WHAT YOU NEED: Drinking glasses, handmade rice or fiber paper, tape measure or ruler, scissors, sponge, raffia ribbon, tea lights

Ordinary smooth-sided drinking glasses, 4 to 6 inches high, make excellent luminarias. Cover the glasses with strips of handmade rice or fiber paper (a 22- by 28-inch sheet covers a dozen glasses).

To make the paper strips: measure the circumference of the glasses and add 1 inch for overlap, measure the height and add 1 inch, then draw the rectangles. For attractive "feather" edges, moisten the lines with the edge of a sponge, then gently tear out the strips. Wrap each glass with paper; tie with raffia ribbon and knot. For easy cleanup, float tea lights in 1/2 inch of water to prevent the wax from sticking to the glass's bottom. You can make a dozen in 20 minutes.