铜线灯笼 Ancient Coin Ang Bao lantern

Found another YouTube video on how to make an "Ancient Coin Lantern" with Red packets (Ang Bao).

We need 16 rectangular Ang Bao envelopes to make this lantern.

I've translated some brief notes, so you can also understand and learn from the video

1- On each red envelope, fold the 4 edges (see 0:17), front view (see 0:20)

2- Select an edge, staple 4 envelopes together, form a "set" (see 0:25)

3 - Make 2 sets, staple the edges and adjust it to form a "coin" (see 0:37)

4 - Please the red envelopes accordingly and staple altogether (see 0:43)

5 - You then see the resulted form. Top View (at 0:52), side view (at 0:55)

6 - Add decorations like roses, paper crane, paper fish and it is done! (see 1:16)

When the wind blows, your lantern will turn round and round. See (1:19)

How NICE! :)))

Giant Red Packet Lantern at Harbourfront Centre in January 2009

This was a giant Red Packet Lantern made especially for Chinese New Year 2009. It was on display at Harbourfront Centre during the Chinese New Year 2009 period.

We took these during January 2009.

According to the notice, it was Singapore’s Largest Hongbao Lantern Ever Made.

Some facts about this lantern:
- Measured 20 feet tall and 9 feet wide
- Consisted of 9 layers
- Made of 14999 pieces of Hongbao (Red Packets)
- 300 bottles of glue used
- 40 boxes of staples used
- Weighed 200Kg
- 4 months to produce

How to Make a Goldfish with Red Packets 红包金鱼

Ang Bao Goldfish is another auspicious item the Chinese loves to decorate their house with during Chinese New Year. It symbolises with the chinese phrase "年年有余", meaning having abundance or left over profit every year.

Here is a video I found on YouTube on how to make a goldfish using only 6 red packets and only 2 folding methods.

Never mind the video is spoken in Cantonese, I have translated the important things to note below, read my notes and follow what the demonstrator does in the video, you'll be able to make a beautiful goldfish with just 6 red packets for yourself.

Notes:
The 1st folding method
At 0:23, when you fold the edges leave a little gap from the center grid line.
At 0:35, fold the edges fully to the centre grid line for the other side.
At 0:45, a complete folded red packet, make 3 with this 1st folding method.

At 0:49, the video demonstrated the 2nd folding method, use 3 red packets to form a fish tail.
At 1:47, pick the side when you leave a gap to staple. This would be the fish mouth.
At 2:20, do not cut on the grid line with your scissor, leave a little space. You'd need 4 pieces of triangles to make the fins at 3:42

The Lantern Festival 元宵节 (yuan xiao jie)

The 15th day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar (正月十五) is a full moon called “元宵节”yuan xiao jie, also known as the “Lantern Festival” because of the old practice of having colourful lantern displays, dating back to the Tang dynasty. Some people would play an old Chinese game “猜灯谜” where riddles or questions pertaining to Chinese words, phrases or historical personalities are pasted on the lanterns. It reveals how knowledgeable you are to solve those riddles & questions. And because the full moon is associated with romance & matrimony, “元宵节”yuan xiao jie also has a special significance for those in love. Some also named “元宵节”yuan xiao jie  to be the “Oriental Valentine’s Day” （东方情人节）.

What is Chinese New Year?

In Singapore, the Chinese or Lunar New Year is also known as “春节” Chun Jie, literally meaning “Spring Festival”. It started on the 1st day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar (正月初一)

“春节” Chun Jie symbolizes the beginning of the year, another fresh start to growth & vitality in the world of nature, and heralds fresh hopes for happiness & prosperity.

Traditionally, “春节” Chun Jie is celebrated over a period of 15 days, from the 1st day of the 1st month to the 15th day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar.

How to make a Fish using One Red Packet

I've found this short and clear video that demonstrate how you can cut a fish using only 1 red packet (Ang Pow)
This Ang Pow fish is simple and easy to make that you can teach your kid to do. When your kids have collected their Ang Pows and saved the money, you can get them to recycle those red packets to decorate your house, by doing this simple handicraft.

What you need is just one red packet, a scissors, and a stapler. You can get a marker to draw the eyes of the fish. 

A gentle reminder to your kid to be careful when they are handling with scissors.

Chinese New Year Lantern - Another folding method for flower ball

This is further to my video on "How to Make A Flower Ball Chinese New Year Lantern" and my previous post on "How to fold a Spherical Flower Ball Chinese New Year lantern".

Sometimes you might not get red packets that have patterns printed on both sides, and the spherical flower ball you made with ordinary red packets did not look as colourful as mine in the picture of my previous post. Here's another method to fold the edges to make your flower ball looks outstanding that gives you a 3-dimensional feel.

See the pictures below, you can fold the edges to form various 5 petals flower ribbons on it.



This is a close up of how I fold the edges. Exercise little patience to fold the edges. You may use double side sticky tape to hold as you fold.