9 Easy Lunar New Year Crafts for Kids & Families
Ready to fill your home with luck, prosperity, and festive cheer?
Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by getting creative with your hands!
This incredible festival, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, brings families together with vibrant traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Whether you’re honoring your heritage or want to experience the magic of this cultural celebration, crafting is the perfect way to dive in.
From glowing paper lanterns to lucky red envelopes, these projects change ordinary materials into meaningful decorations that capture the spirit of renewal and hope.
Get ready to welcome the Year of the Snake with crafts that are as fun to make as they are beautiful to display!
Lunar New Year Craft Ideas
Transform your home into a festive celebration space with these traditional and creative Lunar New Year crafts that bring good fortune, prosperity, and joy to your household.
1. Paper Lanterns
Paper lanterns are iconic symbols of Lunar New Year celebrations, representing the light that guides us into a bright new year.
These beautiful decorations hang from doorways, windows, and ceilings throughout the 15-day festival, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner, Intermediate | 30 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Red or patterned construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue or a stapler
- Gold ribbon or string for hanging
- Optional: gold markers for decoration
How to Make:
Step 1: Fold a sheet of red construction paper in half lengthwise
Step 2: Draw a line about 1 inch from the open edge to mark your stopping point
Step 3: Cut strips from the folded edge toward the line, spacing them about ¾ inch apart
Step 4: Unfold the paper and roll it into a cylinder, gluing or stapling the edges together
Step 5: Gently push down from the top to create the lantern’s rounded shape
Step 6: Add a handle using a strip of paper or gold ribbon
Step 7: Decorate with gold markers or glitter for extra sparkle
Pro Tip: Make several lanterns in different sizes and string them together to create a stunning garland. Remember, the number eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture, so making eight lanterns brings extra good fortune!
2. Lucky Red Envelopes (Hong Bao)
Red envelopes, or “hong bao,” are traditional gifts exchanged during the Lunar New Year.
Filled with money or chocolate coins, these bright red packets symbolize good luck, prosperity, and warm wishes for the year ahead. Children especially love receiving these special gifts from elders.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 20 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Red construction paper or cardstock
- Gold markers, paint, or stickers
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Optional: Chinese character stickers or stamps
How to Make:
Step 1: Cut red paper into a rectangle (approximately 6×8 inches)
Step 2: Fold the paper into thirds like a letter
Step 3: Fold up the bottom third and glue the sides to create a pocket
Step 4: Decorate with gold designs, Chinese characters like 福 (luck) or 春 (spring)
Step 5: Fill with coins, bills, or positive messages
Step 6: Fold down the top flap to seal
Cultural Note: Traditionally, money is given in even amounts (except the number 4, which is considered unlucky). This craft is perfect for teaching children about generosity and cultural traditions.
3. Dragon Puppet
The dragon is a powerful symbol of strength, good fortune, and wisdom in Chinese culture.
Dragon dances are a highlight of Lunar New Year parades, and creating your own dragon puppet allows children to participate in this exciting tradition at home.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner, Intermediate | 35 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Brown paper lunch bag
- Red, yellow, orange, and gold construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue and scissors
- Markers or crayons
- Optional: tissue paper, streamers, or ribbon
How to Make:
Step 1: Use the paper bag as the dragon’s head, with the flap serving as the mouth
Step 2: Cut out scales from colorful paper and glue them onto the bag
Step 3: Create horns, ears, and a nose from construction paper
Step 4: Attach googly eyes or draw eyes with markers
Step 5: Cut strips of tissue paper or streamers for the dragon’s flowing mane
Step 6: Decorate with glitter, sequins, or additional patterns
Step 7: Slip your hand inside to animate your dragon
Activity Idea: Put on music and have children perform their own dragon dance parade around the house!
4. Decorative Paper Fans
Folding fans have been used in Asian cultures for centuries, representing elegance and grace.
During Lunar New Year, decorative fans adorned with auspicious symbols make beautiful home decorations and thoughtful handmade gifts.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner, Intermediate | 25 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Cardstock or heavy paper (red, gold, or patterned)
- Craft sticks or popsicle sticks
- Glue or tape
- Markers, stamps, or stickers
- Optional: ribbon, tassels, or beads
How to Make:
Step 1: Decorate your paper with Lunar New Year symbols, flowers, Chinese characters, zodiac animals
Step 2: Fold the paper accordion-style, making pleats about ½ inch wide
Step 3: Once fully folded, pinch the bottom together
Step 4: Glue craft sticks to both sides of the folded bottom to create handles
Step 5: Fan out the top to create the classic fan shape
Step 6: Secure the bottom with tape or glue
Step 7: Add decorative tassels or ribbon for extra flair
Display Tip: These fans look stunning when hung on walls in groups or displayed on mantels and shelves.
