Celebrating Lunar New Year With DIY Gong Chinese New Year (also referred to as Spring Festival) is an annual festival that marks the beginning of the lunar new year and welcomes good fortune and prosperity into their homes and lives. Families gather together and ring in good fortune as we rejoice together! Why not add something personal this year by crafting your very own Gong to add that personal touch to decorations this year? In this Craft Corner tutorial, we’ll walk through steps in creating one – a symbol of positive energy and luck for many years ahead!
Materials Needed for this Project:
Paper Plates:
Choose sturdy paper plates as the basis of your gong’s construction; their sizes will determine its overall dimensions.
Red and Gold Paint:
In Chinese culture, red and gold symbolize luck and prosperity; therefore acrylic paint works perfectly for this project.
Paintbrushes:
Purchase an assortment of brushes suitable for various painting techniques and purposes.
String or Ribbon:
Use this material to suspend your gong.
Decorated Items:
Additional decorations like stickers, sequins, and glitter can add extra flare to your gong.
- Hole Puncher:Used for creating holes to hang the gong.
- Scissors:Scissors can be used for cutting and shaping.
- Bamboo Skewer or Stick:Used as the striker that strikes the gong.
Step 1: Painting the Plate
Begin by giving both sides of your paper plate an initial coat of red paint – symbolizing good fortune and happiness according to Chinese tradition. Allow this step to dry completely before moving on. Step 2: Attaching Plate
Step 2: Adding Gold Accents
Once the red paint has dried, switch over to gold paint for decorative accents on your gong. Traditional Chinese symbols, like Fu, can be painted around its edge if desired or intricate patterns. Be creative! Make this gong personal by painting symbols that speak to you and personalizing it according to your aesthetic preferences.
Step 3: Customizing with Decorations
This step allows your creativity to flourish; add stickers, sequins, or glitter for maximum visual impact! Incorporate elements like Chinese zodiac animals or auspicious symbols as desired in creating unique decorations that capture the joyous celebration of Chinese New Year! Remember your goal should be creating decorations that capture this celebratory period!
Step 4: Making the Gong Sound
To create the gong sound, use a hole puncher to punch a hole near the top of your painted plate, so you can attach string or ribbon for hanging purposes.
Step 5: Add the Striker
To create the striker, paint a bamboo skewer or small stick gold. Attach red ribbon or string so it compliments your gong’s overall color scheme on either end, creating an appealing visual aesthetic while at the same time striking your gong for satisfying sound results.
Step 6: Construct Your Chinese New Year Gong
To assemble your chinese gong New Year festivities, thread string or ribbon through its hole, and tie a knot at its upper point so a loop for hanging can form. Attach one end to the striker so it dangles freely over the plate surface; make sure it hangs freely at both ends!
Step 7: Celebrate and Share
Place your personalized Chinese New Year Gong prominently in your home to mark Lunar New Year celebrations by gently tapping it. As part of celebrating a prosperous and joyful new year ahead, listen out for its harmonious sound indicating its arrival!
Gongs Have Special Meaning in Chinese Culture
Gongs play an integral part in Chinese traditions and culture. The sound of a gong is believed to ward away evil spirits while inviting good fortune, so adding DIY gongs as decorations during Chinese New Year decorations brings both an individual touch as well as positive energy into your home environment.
Engaging in DIY projects such as crafting Chinese New Year Gongs together can be an unforgettable way of building memories and traditions with family and friends. Take part in organizing a crafting session, create multiple gongs each with its own design, and then exchange them as tokens of good wishes for an outstanding year ahead!
Final Thoughts
Celebrate Chinese New Year creatively and traditionally by crafting your gong. This DIY project provides you with an engaging opportunity to bring a personal flair and positive energy into your celebrations, with each gentle note it produces bringing joy, luck, and prosperity for the year ahead! Have fun crafting and may all the best be given you this Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year).