Let's make some easy Chinese New Year crafts to decorate the house and get in the festive mood. Here we show you how to make paper lanterns, banners with messages of good luck and fortune, lucky red envelopes, Chinese paper fans.
They are all easy to make at home or for school projects and are great decorations for entrances, halls, classrooms, the living room, the garden, a Chinese New Year party, it's all you will need for the celebrations!
Most of the materials we will be using you are likely to have at home or find easily at the craft store.
We have tried all of these ourselves with our kids, some are easier than others, when the kids are likely to need help we let you know.
For the most part, most school-aged kids should be able to do them on their own. For the little ones, a bit of help from mom or teacher will get them on their way.
Here is a selection of easy but great Chinese New Year Crafts to make at home or in school:
PAPER LANTERN
This one is great for little ones and beginners, only six simple steps to this colorful lantern. Try different variations and trimmings.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- One sheet red paper, Letter size or A4
- One sheet gold paper, Letter size or A4
- Pencil and ruler
- Scissors
- Glue
STEP 1:
- Fold the red paper in half
- Use the pencil and ruler to trace lines perpendicular to the folded side about 3/4" apart and leaving 3/4" at the top
- Use the scissors to cut through the lines, this will form the bars in the middle of the lantern.
STEP 2:
- Roll the gold paper lengthwise to form a tube, this will be the center of the lantern
- Secure it with some glue
STEP 3:
- Open the red paper
- Match the red paper cut out with the gold tube at one end
- Secure with glue
STEP 4:
- Match the other side leaving some of the gold tube visible depending on how tall or short you want your lantern to be
- Secure with glue
STEP 5:
- Cut any excess gold tube at the bottom
- Or just leave it as part of the decoration
STEP 6:
- You can use the excess gold strip to make the handle
- Glue on both sides at the top
- Ready!
CHINESE PAPER FAN
An easy Red and Gold Chinese Paper Fan require only some red and gold paper, a little folding and you have an awesome decorative piece for the holiday!
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- One sheet red paper
- One sheet gold paper
- Regular Scissors
- Scissors with fun shape (optional)
- Glue
- Gold gift ribbon, curly ribbon, cord, string or similar
STEP 1:
- Use the fun shape scissors to trim along the top and bottom edge of the red paper (the longer side of the paper)
STEP 2:
- Cut two stripes of gold paper using the fun-shaped scissors
- Glue the gold stripes to both ends of the red paper, try to keep the same distance from the top and bottom edges
STEP 3:
- Starting from one end, fold pleats accordion-style, about 3/4" apart along the whole length
STEP 4:
- With pleats together, folding fan in half
- Glue the middle together
STEP 5:
- On the bottom pleat, use the scissors to cut a little knick, with pleat folded to make a tiny hole
STEP 6:
- Open the pleat and thread a piece of gold ribbon through it.
STEP 7:
- Fold the pleat back, tie a little bow or knot or use the ribbon for hanging
- Your fan is ready!
BANNERS & SIGNS
Banners and signs with good luck messages for the New Year typically adorn the entrances of homes and businesses. Here's how to make yours:
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- One sheet red paper
- One sheet gold paper
- Scissors
- Hole puncher
- Glue
- Red or gold string, cord, yarn, or gift ribbon to hang it
- Black or Gold Marker
STEP 1:
- Cut the red paper into a small 5" to 6" diamond-shaped square
- Cut the gold paper an inch or so bigger than the red one
- Glue the red square onto the middle of the gold square
STEP 2:
- Punch a hole in one of the corners
- Cut some string, yarn, or cord, and thread it through the hole
- Adjust string to the desired length to hang the sign and tie a bow or knot
STEP 3:
- Write a Chinese New Year Greeting on your poster
Source: https://www.china-family-adventure.com/
