February 8th is Chinese New Year and it’s the Year of the Monkey, my son’s year! This is what Chinese astrology has to say about people born during the year of the monkey:
Monkey years are believed to be an unlucky for people born in a year of the Monkey. A year of one’s birth sign is believed to be the most unlucky in the 12-year cycle. “Monkeys” (who take Chinese astrology seriously) are particularly careful about their health, love lives, career, and investments in Monkey years. from China Highlights
It’s not all bad news for those who are born in the Year of the Monkey:
People born in a year of the Monkey are witty, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. Personality traits, like mischievousness, curiosity, and cleverness, make them very naughty. Monkeys are masters of practical jokes, because they like playing most of the time. Though they don’t have any bad intentions, their pranks sometimes hurt the feelings of others. Monkeys are fast learners and crafty opportunists. from China Highlights
It sounds like this is a good year to lay low and read books. To help keep your place, make this Year of the Monkey bookmark craft from author Jennifer DeCristoforo of Lucky Bamboo Book of Crafts: Over 100 Projects & Ideas Celebrating Chinese Culture. She’s my guest author today.
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The ‘Year of the Monkey’ is just around the corner and I love sharing crafts with family and friends as part of the celebration! You can visit my craft book website and download a free printable bookmark project and also review the easy steps and other craft tips.
- Print out on red construction paper or stiff paper
2. Cut out and punch a hole if adding tassel.
3. Add tassel (optional).
18 Silk Road Tassels with Gold Caps, $7.55
Want to make your own tassel? Here’s how from We Are Scout.
50 yards Red Satin Rattail Cord Chinese, $3
200 Gold Beads, $4
Lucky Bamboo Book of Crafts: Over 100 Projects & Ideas Celebrating Chinese Culture by Jennifer DeCristoforo
This is the perfect resource for wonderful ideas and instructions for Chinese craft projects. Chinese New Year crafts, traditional folk crafts, calligraphy, performance, puppetry, zodiac animals, and simple Asian projects such as origami are all included with easy, illustrated step-by-step instructions, paired with information on Chinese culture and history. The reproducible template section makes it simple to craft projects at home, in the classroom, or at events with easily available, inexpensive materials. You can even learn some basic Mandarin!
Jennifer DeCristoforo is an author, illustrator, teacher, designer, and crafter living in Maine. She holds an M.A. in Art Education from the Rhode Island School of Design and has spent years applying her creativity to illustration, art education, gift product design, and educational publishing. She has made many trips to Asia and is inspired daily by her daughter, adopted from Jiangxi Province, China. This is her first book.
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Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
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- Starred review from School Library Journal
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Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
What a fun activity to do with your son! Love the Chinese New Year and its symbols. I was born in the year of the Pig.
Hi Pat,
The year of the pig must be coming up soon? I’m the year of the dragon. My husband was born the same year but seven months after me so he’s the year of the snake. That cutoff is so different from the other calendar!
I don’t want to be unlucky this year!!! 🙁 I’m a gold monkey.
Now, I’m a sad monkey.
Thanks for sharing with us at Mommy Monday!
XOXO
Hi Mrs. AOK,
You are going to have a lucky and tremendous year this year! I just know it!
This is a craft that is right down my ally. It looks so easy! We are going to do this. We are going to need new bookmarks for the Kids Classics Challenge!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Lisa,
I’m with you! I need easy for crafts. I tried to make this craft scaleable — harder or easier depending on the age of the kid and what the parent wanted or needed. I might try the tassle but print and cut is nice too!
My son is a monkey!
Hi Shecki,
Mine too!!!