Make a Pretty Paper Gazebo Luminary for Mother's Day, Wedding Parties, and Valentine's Day

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Make a pretty paper gazebo luminary that glows!

Summer is coming up fast, and that means concerts in the park, outdoor weddings, and romantic strolls. And there’s nothing quite like a pretty summer gazebo to make each of these things extra special. To celebrate this, I designed a paper gazebo luminary for all the hopeful romantics like me out there. This would also make a lovely Mother’s Day gift or a wedding reception centerpiece.

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Make a pretty paper gazebo with a free template | #cricut #papercrafting #luminary #lantern #wedding #gift

This is such a fun, summery paper lantern! It would look beautiful sitting on a mantle or as a centerpiece, I think. You could dress it up with little paper butterflies or paper flowers, too!

Here’s what the paper gazebo looks like with the lights on inside…

Light up a paper gazebo luminary lit up with LED tealights for parties and gifts! Get a free template and tutorial to make your own #papercrafting #cricut #gazebo

I’ve also included some extra design variations for the gazebos. One paper gazebo has band members, and one has couples for a wedding. Here is a photo of those variations:

Paper Gazebos for weddings and summer events

So let me show you how to make a paper gazebo! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)!Read my full disclosure policy.

Materials for the Paper Gazebo Luminary

How to Make Your Paper Gazebo Luminary

First, download the paper gazebo pattern (Design #101) for this project from my free resource library. If you’re going to cut it out on your cutting machine, upload the file to your design software.

Tip: 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 basic paper gazebo luminary looks like when uploaded to Cricut Design Space:

Paper Gazebo svg cut file uploaded to Cricut Design Space

August 2021 Update: I pre-set all of the score lines and attached them to their bases, so you should simply be able to upload and go!

Here are the pieces you’ll need to make a basic paper gazebo — two side pieces, eight vellum panels, one vellum strip, roof, roof cap, roof cap side, base, and two base strips.

Materials to make a paper gazebo luminary with cardstock, vellum, LED lights, and tacky glue

In addition to the cut paper pieces, you’ll want tacky glue, several tealights, and possibly some tape (if you want to tape an LED in the roof cap).

To begin, fold the paper gazebo sides on the scorelines as shown below.

Folding the paper gazebo sides to make paper gazebo luminaries

Once both sides are folded, glue the vellum panels into place on the back of each side.

Gluing the vellum panels inside the gazebo sides to make paper gazebo luminaries

Now fold and glue the roof cap sides as shown below.

Folding the roof cap to make paper gazebo luminaries

Folded roof cap to make paper gazebo luminaries

Folding the cap of the paper gazebo luminary

Next, glue the paper gazebo sides together. First you put the two sides together at the tab, then you glue them end to end.

Glueing the sides together to make the paper gazebo luminary

Gluing the sides together to make the paper gazebo luminary

This is what the paper gazebo sides look like when all glued together.

The sides all glued together for the paper gazebo luminary

Now, it’s time to make the base of the paper gazebo luminary. Start by folding in the tabs as shown in the image below.

Attaching the sides to the base to make the paper gazebo luminary

Now. fold and glue together the two long strips that go over the base’s edges.

Attach the base sides together for the paper gazebo luminary

Glue the strip along the perimeter of the base.

Gluing the sides to the base for the paper gazebo luminary

Here’s the finished base of the paper gazebo luminary.

The finished base for the paper gazebo luminary

Now it’s time to attach the paper gazebo sides to the base. Put glue on the tabs at the bottom of the gazebo.

Glueing the bottom tabs of the paper gazebo luminary

Then turn the gazebo right side up and press it onto the base. You’ll need to gently move it into place and press down on each tab so it sticks.

Attaching the sides to the base of the paper gazebo luminary

This is the paper gazebo luminary sides attached to the base.

Gluing the sides of the paper gazebo luminary

Now that the base and sides are done, it’s time to fold the roof.

Folding the roof piece to make the paper gazebo luminary

Here’s the folded roof of the paper gazebo luminary.

Folding the roof to make the paper gazebo luminary

Glue the roof closed to make the cone shape.

Folding and glueing the roof to make the paper gazebo luminary

Also fold the smaller roof (the roof cap) in the same way.

Folding the roof to make paper gazebo luminary

Now, glue the two ends of the roof cap together.

Folding and gluing the cap to make the paper gazebo luminary

Put glue on the tabs of one end of the roof cap sides.

Gluing the cap taps for the paper gazebo luminary

Press the sides into the underside of the roof cap of the paper gazebo, taking care to center it.

The glued cap and roof of the paper gazebo luminary

Now, glue the other tabs on the roof cap sides.

Glueing the cap piece for the paper gazebo lantern

Press the tabs onto the larger roof of the paper gazebo, taking care to center the cap on the roof and line up the folds.

The finished roof of the paper gazebo lantern

Now put LED tealights in your paper gazebo — I used three.

Putting tealights into the paper gazebo luminary

You can also (optionally) put another LED tealight in the roof cap — just use tape to keep it in place.

Taping an LED tealight into the cap of the paper gazebo luminary

Now just put the roof on your paper gazebo luminary and enjoy!

Put the paper roof on the paper gazebo luminary

Isn’t it pretty? Ah, I love it!

The finished paper gazebo luminary with LED tealights

And here is a patriotic paper gazebo made by reader Veronica Jachim — I love this! (The cute little Uncle Sams are from the basic design of the snowman lollipop holder from My Scrap Chic.)

Patriotic Paper Gazebo by reader Veronica Jachim

Get my free cut files for the Paper Gazebo Luminary


If you make paper gazebos, I’d love it if you tag me on social media with #jennifermaker. If you do, I’ll add your name to my Master Lantern Makers list!

JenniferMaker.com

If you’re eager to make more luminaries and lanterns today, check out these fun projects!

Make paper birdhouse template patterns | birdhouse craft | #birdhouse #papercraft #cricut Japanese Paper Lanterns with Spring Cherry Blossoms - Get the free pattern and SVG cut files #luminaries #paperflowers #cricut So pretty! How to make a DIY Paper Lantern for Valentine's Day, weddings, or for someone you love! Check out all the little hearts in flight. Includes free pattern and SVG cut files! #papercraft   DIY Paper Luminaries: Make the Light for a Year with 12 Free Paper Luminaries | Tutorials and Free SVG Cut Files for Cricut and Silhouette Put in a tea light to make a birdcage luminary!

Want to remember this? Save these Paper Gazebos to your favorite Pinterest board!

Make this papercraft and create a pretty paper gazebo -- an LED tealight turns it into a luminary for weddings and gifts #papercrafts #cricut #svgfiles #gazebo

This paper gazebo luminary is such a fun, summery paper project that could be used in a variety of settings. You can dress it up for a special occasion like a wedding or theme to it to a specific holiday like 4th of July. This step-by-step tutorial even has a free SVG cut file so you can make your own! #cricut #cricutmade #cricutmaker #cricutexplore #svg #svgfile

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