Chinese New Year DIY Lantern Magnets
The Chinese New Year includes an exuberant festival and parade filled with dragons, firecrackers, and giving money in red paper envelopes. This holiday not only celebrated in China, but also in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, and the Philippines. If you'd like to celebrate, take a look at this Chinese New Year DIY lantern magnets!
The Chinese New Year begins February 16 and marks the first day of the Chinese calendar. Chinese New Year is also referred to as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. Every year the Chinese New Year is represented by a zodiac animal sign. 2018 is the year of the dog. This means people born in the years 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018 were all born in the years of the dog.
To celebrate, we have a simple, easy, and fun DIY! These lantern magnets help honor the celebration of the Chinese New Year, while being a fun, educational activity for the whole family.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Red and yellow cardstock.
- Scissors.
- Staples.
- Glue.
- 3mm x 1mm Disc Magnets.
- Start by folding the red cardstock in half. Cut vertical slits at the folded side the entire way across the paper, leaving about ½ inch in between each slit. Do not cut at the top 1 inch of the cardstock.
- Open up the paper and attach the short edges together, making a circle. The middle will fold out to create the lantern shape. Staple the ends together to ensure the lantern does not fall apart.
- Cut a one-inch strip of yellow cardstock and staple each end to either side at the top of the lantern, making a handle.
- Using the hot glue gun, add a pea-sized amount of glue to the back of the lantern, towards the center. Attach the magnet. Let set.
- Decorate however you’d like! Since it’s the year of the dog, consider drawing some friendly fidos or even your family pet!
- Stick on the fridge or magnetic surface.