What do you need?
red paper or card stock
pink and red foam
glue stick
black fineliner
marker, gold
scissors
glass, pencil & ruler
pink button
red pencil
gold glitter glue
During Chinese New Year, all children receive red envelopes with money in them, from their parents, Grandpa's and Grandma's and other familie members and friends. This is a very old tradition in China. The envelopes always look very nice, do not think of a simple boring red envelope. You can buy them with all the familiar figures on them such as Hello Kitty, Snoopy or Peppa Pig, which are all very popular in China. Everyone wishes each other Xin Nian Kuai Le (pronounce: Sin Ni-en Kwai Le) Happy New Year!
But the envelopes are also homemade by parents and children, and we do that today. Because 2019 is the year of the pig according to the Chinese era we put on a piglet and also the Chinese sign for FU because it means a good and happy life. The sign consists of 5 characters: a long life; wealth and honor; good health and peace; goodness and virtue and a good ending. How beautiful is that to get as a New Year's wish?
How to make our red envelope (hong bao)
We make a template envelope, you can download it.
Cut it out and put it on red paper or red card stock.
Trace the outline of the templet and the lines inside too.
Cut out the outline of the envelope as indicated on the template.
Now fold the inside lines as indicated.
Glue the envelope together.
Allow the glue to dry well.
Now make the foam decorations
- Trace the 2 big circles around a small glas, 1 pink and 1 red
- Draw 2 small circles and 2 ears on pink and cut them out
Cut the pig's head, ears and feet out of pink foam.
Stick on the foam, make details using marker and pencil.
Trace and cut out a circle from red foam.
Draw the Chinese symbol for FU on the circle.
Stick it on the envelope then decorate after your own idea.
Xin Nian Kuai Le!