Chinese New Year Lanterns 红包灯笼手工制作

Chinese New Year "YuanXiao" Celebration at Chinatown, Singapore on 5 Feb 2012

2012-02-06T00:30:00.000+08:00

"Yuan Xiao" 元宵节 is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the Chinese calendar. This year, Yuan Xiao festival falls on 6 Feb 2012 which is a Monday, Chinatown celebrated Yuan Xiao a day earlier. There were parade of the Chingay floats, fireworks and firecrackers. With Yuan Xiao, it marked the end of Chinese New Year celebration for this year of the water dragon.

Here are some pictures taken at Chinatown on 5 Feb 2012 evening

2012 Chinese New Year Countdown Fireworks at Chinatown Singapore

2012-01-23T23:21:00.002+08:00

Just before midnight, we hopped over to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year Countdown. In Singapore, Chinatown is the highlight location for Chinese New Year.

Although it was raining, it did not dampen the celebration mood.

We went to the carpark level of Chinatown Complex to view the firecrackers and fireworks.

Enjoy the video.

How to Make an Ang Pow Fan

2012-01-22T15:53:00.000+08:00

This Ang Pow Fan is made using only 10 red envelopes. It is also easy to make as a decoration or gift to friends and relatives during Chinese New Year. The materials required are as follow:

1) 10 Red packets (Ang Pow)
2) Red string about 30 cm
3) one tassel
4) UHU glue or double sided tape
5) A pair of scissors (optional, in case you need to cut a ball of red string)

Here's is a step by step tutorial I've made and uploaded to share with you

How to make an Ang Pow Spaceship

2012-01-22T14:32:00.001+08:00

As I play around with the Ang Pow packets, I made this Chinese New Year Lantern. It looks like a spaceship to me, and I'm still trying to give it a nice name.

I used only 12 red packets. It is another simple craft that children can learn.
As for busy adults, it is easy to learn and fast to make.
It gives sense of satisfactions and enjoyment when you can make one as a gift to your relatives, friends or colleagues.

Here is the video I've made and uploaded

How to Make an 8-Petal Flower using Bump Chenille Stems

2012-01-21T18:25:00.000+08:00

During Chinese New Year in Singapore, you can find these "Bump Chenille Stems" at the many temporary stalls that sell Chinese New Year decorations.

A very friendly stall owner had taught me how to make a flower with these bump chenille stems. You can make this flower to decorate your home and office during Chinese New Year. I find it can also be used as a fashion accessory.

You can see in this picture how I have used it as a decoration for Chinese New Year.

I've made and uploaded a video demonstration to share with you "How to Make an 8-Petal Flower using Bump Chenille Stems". It is simple to make and is suitable for children art and craft.

How to make a Simple Chinese New Year Lantern with 12 Ang Pows

2012-01-01T17:33:00.000+08:00

A fast and easy way to make a simple chinese new year lantern Using Red envelopes/Red packets/Ang pows/ Hongbao/ Ang bao.

You can make it to decorate your house or office for Chinese New Year.

This is suitable for beginners. For children, it is advisable to do it with guidance.

Materials required:
12 Red envelopes/Red packets/Ang pows/ Hongbao/ Ang bao.
Red string
tassel
beads (optional)

Tools:
A stapler
scissors

How to make a Ornamental Hong Bao Flower Ball (彩球, 花球)

2011-06-18T03:08:00.002+08:00

I know many would love to learn to make flower balls with Ang Pow packets. Here's another video I found that teach the "HOW". It's an 11 minutes video, so give yourself so patience to watch and learn.

Chinese Lantern Making at Yio Chu Kang CC

2011-03-25T17:40:00.000+08:00

If you are in Singapore when Chinese New Year is around the corner, do look out on the activities conducted by the Community Clubs (CCs) here. Some CCs do conduct Chinese New Year Lantern Making, and if you are lucky, you can sign up to attend one of the sessions.

I was so happy when I see this posted video on facebook and YouTube. Our Tai Chi teacher had volunteered and conducted a Chinese Lantern Making Session at Yio Chu Kang Community Club earlier this year, during the Chinese New Year period to share with her students to make a Flower Ball with Ang Bao packets.

Guess what?! I'm surprised to see that she is still keeping the Ang Bao Flower Ball that I gave to her last year. She has used it as a sample to guide her students and share with them the process of making it. How wonderful she is!

I felt so apologetic for I'm unable to draw time to make any new Ang Bao Lanterns to gift my favourite teacher and my mother due to my new job commitment this year 2011.

Nevertheless, I'm elevated by this video. I still do keep up with my hobby! So I hope you too, to do something you enjoy. Be Happy and Be Passionate, just like my Tai Chi teacher, I'm so proud of her.

How to make a Flower Ball using only 12 red packets

2011-01-22T23:32:00.000+08:00

My friend brought some square red packets. At first, we could not decide what to do, later we discovered we could make a flower ball with only 12 square red packets!

