Year of the Snake: DIY

Are you born in the year of the snake?
(2013, 2001 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953,1941)
According to Chinese myth, the animal ruling the year in which a person is born influences his or her behavior and traits.
Strengths: A deep thinker, wise and charming. Romantic, strong, intuitive, intense, passionate, and financially fortunate.
Weaknesses: Vain, selfish, a bit stingy and fickle.

My daughter has been asking me to make her a snake ever since she saw a snake plush that Zi's mom made for Quad E. So with that and Asianmommy's post on Build-A-Bear Year of the Snake plush, I got inspired and went to Joann's Fabric. I even got an extra 50% off the clearance price. I love deals like that, it was meant to be!

To start celebrating the new year here's my Year of the Snake plush. Meet "Mommy snake" as H&N call her. She is 42 inches long. And "Little snake" is 11 inches long.  It's very simple to make, the hardest part was flipping it inside out because of the fabric I used. For the tongue I used felt and beads for the eyes. If you have little ones use felt or stitch embroidery floss for the eyes.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Fabric
Scissors
Poly-fil
Felt
Beads

STEP 1: Draw snake outline onto the backside of fabric. Place tongue in between fabric like this. Make sure the pattern sides are back to back.

STEP 2: Sew snake, but remember to leave a 2 inch opening in the end so you can reverse the fabric. Trim off extra fabric.

STEP 3: Flip fabric inside out and stuff will poly-fil. Sew the opening closed. Finish off by adding the eyes.

You're new year snake is born!
I was born the year of the rabbit. What animal year were you born in?

Health, happiness, prosperity and peace to you in the new year!
Eva

DIY Chinese New Year red envelope

As a child, one of the highlights during Chinese New Year was receiving hong bao or red envelopes from my parents and relatives we visited during the new year. Usually it was filled with a few dollars but sometimes I'd be lucky and find $20 bills, that was like hitting the lottery!

I want to share an easy DIY red envelope that I created for Chinese New Year, which falls on February 10th this year. Click HERE for a free printable.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Red paper
Scissors or X-acto knife
Glue

STEP 1: Print and trim

STEP 2: Fold & glue

STEP 3: Insert "lucky money"

Join in the celebration and sharing the tradition of passing a red envelope to your child on Chinese New Year. It's suppose to bring luck to the person who gets it and to the person who gives it.

Do you have something that you do to "bring luck"?
Gung hey fat choi! May prosperity be with you!

Eva