Luminaria are a grouping of paper bag lanterns with a light inside that makes a message using letter cutouts allowing the light to shine through with a soft glow. Luminaria bags with simple symbols are also used to make a path on both sides for your special someone to follow.
Use luminaria to decorate a romantic night for the one you love. Show that you are willing to invest some time to make the night special. Use pre-cut bags below to spell out a message in a creative way like Happy Birthday, Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Anniversary, I Love You, along with flameless candles and rose petals.
White or brown paper bags can be used with battery LED tealights so there is no fire hazard. I’ve used brown paper lunch bags which you can find in your local grocery for under $3. The cost is minimal to make a lasting impression and express your love.
Use only flameless LED battery operated candles if indoors instead of wax candles for safety. It's also easier than going to each bag and lighting each tiny candle at the bottom.
You can really go crazy with how many bags you want. Some sets come in a pack of 50. That might be good for an outside presentation but probably too cramped for indoors. Use the bags to guide to a specific destination or just sprawled out on either side to make a path to walk through. If using outdoors, add some uncooked rice for some weight at the bottom of the bag so the breeze doesn't knock them over. Leave the bag slightly creased on the sides to add strength. Purchase moisture resistant bags if using outside or they will flop from the humidity.
If you are feeling crafty, and have more time, you can also print a FREE Luminaria Stencils template and use them as a pattern to cut out the letter on each of the bags.
This way, you can make whatever message you want and not limited to the pre-cut ones available. See instructions below.
To save even more time, purchase plastic stencils to trace directly onto the bag.
Some basic personalized luminaria supplies include:
White or Brown paper bags
Pencil and ruler
Stencil letters (instructions below or purchase)
Utility knife to cut out letters or shapes
Cardboard to place inside bag when cutting
LED tealight candles
Rose petals
Uncooked rice (as weight)
There are also bags with heart or shape cutouts. It will look amazing either way with a glow lighting a path to a room when you are done or a loving message. You can also do this if your beloved is coming home late from work. Add a few rose petals around the bags and some extra candles if you really want to go the extra mile. You can prepare your message, turn on all the candles, pick her up from work, and go out to dinner so that you can come back later when it’s dark.
It needs to be dark, obviously, for the best effect.
Return and let your sweetheart open the door to wherever you placed the luminaria and light up her heart.
You May Need
Message Bag Kit
Kit includes pre-cut luminaria bags with your choice of message: Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, I Love You, Will You Marry Me, or It Was Always You. Also includes 24 flameless candles to place in bags plus 1000 red and pink rose petals. Everything you need.
Heart Bags
Double heart cutouts on each luminaria bag. This is a 50 pack for use outdoors to light up a pathway or along a driveway. Moisture-proof so they do not droop when used outdoors. (Does not include candles, see below.)
Flameless Candles
Pack of 24 flameless tealight LED candles to place inside the luminaria bags. Creates a warm yellow glow and flickering light for more realistic candle look and ambiance. Long battery life. Also available in 50, 100, or 150 pack.
More Info
White Bags
Plain white luminaria bags only to cut out your own letter message with stencils (not included, see below) or add letters with a printable stencils below. Includes 30 bags without candles.
Brown Bags
Plain brown lunch bags are inexpensive and work fine. These were used in the main photo and the instructions below.
Silk Rose Petals
Scented silk rose petals are hand separated to save time. Soft and realistic petals come in a set of 1000 with multiple color options to choose from.
More Info
Plastic Stencils
Choose from 5 inch or 6 inch to personalize plain bags with your own creative message. Draw a light pencil line on the bag, place a piece of cardboard inside and cut out the letter carefully. Repeat for the other letters. Or use the free template below which requires more work.
More InfoGet the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® PDF viewer to open and print this file properly on your computer. The free Foxit MobilePDF app for iOS or Android is required to fill PDF forms if using a mobile device. A computer is much simpler with less hassle printing if you have the option. See FAQ for more information.
The stencil template should be printed on standard weight US Letter or A4 Paper sizes. See paper size comparison for more info on A4 size paper. Check printer settings in the instructions below.
Instructions
1
Download the personalized template PDF above. Click file to unzip. Right click on PDF to Open With > Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click File > Print to print stencils. Use standard weight paper.
Help
2
Turn over the stencil paper and hold up to a window so you can clearly see the outlines from the back.
Using the side of the pencil lead as shown, draw over the lines making a thick pencil line on the back of the page.
Only do this for the letters you need.
3
The result will look like this for each letter on the back.
This will act as copy paper to transfer the lines in the next steps.
This may seem old school but it works and it’s cheap.
4
Turn over to the front of the stencil.
Fold up the bottom slightly to center the letter on the bag. Try to keep the same position on the bag for each letter. Notice the distance of the paper stencil from the top of bag or a crease in the bag.
If your bag has a seam, trace on the side without the seam.
5
Trace the letter with the pencil slowly and firmly pressing down for each line.
6
With your hand holding the stencil in place, slightly lift the stencil to confirm each line is transferred.
The lines will be faint but you can always use the pencil to go over areas that are too light to see for cutting.
7
IMPORTANT!
Each time you are finished tracing the letter and about to cut, place a small piece of cardboard inside the pocket under the traced letter as shown.
If you miss this step, it will cut the bag on the side and back which won’t look good. I missed doing this 3 times.
8
Use the ruler to help cut straight lines. Use light pressure when cutting so the paper doesn’t rip. Cut the same line 3 times slowly and move on to the next line.
For curved letters, start from the top and turn the paper into the utility knife for a smooth curved cut. It’s harder if you try to move your hand to cut a curved shape.
9
The result will look like this. It will not be perfect and it doesn’t need to be since it will be seen from a distance and in the dark.
*You may need to replace the cardboard with a new piece after a few bags as the multiple cuts and indents start to make it harder to cut on the lines.
10
Turn on the switch for the tea light and place in the center of the bag as shown.
You may also use uncooked rice inside the bag if it falls over or tilts when the AC turns on.
11
Repeat Step 10 for each bag and place in the area you want.
A couch works best for indoors as you can make 2-3 lines of text but you can creatively put them anywhere.
Double check that you’ve spelled it correctly.
12
The final result is a stunning display of your love.
That was a lot of time and effort but it all pays off when you see the smile on her face.
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