5. Cherry Blossom Branch
Cherry blossoms symbolize renewal and the beauty of spring, making them perfect decorations for Lunar New Year celebrations. This nature-inspired craft brings the elegance of blooming trees indoors.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 40 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Fallen tree branches (collected from a nature walk)
- Pink, white, or red tissue paper
- Brown paint (optional)
- Glue or tape
- Vase or jar for display
- Optional: glitter or gold paint
How to Make:
Step 1: Clean and dry your collected branches
Step 2: Optional: Paint the branches brown to enhance their appearance
Step 3: Cut tissue paper into small squares (about 2×2 inches)
Step 4: Scrunch each square in the center and twist to create a flower shape
Step 5: Glue or tape flowers along the branches
Step 6: Add gold centers with paint or glitter
Step 7: Arrange branches in a vase as a beautiful centerpiece
Variation: Use red or gold tissue paper for a more traditional Lunar New Year color scheme.
6. Fortune Cookie Messages
While fortune cookies are actually an American creation, they’ve become closely associated with Lunar New Year celebrations in the United States.
Making paper fortune cookies is a fun way to share positive messages and good wishes with family and friends.
|
Skill Level |
Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner, Intermediate | 30 mins | Optional |
Materials Needed:
- Tan or light brown cardstock
- Scissors
- Pencil or compass
- Small strips of paper for fortunes
- Markers
How to Make:
Step 1: Cut circles from cardstock (about 4 inches in diameter)
Step 2: Write positive messages, wishes, or predictions on small paper strips
Step 3: Place a fortune in the center of each circle
Step 4: Fold the circle in half to create a semi-circle
Step 5: Bring the two pointed ends together and crease to create the fortune cookie shape
Step 6: Hold for a few seconds until the shape sets
Step 7: Optional: add fortune cookie “texture” with brown marker dots
Message Ideas: “You will have a lucky year,” “Good fortune follows you,” “Your kindness will be rewarded”
7. Chinese Suncatchers
Suncatchers capture and reflect light, creating beautiful displays in windows. With traditional Lunar New Year colors and symbols, these crafts add a magical touch to your home when the sun shines through.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner, Intermediate | 35 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Black cardstock or construction paper
- Red, gold, and orange tissue paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Template of Lunar New Year symbols (lantern, dragon, zodiac animal)
How to Make:
Step 1: Draw or trace a Lunar New Year symbol on black paper
Step 2: Cut out the shape and the interior areas, creating a frame
Step 3: Cut tissue paper pieces slightly larger than the openings
Step 4: Glue tissue paper behind the black frame, overlapping colors for effect
Step 5: Trim excess tissue paper
Step 6: Hang in a sunny window with tape or string
Step 7: Enjoy the colorful light display!
Design Ideas: Try lantern shapes, Chinese characters, dragons, or the zodiac animal of the year.
8. Spring Festival Banners (Couplets)
Red banners, or “chunlian,” are displayed on doorways during Lunar New Year, featuring Chinese characters that convey wishes for happiness, wealth, longevity, and prosperity.
These vertical decorations are essential elements of holiday décor.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 25 mins | Optional |
Materials Needed:
- Red construction paper or cardstock
- Gold paint, markers, or stickers
- Black marker
- Scissors
- String or ribbon for hanging
- Chinese character stencils (optional)
How to Make:
Step 1: Cut red paper into long vertical strips (about 4 inches wide, 12-18 inches long)
Step 2: Use gold markers to write Chinese characters or draw symbols
Step 3: Popular characters include: 福 (luck), 春 (spring), 家 (family)
Step 4: Add decorative borders with gold paint or markers
Step 5: Create matching pairs of banners to hang on either side of a doorway
Step 6: Punch holes at the top and thread ribbon for hanging
Cultural Context: Traditional couplets feature rhyming phrases in Chinese poetry. Simplified versions with single characters work beautifully for children and beginners.
9. Paper Firecracker Chains
Firecrackers are traditionally used during the Lunar New Year to ward off evil spirits and welcome good fortune with noise and celebration.
While real firecrackers aren’t safe for children, these colorful paper versions make festive decorations without the danger.
| Skill Level | Time to Make | Adult Supervision |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner, Intermediate | 40 mins | ✓ |
Materials Needed:
- Toilet paper rolls or paper towel tubes
- Red and gold paint or paper
- Gold ribbon or string
- Scissors
- Gold glitter (optional)
- Tissue paper for “flames.”
How to Make:
Step 1: Cut toilet paper rolls into smaller sections (about 2-3 inches long)
Step 2: Paint the rolls red and let them dry
Step 3: Wrap in red paper if not painting
Step 4: Add gold stripes or designs for detail
Step 5: String firecrackers together with gold ribbon threaded through the center
Step 6: Add tissue paper “flames” in red, orange, and yellow at the bottom
Step 7: Hang your firecracker chain near doorways or windows
Safety Note: These are decorative only, never use real firecrackers indoors or without proper safety precautions.
Conclusion
There you have it, a wonderful collection of Lunar New Year crafts that bring tradition, creativity, and joy right into your home!
Whether you’re creating glowing lanterns, crafting lucky red envelopes, or building your own dragon puppet, each project connects you to the rich cultural heritage of this fantastic celebration.
The best part? You don’t need fancy supplies or expert skills to make something truly special. Gather your red and gold paper, round up the family, and let the crafting begin!
These projects aren’t just about the finished decorations; they’re about spending quality time together and creating memories that last well beyond the festivities.
So what are you waiting for? Pick your favorite craft and start celebrating the Year of the Snake with creativity and heart.
Gong Xi Fa Cai, may your year be filled with prosperity and happiness!