I've created this video to show you how to do it, it's very simple.

If you have kids, you can teach them to make one for their art lesson or make one to decorate your house for the coming Chinese New Year on 3 Feb 2011.

Here are the materials required:

1. 12 square red packets
2. A piece of red string about 30cm
3. Stapler with yellow or red staples filled
4. 1 Tassel
5. Sticky tape

Have Fun!

How to make a Rotating Lantern with red packets 红包走马灯

2011-01-22T17:49:00.002+08:00

In my earlier post on my Rotating Ang Pow Lantern that brought luck to my Mom to win $60 lottery.
Here, I found a video to teach you how to make one. Hope my post here brings all of you good luck and win a fortune too!

Flower Ball Lantern Origami

2010-10-15T04:23:00.001+08:00

We can reference this video from YouTube to make a Flower Ball Lantern.
From the video, we need to fold 60 triangles altogether. 5 triangles to form a "flower drum", combine 6 "flower drums" to form the flower ball.

During Chinese New Year, some Chinese do not like to see the "white" sides of the flower ball lantern. I think one way to solve this is to get 30 pieces of square Red Envelopes (Ang Bao), fold them into half triangle, then use a pen knife to cut the triangles. Alternatively, use square paper that is red on both sides to cut the triangle.

I'm going to try make this one when I'm free.

十全宫灯　"Shi Quan" Palace lantern

2010-09-19T02:39:00.000+08:00

This YouTube video shows how to make a palace lantern with red envelopes (Ang Bao)

I estimated it takes about 30 red envelopes: 16 red envelopes to form the bottom section; 8 envelopes to form the top sections; reminding for decorations.

The folding method for each red envelope as shown in the video is very similar to the way I make my "Golden Flower Corolla".

Using Ang Bao to play with pets

2010-08-08T17:48:00.005+08:00

I created this page for my Mom. She keeps a pet budgie but never train it with Ang Bao, Lai See or Red packet we call it.

Oh, the pets are so cute, i must let Mom see.

A Simple Ang Bao Lantern

2010-08-02T18:21:00.001+08:00

According to the author of the video, she used 9 red packets or (Ang Pow) to make this simple lantern.

7 Ang Pows to make a circle, then 1 for the top and another 1 for the bottom.

Measurement of the Red packet she used W=8.5cm and L=12cm. She used a string to tie her golden decoration to the Ang Pow lantern that she had made.

What I like about this video is that at its first 1 minute, it demonstrated very clearly how she had folded the red packet and connect them together.

That was how I folded my red packet for my golden flower corolla lantern

铜线灯笼 Ancient Coin Ang Bao lantern

2010-07-30T12:06:00.003+08:00

Found another YouTube video on how to make an "Ancient Coin Lantern" with Red packets (Ang Bao).

We need 16 rectangular Ang Bao envelopes to make this lantern.

I've translated some brief notes, so you can also understand and learn from the video

1- On each red envelope, fold the 4 edges (see 0:17), front view (see 0:20)

2- Select an edge, staple 4 envelopes together, form a "set" (see 0:25)

3 - Make 2 sets, staple the edges and adjust it to form a "coin" (see 0:37)

4 - Please the red envelopes accordingly and staple altogether (see 0:43)

5 - You then see the resulted form. Top View (at 0:52), side view (at 0:55)

6 - Add decorations like roses, paper crane, paper fish and it is done! (see 1:16)

When the wind blows, your lantern will turn round and round. See (1:19)

How NICE! :)))

Giant Red Packet Lantern at Harbourfront Centre in January 2009

2010-04-23T19:20:00.000+08:00

This was a giant Red Packet Lantern made especially for Chinese New Year 2009. It was on display at Harbourfront Centre during the Chinese New Year 2009 period.

We took these during January 2009.

According to the notice, it was Singapore’s Largest Hongbao Lantern Ever Made.

Some facts about this lantern:
- Measured 20 feet tall and 9 feet wide
- Consisted of 9 layers
- Made of 14999 pieces of Hongbao (Red Packets)
- 300 bottles of glue used
- 40 boxes of staples used
- Weighed 200Kg
- 4 months to produce

How to Make a Goldfish with Red Packets 红包金鱼

2010-03-15T04:30:00.005+08:00

Ang Bao Goldfish is another auspicious item the Chinese loves to decorate their house with during Chinese New Year. It symbolises with the chinese phrase "年年有余", meaning having abundance or left over profit every year.

Here is a video I found on YouTube on how to make a goldfish using only 6 red packets and only 2 folding methods.

Never mind the video is spoken in Cantonese, I have translated the important things to note below, read my notes and follow what the demonstrator does in the video, you'll be able to make a beautiful goldfish with just 6 red packets for yourself.

Notes:
The 1st folding method
At 0:23, when you fold the edges leave a little gap from the center grid line.
At 0:35, fold the edges fully to the centre grid line for the other side.
At 0:45, a complete folded red packet, make 3 with this 1st folding method.

