What's Up Wednesday >> DIY Chinese New Year Decorations

It's almost that time of the year again! I'm so excited to share with all of you some DIY Chinese New Year decorations! Everything was pretty easy to make and at very little cost. So let's get started!

TISSUE PAPER TASSEL GARLAND

Materials

-Red and Gold Tissue Paper
-Tape
-Scissors
-String/Ribbon

Instructions

1. Get a large piece of tissue paper (usually ~20 x 24 in.) and cut it in half (~10 x 12 in.) as shown in photo (you should have two pieces of tissue paper now). Fold a piece of tissue paper in half width-wise.

2. Cut 1 cm. strips up towards the fold, leaving about 1 in. space uncut before the fold.

3. Open up the tissue paper with the fringe out to the left and right.

5. Starting from the bottom of the tissue paper, roll the tissue paper up towards the top of the page.

6. Fold the tissue paper in half forming a loop in the center of the fold. Twist and secure with tape.

7. Repeat steps 1-6 for each piece of tissue paper. Create as many tassels as you want.

8. String each tassel through with either string or ribbon (secure with tape if you want) and you're done!

CHINESE TAKEOUT BOXES

Materials

-Template Download Here
-Red, Gold, Cream Cardstock (or any color you desire)
-Bone Folder
-Score Board or Ruler
-Scissors
-Stapler or Glue Dots
-"Double Happiness" Paper Punch (or any type of decoration/stamp/sticker)

Instructions

1. Print out the template on 8 x 11 in. paper of your choice. Make sure to print on the side you're not displaying -- I messed up on the gold one :(. Cut along the solid black line.

2. Using the bone folder and a score board (or ruler), score along the red lines and the black dotted lines. This helps with the folding/assembly of the boxes.

3. Assemble the boxes by following the folding guidelines -- valley fold (black dotted line) or mountain fold  (red line) -- and secure the sides with glue dots or a stapler (glue dots look more polished -- stapler is easy and more secure).

4. You can decorate the boxes however you like -- I'm using a "double happiness" character paper punch that I got during my travels in China. Glue the cut-out onto the boxes and you're done!

RED ENVELOPES LANTERN

Materials

-9 Red Envelopes (preferably all the same pattern/size)

-Tape or Photo Splits

-Stapler

-Bone Folder

-Scissors

-Ribbon

Instructions

1. Fold down the tops of 9 red envelopes and secure with tape or photo splits. Set aside 1 envelope which will be used for the tassel.

2. Fold in half width-wise and then length-wise. Use a bone folder to crease down the edges. 

3. Fold the envelope into a diamond shape -- using the previous creases to guide your folds. Repeat steps 2-3 for each of the 8 envelopes.

4. Staple the top corners of 4 of the red envelopes together -- line up the creases and edges and staple along the crease -- this will be the top of the lantern.

5. Before stapling the third and fourth envelope together, tape a folded piece of 10 in. ribbon to the back which will be used for hanging.

6. This is what the top half of the lantern should look like at this point.

7. For the tassel, cut 1/8 in. strips starting from the bottom of the envelope towards the top -- leaving about 1 in. space uncut at the top of the envelope.

8. Tape another folded 8 in. piece of ribbon to the back of the envelope.

9. Roll up the envelope starting from the left side and secure with tape or stapler.

10. For the bottom of the lantern, staple the bottom corners of the remaining 4 envelopes together.

11. Before stapling the third and fourth envelope together, tape the tassel to the back of the envelope -- it will be hanging from the bottom of the lantern.

12. This is what the bottom half of the lantern should look like at this point.

13. To assemble the top and bottom halves together, staple together the remaining corners -- note that these will not perfectly overlap like the previous ones -- line up the corner crease to create a two mountain peak edge then staple along the crease. The face of each envelope should now look like an eight point star.

OTHER DECORATIONS/TIPS

-Display some cuties/tangerines around the house. When gifting these, be sure to give them in pairs.

-Hang lanterns anywhere -- even from the edge of the table!

-It is customary to offer sweets to guests when they're over during Chinese New Year (usually displayed in an octagonal candy box). Chocolate wrapped in gold foil works too!

-2014 is The Year of the Horse so it is nice to have horses displayed around the house. You can purchase these cute horse red envelopes from my shop!

Thank you for sticking out through this entire post! I hope you enjoyed the DIY tutorials -- I'd love to see pictures of what you create!