The 2009 Year Of The Ox is almost upon us! Have you started your spring-cleaning? Feng Shui tips suggest that you welcome in the Chinese New Year with a clean house and lots of red decorations to make it a prosperous start to the year!

Prosperous does not have to mean expensive and you can start your Chinese New Year preparation right with some little savings – DIY your Chinese New Year decorations! It is a great way to get the whole family involved, especially the children, and to get everyone in the right Chinese New Year mood. Plus it’s a great way to utilise those stacks of free ang pow packets you have been collecting!

Read below for your first Chinese New Year DIY project.

Firecrackers are synonymous with Chinese New Year where some believe that the loud noise of the crackers will scare away any evil spirits. They also make great decorations around the home. Learn how to make your very own Chinese New Year firecrackers!

Photo credits

You will need:

• Ang pow packets – the more packets you use, the longer the crackers will be!
• Thick thread
• Staplers
• Needle

1. Start by rolling each ang pow packet (design side out) into a cylindrical shape. Staple both ends shut.
2. Continue for the next 20 or so and decorate with some gold glitter if you wish.
3. Once completed, thread your needle with thick red thread and start to join 2 rolls together.
4. Thread together the pairs of ang pow rolls into a long firecracker shape and voila, your own homemade firecracker!
5. Alternatively, you can glue yarn on the insides of of the packets and string them up together.

Happy crafting and look out for more Chinese New Year saving tips to come!