Lunar New Year: DIY Postcards
You got mail!
Since Lunar New Year (AKA Chinese New Year or Spring Festival) and Valentine’s Day fall on the same weekend this year, I decided to make some festive postcards to send out to friends, family and neighbors. I absolutely loved sentimental gifts and handwritten letters. Though it’s a lost art, I think that handwritten letters are so underrated and it’s a very inexpensive yet thoughtful way to spread joy to those around you.
Watercolor Painting Steps:
In a light shade of red, paint the fan in the shape of an upside down trapezoid or if it’s easier, you can paint a small upside down triangle.
In the same light shade of red, paint two small circles. These will be the lanterns.
Once your base shapes are dry, you can go in and add details for the lanterns and fan. Start by adding color to the fan by lightly pressing in your brush with colors like orange or yellow into the base of the fan. Outline in a darker shade of red to add contrast. Finally, add a few short lines to create the base of the fan.
Add ribbons, pleats, and a golden base to the lanterns.
Once the fan is completely dry again, use white watercolor paint to add dainty details like flowers of petals.
For some postcards, I’ll also include a Chinese New Year red envelope (lai see or 红包 hóng bāo) stuffed with stickers I found at Daiso. There are a lot of traditions and symbolism behind these red envelopes and typically they are given out by elders to children during the Lunar New Year festivities. Per tradition, my grandmother always went out of her way to get freshly printed money from the bank. The cash would always be neatly folded and extra crisp. Also, as a child one of my uncles would usually gift me with a good luck charm with the Chinese Zodiac of the year. 2021 is the year of the Ox which is why many of the red envelopes are decorated with images of an Ox.
For more information about the traditional etiquette to follow when accepting and giving lai see, click here.
For more information about the history of Lunar New Year red envelopes (AKA red pockets), click here.
Front of the postcard with LNY elements.
Back of the postcard with hearts for Valentine’s Day.
Since, Lunar New Year is sixteen days, I’m hoping that my cards will reach people in the next week or so. In the meantime, I’m wishing you lots of prosperity, longevity, and good fortune for the New Year!
xx
Ella Kol
