A Flower Bouquet Lantern Made of Red Packets 红包绣球

This is another video I found in YouTube to make a "Flower Bouquet lantern with Red packets".

This video shows a different approach. It uses 60 square red packets, instead of having to trim 30 red packets into 1:2 rectangles.



I just learnt that this is also known as  "Flower Kusudama"

Found Video on How to Make a Decorative Flower Ball with Red Packets 红包绣球

I'm so glad to find another video that demonstrate How To Make A Decorative Flower Ball With Red Packets.

When I browsed through this video, I noticed this lantern is different from the one I made in my earlier post on "How to make a Flower Ball Chinese New Year Lantern"

This lantern is also beautiful. To me, this one looks like a flower bouquet. I would like to call it the flower bouquet lantern instead.

I counted this lantern would need 30 pieces of red packets, each red packet trimmed into rectangle of 2:1, i.e. a rectangle comprising of 2 squares.

In another words, it means there are 24 pieces of rectangles, the balance 6 pieces rectangles to be trimmed further to make 12 squares.

This video I found would demonstrate how to make this flower bouquet lantern

Tang Lung - Traditional Lantern in Mid Autumn Festival

I found this video featuring the making of traditional lantern for Mid Autumn Festival called "Tang Lung"

"Tang Lung" is a Cantonese translation, it means "Lantern".

This type of lantern is made up of wire and transparent coloured paper. However,  It  require skills to make the lantern into different shapes, objects or animals. 

The lantern was lit with a candle. Therefore, we need to exercise care when we hold the lantern.

I remembered when I was child, in the earlier 1980s, my mother bought for my younger brother and me such lanterns to play with during Mid Autumn Festival. 

I also recalled my primary school teacher used to teach us make such lantern too, using wires and transparent coloured paper. It was a simpler one, we would use wires to make 4 rings, held the 4 rings with sticky tapes, and coil a piece wire to make a candle holder on the lantern. After that, we would paste on it the transparent coloured paper.

I hope the art of making this Tang Lung preserved.

Giant Lantern Made of Recycled Materials

I noticed everyone who walked past Redhill Market today would stop and be impressed by this giant lantern. It's not hard to know why, because I was impressed by it too.

This giant lantern was very colourful, it was made of recycled bottles painted with beautiful pictures

I am very fortunate to meet the maker of this giant lantern, Mr Akira Takashi. He is a lantern-making enthusiast. According to Mr Takashi, he took 6 months to construct this giant lantern, including hand painted on every single recycled bottle.

This was the 26th lantern he made, and his work entered the Singapore Book of Record.

You can click on this link to read more about Mr Akira Takashi's other achievements.

Mr Akira Takashi with the giant lantern

Big Lanterns Display at Singapore River During Mid Autumn Festival

Traditionally, the lantern festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, or "Yuan Xiao".
In Singapore, we celebrate the lantern festival on the Mid Autumn Festival or "中秋节Zhong Qiu Jie".
Mid Autumn Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the lunar Eighth month, which is on the 30th September this year in 2012.

Of course, there are many big lantern displays to celebrate Mid Autumn Festival.
Singapore River is one of the places that display these big lanterns.

Here are some photos to share with you, hope you enjoy viewing.

Fishes are Auspicious to the Chinese, it symbolizes Abundance.

This display illustrates "Spring Festival" i.e. Chinese New Year

This displays "Duanwu", which is the Rice Dumpling Festival and also known as Dragon Boat Festival

This illustrate "Qixi Festival", which is the Chinese Valentine's Day, with a romantic story

This is about "DongZhi" known as Winter Solstice Festival 

This display illustrates the most happening festival in Singapore, known as "Zhong Yuan 中元节" which is the Hungry Ghost Festival, when you can see people burning offerings and stage performances in the neighbourhoods called "Getai" 歌台

Chang'er, the Chinese Goddess of the Moon, an important character for Mid Autumn Festival, with a beautiful story behind

Chinese New Year "YuanXiao" Celebration at Chinatown, Singapore on 5 Feb 2012

"Yuan Xiao" 元宵节 is a festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year in the Chinese calendar. This year, Yuan Xiao festival falls on 6 Feb 2012 which is a Monday, Chinatown celebrated Yuan Xiao a day earlier. There were parade of the Chingay floats, fireworks and firecrackers. With Yuan Xiao, it marked the end of Chinese New Year celebration for this year of the water dragon.

Here are some pictures taken at Chinatown on 5 Feb 2012 evening

2012 Chinese New Year Countdown Fireworks at Chinatown Singapore

Just before midnight, we hopped over to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year Countdown. In Singapore, Chinatown is the highlight location for Chinese New Year.

Although it was raining, it did not dampen the celebration mood.

We went to the carpark level of Chinatown Complex to view the firecrackers and fireworks.

Enjoy the video.

How to Make an Ang Pow Fan

This Ang Pow Fan is made using only 10 red envelopes. It is also easy to make as a decoration or gift to friends and relatives during Chinese New Year. The materials required are as follow:

1) 10 Red packets (Ang Pow)
2) Red string about 30 cm
3) one tassel
4) UHU glue or double sided tape
5) A pair of scissors (optional, in case you need to cut a ball of red string)

Here's is a step by step tutorial I've made and uploaded to share with you

How to make an Ang Pow Spaceship

As I play around with the Ang Pow packets, I made this Chinese New Year Lantern. It looks like a spaceship to me, and I'm still trying to give it a nice name.

I used only 12 red packets. It is another simple craft that children can learn.
As for busy adults, it is easy to learn and fast to make.
It gives sense of satisfactions and enjoyment when you can make one as a gift to your relatives, friends or colleagues.

Here is the video I've made and uploaded

How to Make an 8-Petal Flower using Bump Chenille Stems

During Chinese New Year in Singapore, you can find these "Bump Chenille Stems" at the many temporary stalls that sell Chinese New Year decorations.

A very friendly stall owner had taught me how to make a flower with these bump chenille stems. You can make this flower to decorate your home and office during Chinese New Year. I find it can also be used as a fashion accessory.

You can see in this picture how I have used it as a decoration for Chinese New Year.

I've made and uploaded a video demonstration to share with you "How to Make an 8-Petal Flower using Bump Chenille Stems". It is simple to make and is suitable for children art and craft.

How to make a Simple Chinese New Year Lantern with 12 Ang Pows

A fast and easy way to make a simple chinese new year lantern Using Red envelopes/Red packets/Ang pows/ Hongbao/ Ang bao.

You can make it to decorate your house or office for Chinese New Year.

This is suitable for beginners. For children, it is advisable to do it with guidance.

Materials required:
12 Red envelopes/Red packets/Ang pows/ Hongbao/ Ang bao.
Red string
tassel
beads (optional)

Tools:
A stapler
scissors