Chinese New Year is almost here, which means it’s time to get decorating! If you don’t want to squeeze through the crowds of Chinatown or just want to get some hands-on bonding time with the family, how about DIY-ing your own decorations this year?
After all, CNY is all about celebrations and reunions, and there’s no better way to have an enjoyable time together than to get crafting. Children love to get hands-on with their fun: cut, stick and tear up paper, and their hard work can become conversation topics when relatives and friends come to visit. (This helps to build ownership in the things they do, and can also help small children speak with more confidence, especially with non-family members).
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To get your imagination going, we’ve scoured the internet for some of our favourite DIY pieces that you can make at home with your kids. These craft decoration ideas are simple enough for the kids and look good enough to display in your home. They also don’t require too many materials. As long as you have angbaos, scissors, and some glue, you’re good to go! Scroll down to the gallery to see what they are:
These koi fishes are simple to make and don’t require anything else except a piece of paper and some glue. It involves a lot of folding but making it will definitely keep the kids entertained for a while and will put their concentration skills to the test.
You can use different-coloured papers or even pretty red packets if you want to add some extra splash of colours to your home. Place it on countertops, string them all together, or hang them from your front gate – your home is your oyster.
Watch the video here.
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This cute vibrant lantern cut-out comes with an interactive element in the form of a pull-out piece — this can be anything you like, from auspicious ingots to fish.
@craftla Happy CNY and Gongxifacai🎉🎉#tiktokclassroom #tik_tok #lifehack #lifehacks #diy #art #craft #handmade #cny2020 #cnykeepsmiling #cool #woah #try
Want to make something that will keep the kids entertained even after the crafting is done? These little bouncy tigers are the perfect choice for this CNY. Get some orange and yellow paper or cut open a red packet, markers, and whatever else you’d like to use to decorate it with.
Fold it, glue it together, and then have fun pushing it down and watching it spring back up!
Watch the video here.
If you have angbaos from past years that are too pretty to throw away, it’s time to take them out and create these adorable lucky money bags. Attach a string and some gold strips to complete the look and you will have perfectly display-able pouches to ring in the new year.
While these decorations are generally red and gold, you and the kids can customise them and let your creativity run wild!
Watch the video here.
Do you remember the DIY lantern you used to learn in school that requires only one angbao? We are sure your kids have learned it too. Now, get ready for the advanced (but still easy) version. For this project, you may want to supervise your kids more closely as they will have to handle a penknife or scissors, but it’s still completely family-friendly!
Making this includes a lot of repetitive actions, which makes for a relaxing few hours making it. You can even split the tasks between everybody so that it will pass from one person to the next and everyone has a part in all the lanterns.
Watch the video here.
Now, we know this doesn’t look like a tiger (this was for last year) but with one easy fix, that can be changed! Simply cut the ears into the round ears of a tiger and you and the little ones can even go the extra mile to draw the face and stripes of the cat. And also, is this not a great way to get all of your orange flesh out in one go with a spoon? We think so!
You can place these on dining tables to put a twist on your mealtimes or tie some twine and hang them up like shown in the video.
Watch the video here.
@craftla DIY Mandarin Orange Candle 🕯 🍊 #diy #cny #creativeideas #mandarinorange #candle #learnontiktok #craftla
If you are guilty of keeping all the angbaos that you get and then some, it’s time to put all of them to good use. This modern lantern is ridiculously easy to make but requires 12 red packets to create (and a good old stapler).
We recommend using angbaos that are firm so that the decoration doesn’t come out flimsy, and instead, maintains its shape for all of CNY (and beyond!).
Watch the video here.
@livelyfhere The most ox-cellent lanterns! 🏮🧧 #lny2021 #cny2021 #easycraftideas #diy #reuniondinner #sgtiktok #lyfFunan #livelyfhere #fyp
If you have older kids in the family who are up for a challenge of focus, this is a good project that will keep them busy. This DIY requires precise folding, measuring, and an eye for detail. Make sure to have some glue and double-sided tape on hand as well.
The gold ingots will look great at entrances to welcome guests into the house and on the coffee table in the middle of all the goodies as everyone chows down.
Watch the video here.
Still looking for lantern options? This design looks intricate and difficult but is simple to make. All you need is to accordion fold two pieces and make the necessary cuts, then piece them together.
This project will be sure to get praise when visitors come into your home this CNY, and you can proudly say that it was a family DIY activity that you all did together. Plus, the heart-shaped design is perfect as a nod to Valentine’s Day, which coincides with the Lunar New Year, too.
@xmmm9401n6k New Year decorations from China. #origami #LearnItOnTikTok #diy #fypage #fyp #handwork #beautiful #easy #ornaments #decoration
Your kids will love to make paper fishes from angbaos as they get to use scissors – good for their motor skills training! Highly versatile, stick these fish ornaments to the doors and walls or hang them on your plants.
Watch the video here.
Real strings of firecrackers aren’t legal in Singapore, but there’s no reason why you can’t DIY your replica strings of “firecrackers” to brighten up your entrance.
You can also make use of unused red packets to make this beautiful piece just in time for your upcoming reunion dinner and festive gatherings.
@craftycreations.os Crafting joy and sparkle for a DIY New Year decoration 2024 celebration! 🎉✨ #diygiftideas #handmadecrafts #diycraftideas #easycraftsidea #diyproject #cnydecoration #cnydecor #handmadecraft #newyearcraft #2024newyear #homedecor #homedecorationideas #cnydecorations
Pretty to hang from a doorway, make these paper lanterns for yourself and customise each lantern as much as you like! Your children can decorate their own lanterns with names or stickers and you can hang them up on your CNY plants, including your pussy willows! We guarantee that your house will be spruced up like never before.
Read the instructions here.
Upcycle that wreath from Christmas by adding a few new decorations to change it up! Just add a few angbaos to jazz it up, and you’ve got a CNY decoration in just a matter of minutes. We love this recycling idea because it’s eco-friendly and fun.
Make your own “atas” lighted lanterns with this easy kid-friendly craft project that are definitely different from all the other lanterns mentioned in this list. You will need tracing paper, some wooden craft sticks, and crayons. Draw tigers, pandas, rabbits, and anything you want on the tracing papers.
If you want a lovely accent in your living room, you can place it in the corner of the space. Alternatively, you can let it take centre stage on the dining table for everyone to see during the reunion dinner.
Read the instructions here.
Upcycle a cheap paper lantern from IKEA or online with this easy craft idea. The lantern is so pretty you may want to keep it up even after Chinese New Year celebrations have ended for this year!
Read the instructions here.
Text: Elizabeth Liew, Simone Wu, and Terri Kue. Last updated January 2023.