With the Chinese New Year fast approaching, it’s time to get the kids into the spirit of the festive season – by doing a fun pineapple craft with them!
The pineapple is a symbol of prosperity in the Chinese culture. Pronounced as “ong lai” in the Hokkien dialect, which sounds like “prosperity comes”, it is considered an auspicious item to have in the home during the Chinese New Year.
Materials Needed for CNY Pineapple Craft
To create this CNY pineapple craft, very few materials are required. They are:
- Yellow construction paper – two A4-sized sheets (preferably of higher grammage)
- Green construction paper – various shades (preferably of higher grammage)
- Construction paper in various colours (other than yellow and green)
Making the CNY Pineapple Craft: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1
Draw a circle on the flip side of a sheet of yellow construction paper by tracing around any circular object you can find at home. Cut the circle out.
Step 2
On the back of the circle, pencil in lines of equal distance from each other, keeping a 1-cm margin from the edge of the circle.
Step 3
Using a penknife, cut along the lines that were drawn.
Step 4
Cut strips of paper from other pieces of construction paper that are of lower grammage. These can be of any colour, as long as they stand out against the yellow of the circle. The width of each strip should be similar to the distance between the slit lines on the circle.
Pull the strips through the slits, as shown in the picture, such that they create a weaving pattern that resembles the diamond-shaped segments on a pineapple. The trick to a successful weave is to make sure that the sections above and below the circle are alternated between adjacent strips.
Step 5
Feel free to use different coloured strips to create an interesting look. We decided to go with an ombre colour theme.
Step 6
Use a pair of scissors to cut away the parts of the coloured paper that are jutting out of the circle. Check to make sure that the weave looks mostly symmetrical. Then, glue the ends of the strips of paper in place.
Next, freehand-tear long leaf-shaped pieces from green construction paper of thicker grammage to form the crown of the pineapple. Using two different shades of green would provide some visual variety. Attach them to the circle portion of the pineapple using glue.
Step 7
To cover up the mess behind, cut a second circle of the same size and stick it onto the back of the first circle.
Step 8
With the completion of this bright and cheery CNY pineapple craft, you are one step closer to the Chinese New Year celebration. Whether you affix it to the door or display it prominently within the home, your parent-child effort will add much flair to the festivities.
Here’s wishing you loads of fun working on this creative project with the kids! Happy Lunar New Year!
If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy this other Chinese New Year decoration craft.
