Kung hei fat choy and welcome (back) to another eco-friendly craft Friday in honour of Chinese New Year. 2011 is the year of the Rabbit and given that rabbit personality types are associated with gentleness, let’s hope this year will be one of increased peace and balance on a world and personal front. 

Today’s Chinese lantern craft is a perfect way to commemorate this great holiday which begins February 3rd, 2011. The lantern festival is one of the most prominent parts of Chinese new year festivities as it officially marks the end of new year celebrations. The lanterns we have here today are quite pretty, easy to make and the kids can really get creative with embellishing them. They can also be strung together and hung like a garland for a beautiful new year display.

This is a great craft to decorate for a traditional family gathering or for a teacher to decorate their classroom and comes by way of kaboose.com so let’s get crafting.

What you’ll need:
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Stapler
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Glue, glitter, sequins, if desired to decorate your lantern

How to make it:
1. Use your ruler to measure and cut one inch off the short end of your paper. Set aside to use as the handle.
2. Fold your paper in half lengthwise.
3. Draw a line one inch from the end of the long edge of the paper opposite the folded edge. This will be the line where you stop cutting.
4. Measure and mark lines one inch apart starting at the folded edge and moving towards the “stop cutting” line. (see photo)
5. Cut on the marked lines up to the “stop cutting” line.
6. Unfold the paper.
7. Re-crease the paper in the opposite direction. This will hide any pencil marks.
8. Match the long edges together on the lantern and use tape to hold it in place.
9. Staple the handle to the top of the lantern. (see photo)
10. Make as many lanterns as you wish and display them around your home.
11. If you wish, add glue, glitter, sequins or other things to decorate your lanterns.

Really encourage the kids to make the lanterns their own. According to Wikipedia “In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones; in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs. For example, lanterns are now often made in shapes of animals.”

Have fun with this festive eco-friendly craft and here’s wishing you and your family a year of health, balance and prosperity!

Kung hei fat choy!