A Red Packet Firecracker

It is time of the year once again where the pre-school requests Chinese New Year crafts be submitted to adorn its premise. Last year, our parent-and-child assignment was Chinese lanterns. I recall a panicky me because I have not been crafting for a very long time. Well, never made a lantern before in fact! Thankfully, we pulled it off and got a decent lantern up on his classroom's door. Check out our tutorial.

This year, we were encouraged to bring anything that shouts Chinese New Year! What a wide spectrum! I wanted to test my abilities and decided against another red packet lantern. How about fusing our own Chinese New Year firecrackers to welcome the new year and ward off evil spirits? Sounds easy enough with the use of empty toilet rolls that daddy had been collecting the whole of 2014! They have finally come to good use.

From Pinterest, I picked up several ideas on goat-crafting and had our own versions made to incorporate into our lot of firecrackers.

Tools to craft ONE lot of firecrackers:
1 pair of Scissors
1 roll of Yarn
1 tube of Glue
1 bunch of Cotton Pads/Balls
1 Marker
4 Red Packets
10 tubes of  empty Toilet Rolls

STEP ONE

Select 4 red packets and lay out your tools

STEP TWO

Cut open the 4 red packets

STEP THREE

Now you have 8 red packet coverings for the firecrackers

STEP FOUR

Roll and glue each red packet onto a tube

STEP FIVE

Repeat steps for 8 tubes of toilet rolls

STEP SIX

Fluff up cotton pads or balls

STEP SEVEN

Paste the cotton on a tube to form the Goat's hair and beard

STEP EIGHT

Use the remaining red packets to draw out the Goat's ears and horns

STEP NINE

Glue the Goat's ears and horns accordingly

STEP TEN

Cut out circles for the Goat's eyes

STEP ELEVEN

Glue the Goat's eyes and mark out its pupils and face

STEP TWELVE

Repeat steps to make your desired number of Goats

STEP THIRTEEN

Lay your firecrackers out, alternating designs

STEP FOURTEEN

Thread through the punched holes of your first firecracker 
and push it to the middle of the string

STEP FIFTEEN

Keep it in place with a simple knot

STEP SIXTEEN

Add a second firecracker securing with a loose single knot
Add a third firecracker so it sits on the opposite side
Repeat with the remaining firecrackers alternating sides

STEP SEVENTEEN

Tada! You have it!

17 steps to complete your unique home-made firecrackers. Coincidentally, we took the same number of steps for our Red Packet Lantern tutorial last year!

Unfortunately, Ewan played no role in the making of our supposed Chinese New Year craftwork except to pose for this picture in return for a packet of fruit punch. I've put aside cut-outs (goat's ears, horns, eyes and beards) for him to paste and really, that's all my two year old can manage. Mommy had to roll, cut, draw and string. That said, I had fun today and secretly pleased with the outcome! 

I went on to my second lot of firecrackers to finish up the rest of Lexus' very pretty ang bao juah. The second batch is gold and does not stand out as much as the traditional red. Nevertheless, they make a cute prop for photo keepsakes.

The Ultimate FacePalm Comment
Ewan: Oh Mommy Mommy! Look at that cute reindeer!

I take it that he has less encounters with goats than reindeers. Sounds weird but it's true! We saw many toy reindeers last Christmas! *teeheehee*

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