Celebrate Chinese New Year with these fantastic DIY decoration projects

The start of the Lunar New Year - otherwise known as 'Chinese New Year' - is a time of incredible vibrancy and joy. Many of us will associate this annual celebration with hanging and floating Chinese lanterns, the colours red and gold, and an abundance of Asian-infused ornaments, which offer an excellent opportunity for crafters to put their skills to work.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. Those people born under this sign (the years 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 and 2022) are believed to be brave, confident, energetic and competitive.

Here's how you can awaken the tiger within you with some inspiring DIY projects for Chinese New Year decorations.

Paper lanterns

One of the most symbolic of Chinese New Year crafts is the paper lantern, which is traditionally used as a lucky charm to frighten away the ferocious Nian monster of Chinese legend. At the very least, lanterns are a gorgeous decoration for evoking the spirit of Chinese New Year, and they're remarkably easy to make yourself.

We've come up with project instructions so you can create Chinese lanterns in the patterned card stock of your choice, topped off with Vivaldi tassels (go with red and/or gold in keeping with Chinese New Year). Note that you will need a Cricut maker or explore machine for this lantern project.

Paper envelopes & stationery

Greeting cards and well-wishes play an important role in Chinese New Year celebrations and popularly come in red envelopes - the colour of luck and happiness. The most common way to wish someone a 'Happy Lunar New Year' is to say 'Gong hei fat choy', which translates directly in English as 'Wishing you happiness and prosperity'.

You can make your own Chinese New Year envelopes using our DIY project as a guide. Choose from four different envelope designs - scales & lantern decoration, lantern & blossom cut out, mandarin & blossom decoration and tiger symbol - then stuff the envelope with a unique greeting card to personalise and make them really yours.

Similar to our Chinese lanterns, you will need a Cricut maker or explore machine to complete this project.

Tiger painting & designs

With their bold stripes and colouring, tigers are fantastic to paint, and given 2022 is the Year of the Tiger in Chinese astrology, celebrating the Lunar New Year is the perfect excuse to depict these proud animals in all their glory.

Start with the tiger design of your choice and then trace or sketch it on a stretch canvas. Follow our easy project instructions to bring your tiger roaring to life with Jo Sonja paints. As a recommendation, we used titanium white, carbon black, Indian yellow, rose pink, pine green, green light, phthalo blue and provincial beige.

Beaded jewellery

Jewellery is another way to honour prosperity and good fortune as part of Chinese New Year celebrations, either to wear yourself or as a gift to others. Many luxury design houses create items specifically for the Lunar New Year, which can cost a small fortune! And yet, making your own jewellery often results in something far more precious.

Follow our project guide for two different styles of beaded, Chinese New Year-themed jewellery: lantern earrings and red dangle earrings. While you can use any beads you desire, consider hues of red with gold accents - and gold rather than silver wiring and hooks - so your jewellery matches the flavour of the festivities.

Have fun and gong hei fat choy!

Hosting a party to celebrate Chinese New Year at home? Make sure you have everything you need by browsing our Lunar New Year range, and for more amazing crafting ideas, explore our entire range of fun DIY projects.