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These easy Chinese New Year-inspired crafts will keep the kids busy and get them into the festive spirit.
Get ready to celebrate Chinese New Year with these fun and festive DIY arts and crafts to do with the kids! From DIY lantern decorations to red packets and cherry blossom trees, these crafts make wonderful gifts and will add a festive atmosphere to your home. Get everyone involved for a truly memorable Chinese New Year celebration!
Read More: Chinese New Year 2024 – Dates & CNY Events For Families In Hong Kong
DIY Lantern Decoration
What You’ll Need:
- Black construction paper
- Red origami paper
- Ribbon or string
- A red envelope or packet (lai see)
- Glue
- Scissors
Method:
Cut your red and black paper into strips — make sure they’re plenty wider than the red envelope. Accordion fold the red paper strip and glue it down to the longer black paper, leaving space at the top and bottom. Round the corners and add black paper pieces to the top and bottom, to create the lantern shape. Finally, glue your lai see envelope onto the lantern, make a tassel from red paper strips, and attach a ribbon.
Source: MamaBabyMandarin.com
Origami Fortune Cookies
What You Need:
- 4-inch (diameter) jar, about 10cm, or container lid, a saucer or another object to trace a circle round
- Decorative paper
- Pen
- Scissors
- White paper
- Glue or glue gun
Method:
Start by cutting out a 4-inch circle of your chosen decorative paper. Next, grab some white paper strips and write your fortune messages on them. Take the fortune message and place it in the centre of the circle. Fold the top side down (do not fold all the way, let it be folded at close to the top third of the circle). Do the same thing with the bottom third of the circle, so that there is an overlapping portion. Now, bend the paper backwards to form a crease at the centre and apply a dot of hot glue on the inside of the crease. Hold the fortune cookie in place for a few seconds to allow the glue to dry.
Sassy Mama Tip: Little hands will find scrapbook paper much easier to work with than traditional origami paper. Also, if the paper is too light and thin and doesn’t retain its folds, use a small speck of glue to keep the overlapping portions in place.
Source: Maribeth Janikowski
Read More: Chinese New Year Camps – 2024 CNY School Holiday Camps in Hong Kong
Salt Art Fireworks
What You’ll Need:
- Table salt
- Paper (black works best)
- Watercolours
- Paintbrushes
- White glue
- Cookie sheet
Method:
Start by placing your paper on a cookie sheet to keep the salt contained. Use glue to draw out your design. If you prefer a more precise outline, sketch it first with a white crayon or coloured pencil, then trace over it with glue. Sprinkle salt generously over the glue and shake off any excess onto the tray. Now, prepare your watercolour paint by adding plenty of water. Lightly dab the paint onto the salt, allowing it to create mesmerizing patterns. Let the project dry completely and you are done! Your kids will love how the salt sparkles when it’s all dry.
Source: Maribeth Janikowski
Read More: Where To Shop Cheongsam And Qipao For Mums And Kids In Hong Kong
Paint-It-Yourself Red Packets
What You’ll Need:
- Plain red packets – you can find these in any of the little stationery shops or wet markets throughout Hong Kong
- Gold glitter glue or markers
- Pencil
- Chocolate coins
Method:
Using a pencil have your child write out simple Chinese characters used for CNY greetings (we looked a few up online!).
Use glitter glue or pen to trace the characters onto the plain red packets and let it dry. Once dry, insert a few chocolate coins into the packet and you’re officially CNY-ready!
Source: Maribeth Janikowski
Read More: The Etiquette Of Giving Lai See And Red Packets In Hong Kong
Cherry Blossom Trees
What You’ll Need:
- Tissue paper or wrapping paper scraps that have been torn up and crinkled into small pieces
- Cotton balls and/or various colours and sizes of craft pom poms
- Coloured craft paper
- Paint and paintbrushes
- Glue
Method:
Paint a few tree trunks and branches onto a piece of craft paper (red and black paper are ideal for CNY). Once the paint has dried, glue on the scraps of tissue paper, cotton balls or craft pom poms to create your citrus fruits. Once the glue has set, use cotton buds or swabs, or a small paintbrush to create any additional details.
Source: Maribeth Janikowski
Read More: Kids’ Activities – Things To Do With Kids In Hong Kong This Month
Editor’s Note: “Chinese New Year Crafts To Try With Kids” was most recently updated in February 2024.
