We love New Years here in the Test Kitchen! Mostly because we know you don’t have to be in Times Square in a sequined dress to have a good time. We’ve learned that the best recipe for success is to get together a few of your loved ones and bring the party to your own living room with fancy snacks, bubbly drinks, and these elegant paper lanterns. Pajamas optional!

Follow our paper lanterns how to and add some sparkle and decorative fun to your night.

Step 1: Gather your materials. You’ll need square of decorative paper. We found our metallic craft paper at the local craft store but feel free to use construction paper or even origami paper. Also have scissors, twine, hole punch, and a stapler on hand.

Step 2: Fold each square in half.

Step 3: Make a sharp crease.

Step 4: Use scissors to make cuts ½ inch wide slits on the folded side of the paper almost to the end.

Step 5: Unfold the paper.

Step 6: Bring the top corners to meet.

Step 7: Staple both the top corners, middle, bottom corners together so they are ever so slightly overlapping.

Step 8: Use the hole punch to make two holes directly across from each. Repeat with remaining paper squares and string the twine through each lantern.

Step 9: Hang up the string of lanterns and admire your work! Toast to your craftiness.

Happy New Year, y’all, from all of us here at Paula’s Test Kitchen! May 2013 be your best year yet!

Try some of Paula’s favorite appetizers to make your night complete:

Mini Cranberry Meatballs
Bacon Pinwheels
Prosciutto Stuffed Mushrooms