Chinese New Year is a time of vibrant celebrations, and what better way to add a personal touch to your gifts than with a handmade gift tag? Inspired by the cheerful decorations of cherry blossoms and red lanterns that brighten Malaysia during this festive season, we’re sharing a simple yet charming DIY project. This paper quilled lantern gift tag is perfect for adding a unique and heartfelt element to your Chinese New Year Gifts.
This design is inspired by a customer request and is perfect for those short on time but still wanting to add a creative touch. Paper quilling is a wonderful craft that allows for beautiful detail with simple techniques. Even amidst busy schedules, you can carve out a little creative time to make these delightful gift tags. This tutorial provides an easy-to-follow pattern to create your own lantern gift tag, perfect for embellishing presents or Ang Pow packets. Feel free to personalize this design to match your own style and preferences!
Here’s what you’ll need to create your paper quilled Chinese New Year gift tag:
Materials:
- Red paper strip: 48″ long, 1/8″ (3mm) width
- Bright yellow paper strips:
- Six 1cm strips for the small tassel
- One 1cm strip for the string
- One 3cm strip for the circle
- Four 2cm strips for the bottom tassel
- One 3″ strip for the top of the lantern
- Slotted quilling tool (easy grip recommended)
- Glue
- Tweezers (optional, but helpful)
Instructions:
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Create the Lantern Base: Take the 48″ red paper strip (you can join two 24″ strips). Using your quilling tool, roll the entire strip into a coil. Allow the coil to expand slightly so it’s not too tight. Gently shape the circle into an oval and glue the end to secure it. This oval shape will be the main body of your lantern. Attach this to your gift tag or card.
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Make the Small Tassel: Fold each of the six 1cm bright yellow paper strips in half and pinch the folded end tightly to create a tassel shape. Glue these small tassels together at the pinched ends and then glue them to the bottom of the red lantern oval. For extra hold, apply a bit more glue on top and squeeze them together with tweezers.
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Add the String and Top Circle: Take the 1cm yellow strip for the string and insert one end into the center of the small tassel cluster, allowing the other end to extend upwards. You can trim the length of the string if needed. Roll the 3cm yellow strip into a tight coil and glue the end. Attach this tight yellow coil to the free end of the “string” extending from the tassel. This will be the top ornament of the lantern.
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Form the Bottom Tassel: Fold each of the four 2cm yellow strips in half and glue the folded edges together to create loops. Then, glue these loops around the bottom of the tight yellow coil you attached in the previous step, forming the bottom tassel of the lantern.
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Create the Lantern Top: Roll the 3″ yellow strip and let it expand slightly. Pinch this loose coil into a rectangle shape. Glue this rectangle to the top of the red oval lantern body, completing the lantern structure.
This simple paper quilled lantern design is perfect for a Chinese New Year gift tag or to decorate Ang Pow packets. It’s a fantastic starting point to explore your own creativity. Imagine adapting this technique to create larger lanterns for gift cards, perhaps using multiple expanded paper coils bordered with gold paper to add elegant golden accents. Let this tutorial spark your imagination and inspire even more intricate paper quilling projects for the festive season!
For more paper quilling inspiration and techniques, explore these resources:
- Free Paper Quilling Tutorials
- Paper Quilling Tips and Tricks
- Paper Quilling Supply Sources
- Quilling Project Ideas
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