11 DIY Chinese New Year Decorations You Can Make Using Red Packets

Sprucing the home up is a must during Chinese New Year! If you’re still searching for cute and stylish mantlepieces that add a touch of class, check out these suggestions to make CNY decoration using red packets.

11 Easy Designs For CNY Decoration Using Red Packets

1. Red lantern

Lanterns are commonplace at this time of year. They signify reunion and good luck, so it’s important to have these by the entrance to welcome people! This is one essential CNY decoration using red packets that will wow your guests! There are many lantern designs, but this one is as simple as they come!

Materials:

• Red Packets
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Sellotape

Instructions:

1. Fold the red packet in half lengthways
2. Make incisions across the width of the packet (but don’t cut to the end)
3. Unfold the red packet
4. Roll the red packet so both ends meet each other (lengthways)
5. Staple both ends where the packet meets
6. Use sellotape to hold the handles in place

2. Chinese Fan

Fans are beautifully decorated and can also be used to cool yourself down under the hot weather!

Materials:

• Red Packets
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Sellotape
• Ruler

Instructions:

1. Accordion fold your red packet
2. Use a ruler to help crease the indentations
3. Either staple or sellotape one end of the accordion folds
4. You can glue popsicle sticks on the outside of either end of the fan for additional stability
5. You can draw or paint designs on the paper before folding

3. Peach blossom painting

Making your own peach blossom painting symbolises good luck and longevity! Plus it’s a chance to get your creative juices flowing!

Materials:

• Red packets
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue
• White Paper
• Water paint
• Brush

Instructions:

1. On a piece of cardboard about A4 size, stick red packets with to cover the cardboard
2. Cut a piece of paper so it is slightly shorter than the cardboard cutout
3. Draw tree branches in green or red on the paper
4. Dip your fingertips with light red paint and place flowers across the branches
5.  Once the paint has dried, stick the paper to the red cardboard and hang it up

4. Paper dragon puppet

What Chinese New Year would be complete without toys for children to play with? This  CNY decoration using red packets is fun to make and can be customised for your child. There is no right or wrong way to make it!

Materials:

• Red packets
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue
• Colour pencil
• Masking tape
• Different coloured papers
• Glitter
• Popsicle stick

Instructions:

1. Draw the outline for the dragon’s head and tail
2. Then draw the hands and body on the red packets and cut them out
3. Cut out at least 6 hands
4. Colour in the head and tail, then cut them out
5. Stick the head, hands and tail to the body
6. Glue the popsicle stick to the body as a handle

5. Paper plate fish

Here’s another CNY decoration using red packets that can entertain the kids for a while!

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Red packets
• Scissors
• Googly eyes
• Double-sided tape

Instructions:

1. Cover the plate with your red packets
2. Cut a tringle from the plate and stick it at the back to make the tail
3. Add the google eyes above the missing triangle.
4. Either stick the plate to a wall or use a popsicle to form a handle.

6. A basket

This cute CNY decoration using red packets is not only good to look at, but can store sweets or ornaments inside as well!

Materials:

• 20 red packets
• Some cardboard
• Scissors
• Sellotape
• Glue

Instructions:

1. First, cut six cardboard pieces so they fit into six red packets.
2. Next, stick the packets together side by side using tape so they form a long line
3. Stick the packets together so they form a hexagon
4. Then cut a hexagon from the cardboard and place it in the centre of the red packet hexagon
5. Glue the top flaps of the red packets to the cardboard cutout
6. You’ve now got a basket without the handle!
7. You can cut a strip of cardboard and wrap it with red packets. Use glue to keep it together
8. Then staple each side of the stick to two opposite sides of the basket

7. Small paper fish

Making this CNY decoration using red packets is easy and adds some fun around the house!

Materials:

• Red packets
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Red thread

Instructions:

1. Make a square red packet if your’s is rectangular
2. Draw a diagonal line across the red packet to create two triangles
3. Cut out a fish shape according to the lines
4. Loop the thread through the top of the fish and hang it from a ledge or frame

8. Fortune cookies

These serve as a great way to pass messages of encouragement and blessings to visitors. Kids can also use CNY decoration using red packets to share a message with someone they care about!

Materials:

• Red packets
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape
• Pen
• Round jar or bottle

Instructions:

1. First, use the jar or water bottle as an outline. Cut circles from the red packets according to the bottle shape
2. Place double sided tape on the top of the circle
3. Fold the circle in half so the sticky tape attaches both ends
4. Write a small message on a strip of paper and insert into red packet
5. Place your thumb and finger in eithr end of the taco-shaped red packet
6. Crease the paper in the middle so it bends inwards
7. Repeat steps 1-6 to create as many fortune cookies as you want

9. Oranges

Oranges are a sign of good luck at Chinese New Year, so it’s always good to have this CNY decoration using red packets dotted about the house.

Materials:

• Empty toilet roll
• Red packets
• Paper plate
• Brush
• Paint
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions:

1. Cover the toilet roll with red packets and use glue to keep them on
2. Cut the toilet roll into rings, about 2cm thick each
3. Next, cut discs from the paper plate that are the same size as the toilet roll rings
4. Glue the discs onto the rings
5. Paint the discs orange
6. Cut out leaves from the paper plate and glue onto the orange
7. Paint the leaves
8. Hang the oranges on a plate to stick on the wall

10. Firecrackers

Firecrackers are used to scare away evil spirits. While we can’t teach you how to create real firecrackers, this CNY decoration using red packets are good for decorative purposes!

Materials:

• Empty toilet roll
• Red packets
• Scissors
• Glue
• Aluminium foil

Instructions:

1. Using the toilet roll, cut two circles from the red packets to cover both ends
2. Glue the discs to both ends of the toilet roll
3. Cover the toilet roll with red packets
4. With a small piece of aluminium foil, create a small fuse and stick it on one end.

11. Paper drums

This CNY decoration using red packets is ideal to keep kids busy and create a happy atmosphere around the home!

Materials:

• Two paper plates
• Red/gold thread
• Two tiny bells
• Tape
• Wooden stick
• Paint or watercolours
• Red packets

Instructions:

1. Cover the back of both plates with red packets. Use glue to hold them in place
2. Tie each of the bells to a string of thread
3. Attach a thread with a bell to the side of each plate
4. Stick wooden sticks, such as popsicles, at the bottom of each place
5. Glue the plates together (non-red packet sides)
6. Spin the drum in your hand to play with it

This article was first published on Nonilo and republished on theAsianparent with permission.

ALSO READ: 7 Super Fun CNY Craft Ideas For Kids: DIY Oranges, Cherry Blossom Tree, And Fortune Cookies