Happy Chinese New Year!
Every year, we celebrate by making these simple decorative lanterns. They’re made with “ang pow” wrappers – small red packets that are traditionally filled with money and presented to children for good luck. If you can’t find these, red envelopes should work just as well.
They’re very easy to make, with just a few folds and staples, but quite hard to describe, so I’ve taken lots of photos which are hopefully self-explanatory.
Start with twelve ang pow wrappers…
Seal each wrapper closed, then fold the corners in as shown below. It’s easier if you mark the top and bottom centre points first.
Now place four wrappers in a circle, and staple the folded corners together to join them up. Make sure the design on each red packet is the right way up. This will form the top of the lantern.
Now take four more wrappers and repeat for the bottom of the lantern – again making sure the design is properly aligned for the base (see photo).
Join the pieces with a single large staple at each corner…
Now, here’s the only fiddly part. Actually, it’s not that fiddly at all, just a little tricky to explain.
Join the top and bottom pieces together with the remaining four wrappers, stapling them in sideways. This gives the lantern its round, ball-like shape. Join one section first, then attach the other part to complete the lantern.
With a needle and thread, tie a hanging loop to the top of the ball and (optionally) a tassel or ribbon streamers to the bottom.
Now all you have to do is find somewhere to hang your lantern for the traditional fifteen days of Chinese New Year celebrations!
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Hey, right back atcha. Beautiful lanterns…what a good reason to have some good Chinese food this weekend…Now just to FIND the good Chinese food!
B
Barb, thank you! :) Hope all is well in your universe…
Oh wow they’re amazing Celia! :o I’ve never seen them before-you are so creative! :D Happy Chinese New Year!
Happy New Year! Craig
Lorraine and Craig, Happy New Year to you too!
Lorraine, I first saw these lanterns years ago when I was on holidays in Singapore – they were hanging in the post office. I stood there for ages with a pen and paper, drawing out a little sketch so I’d remember how they were made! :) I hope you’ll give it a go – my folks love them, and always have them hanging up every CNY!
Happy Chinese New Year Celia dear…and Pete. I ♥ the lantern. Peace, love and joy…..
Happy New Year to you all ! Hope there’s soft shell crab on the menu somewhere..mmmm :)
Ozoz and Jo, Happy New Year to you both! We have fifteen days to celebrate, so the party continues! Soft shell crab..hmm…now there’s an idea.. :)
Very cute…and so festive looking!
Gong Xi Fa Cai, Celia!
And to you, David and the boys, Trace! All the best for a great Year of the Tiger!
Great tutorial! I used to make these when I was in primary school!
Gong Xi Fa Cai to you and your family!
Gong Xi Fa Cai to you and yours too, Foodwink! I’m really enjoying your photos, particularly over this CNY period!
I am inspired to make some this year of the Rabbit.
I have looked and looked and can’t find the tassels by themselves.
Did you find some or did you reuse them from something else?
Then, I’ll just have to find some fire works………….
Moo, I bought them in Singapore. I think I still have some floating around, if I find them, I’ll send them to you.
Celia x
I made 3 lanterns on the weekend and there was a very tangible feeling of satisfaction from taking 12, 2D envelopes and creating a sphere. I was also impressed that they are so stable you can stack them.
We had a visitor drop by and they were so intrigued that I taught them the technique and sent them home with some envelopes. Our visitor was a school teacher and her mind went into overdrive with the possibilities:
Christmas lanterns from old Christmas cards etc etc
Moo, hopefully the tassels will be with you soon! Brilliant idea to make them with standard envelopes and cards! :)
love it!! will steal your idea and teach my girl scout troop how to make this.
Fantastic! Hope they have fun with it, Aleida! :)
Wow! Those are gorgeous. Right up my alley as a paperphile…I’m going down into my studio to find some scraps. They will look a bit scandinavian in white…oh well…splash on some red ink perhaps?
Celia, is there no end to the inspiration your blog supplies????
Vix, you’re very kind, thank you! :) I hope you have fun with these – white with a red Chinese character, perhaps? Some of the banks will hand out free CNY red packets, particularly the Asian banks like HSBC.
tassles have touched down, you are very generous, I wasn’t expectig the beads and flowers too,
thanx
Goodo, they arrived! :)
I made them with origami paper- and instead of rectangles I tried it with squares. Not a circle- but quite appealing all the same. I’m hanging them from the chandelier over the kitchen table. Happy New Year, Celia- and thank you.
Fantastic – thanks for letting me know they work, Heidi! Hope you have a lovely day! :)