 inch diameter
• Cricut Design Space project file (designed by me)

**Cricut Pro Tip**

If you haven't used the knife blade before, begin by inserting your knife blade into the Maker and calibrate your blade in Cricut Design Space.

Step 1: Tape Chipboard

Begin by taping the chipboard down to the Strong Grip purple mat all around the edges.

Step 2: Cut the Chipboard

Open up the Cricut Design Space project file. You can thank me for this file by liking, sharing, saving or commenting!

The project file will cut 8 of these frames, they take about 20 passes each.  Be patient, this takes some time.

Follow the prompts on Cricut Design Space and it will guide you through the process beautifully. 

Repeat

Remove from the mat and tape down another chipboard to cut again. Repeat this process until you have 8 chipboard frames cut out. 

Step 3: Cut Metallic Paper

Then use the Metallic posterboard and cut the lattice work using the fine regular point blade now. Repeat this process so you have 4 cut panels of metallic paper lattice.

Step 4: Assemble the Luminary Panels

Now assemble the luminary by hot gluing around the backside of one of the frames.

Place the lattice work on top of the hot glued edge with the colored side up.  Use scissors to trim off any over hanging paper.

Then add hot glue to a second frame to go on top of the first frame.

Then place it right on top of the lattice work and press down all the edges.  

**Pro-Tip** Dust the chipboard with some gold eyeshadow to give it a little shimmer.

Repeat the same assembly process above for all 4 lattice panels.

Step 5: Assemble the Luminary Box

Now usse the hot glue gun to glue the 4 pieces together in a box.

Make sure the backside of the paper is inside the framework.

I love the metallic blue shining on the outside.

That's it!

Now your lampshade is ready to put around a lamp or add a candle inside. Great for a centerpiece, wedding, home decor display or the perfect nightstand glowing light. 

How will you use your luminary?

It is dainty and delicate and will not last forever, but it makes a fun piece of Autumn home decor or the perfect table centerpiece for a party or event.  

Make it in colors to match the event.  Even add a battery powered candle for the same effect as a real flame.

Or fit around a lamp with a color changing light bulb!

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Check out EVERYTHING you need to know about the Cricut here!

Getting started, which machine to buy, Cricut blanks, and much more!