At 0:49, the video demonstrated the 2nd folding method, use 3 red packets to form a fish tail.
At 1:47, pick the side when you leave a gap to staple. This would be the fish mouth.
At 2:20, do not cut on the grid line with your scissor, leave a little space. You'd need 4 pieces of triangles to make the fins at 3:42

The Lantern Festival 元宵节 (yuan xiao jie)

2010-02-26T14:00:00.004+08:00

The 15th day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar (正月十五) is a full moon called “元宵节”yuan xiao jie, also known as the “Lantern Festival” because of the old practice of having colourful lantern displays, dating back to the Tang dynasty. Some people would play an old Chinese game “猜灯谜” where riddles or questions pertaining to Chinese words, phrases or historical personalities are pasted on the lanterns. It reveals how knowledgeable you are to solve those riddles & questions. And because the full moon is associated with romance & matrimony, “元宵节”yuan xiao jie also has a special significance for those in love. Some also named “元宵节”yuan xiao jie to be the “Oriental Valentine’s Day” （东方情人节）.

What is Chinese New Year?

2010-02-26T03:53:00.000+08:00

In Singapore, the Chinese or Lunar New Year is also known as “春节” Chun Jie, literally meaning “Spring Festival”. It started on the 1st day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar (正月初一)

“春节” Chun Jie symbolizes the beginning of the year, another fresh start to growth & vitality in the world of nature, and heralds fresh hopes for happiness & prosperity.

Traditionally, “春节” Chun Jie is celebrated over a period of 15 days, from the 1st day of the 1st month to the 15th day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar.

How to make a Fish using One Red Packet

2010-02-26T03:26:00.002+08:00

I've found this short and clear video that demonstrate how you can cut a fish using only 1 red packet (Ang Pow)
This Ang Pow fish is simple and easy to make that you can teach your kid to do. When your kids have collected their Ang Pows and saved the money, you can get them to recycle those red packets to decorate your house, by doing this simple handicraft.

What you need is just one red packet, a scissors, and a stapler. You can get a marker to draw the eyes of the fish.

A gentle reminder to your kid to be careful when they are handling with scissors.

Chinese New Year Lantern - Another folding method for flower ball

2010-02-17T16:10:00.011+08:00

This is further to my video on "How to Make A Flower Ball Chinese New Year Lantern" and my previous post on "How to fold a Spherical Flower Ball Chinese New Year lantern".

Sometimes you might not get red packets that have patterns printed on both sides, and the spherical flower ball you made with ordinary red packets did not look as colourful as mine in the picture of my previous post. Here's another method to fold the edges to make your flower ball looks outstanding that gives you a 3-dimensional feel.

See the pictures below, you can fold the edges to form various 5 petals flower ribbons on it.

This is a close up of how I fold the edges. Exercise little patience to fold the edges. You may use double side sticky tape to hold as you fold.

How to fold a Spherical Flower Ball Chinese New Year Lantern

2010-02-15T19:22:00.005+08:00

In my earlier video post on "How to make a Flower Ball Chinese New Year Lantern", some of my visitor might be wondering how to further fold the flower ball to remove spikes to make it a sphere flower ball just like my picture below.

Thus, I upload this post. I sincerely hope you could learn to make one for your loved ones for Chinese New Year to bring more joy to your family.

If you have followed my earlier video on making the flower ball, here's the very simple additional steps.
Just fold in the edges or "spikes" and staple them. My picture below gives you a reference of how I did it.

I would suggest you to use red staplets in your stapler to do this, otherwise it could be quite unsightly to see staplets all over your flower ball lantern.

Chinese New Year Countdown 2010 Fire crackers and Fireworks at Chinatown Singapore

2010-02-14T02:49:00.003+08:00

It's Chinese New Year Eve, and we had our reunion dinner. Then, we went to Chinatown, Singapore, where it was holding Chinese New Year Celebration 2010 countdown to Year of Tiger. There were many people. I went up a HDB building and managed to see the firecrackers, the fireworks and the performance stage, and got this video.

Chinese New Year lantern - Golden Flower Corolla

2010-02-12T22:16:00.002+08:00

This Chinese New Year lantern is made up of 20 red packets / Ang Baos.

I have specially chosen the red packets designed with yellow print. When I combined each red envelope with gold sticky tape and curved folded it, one by one it forms a golden petal.

As I attached the 20 "gold petals" together, it whirls together to form a Golden Flower Corolla.

Gold colour symbolises Royalty and Wealth. When you put up this Golden Flower Corolla Chinese New Year Lantern, your home is immediately filled with elegance & magnanimous.

How to make a Chinese New Year Lantern using Red Packets - Flower Ball

2010-02-12T01:30:00.008+08:00

Make a Flower Ball Chinese New Year lantern using 30 Red Packets or Ang Pows to decorate our home or office with this step by step instruction guide.