CHINESE NEW YEAR CRAFTS FOR OFFICE TEAMS
Hands-on festive crafts that fit a lunch break or a team afternoon
CNY 2027 team activity
Crafts are one of the easiest ways to bring Chinese New Year into the office. They need little space, suit introverts as well as extroverts, and every colleague leaves with something to put on their desk. Many of them also reuse things everyone has at this time of year, such as red packets.
Below are Chinese New Year crafts for office teams, with the time each one takes and what you need. For hosted, larger-scale sessions, see our corporate CNY workshops.
Craft Ideas for the Office
Red packet lanterns (30 to 45 minutes)
Fold leftover red packets (ang bao) into a round lantern by stapling eight to twelve packets into a ring. It is the classic Singapore Chinese New Year craft and makes a great office display. Learn more about the meaning of ang bao.
Paper cutting (30 minutes)
Chinese paper cutting (剪纸) uses folded red paper and small scissors to create symmetrical flowers, fish or the zodiac animal. Pre-print simple templates of the Year of the Goat for beginners. See what the Year of the Goat 2027 means.
Fai chun and spring couplets (20 to 40 minutes)
Colleagues write or trace 福 (good fortune) or a short blessing on red diamond paper with a brush pen. With a calligrapher on hand, it becomes a live, personalised keepsake. See our calligraphy workshop guide.
Chinese lucky knots (30 minutes)
Tying a simple Chinese knot charm with red cord and a gold tassel is calm and satisfying. Pre-cut cord kits make it easy for beginners.
Paper fans (30 minutes)
Decorate a plain folding fan with stamps, stencils or gold paint. Fans open outwards, a symbol of fortune unfolding.
Mandarin orange decorations (15 minutes)
Dress a bowl of mandarin oranges with paper leaves and gold tags. It is a quick add-on to any session and doubles as pantry decor.
How to Run a Craft Session at Work
- Choose one or two crafts, not five. A focused session runs smoothly and finishes on time.
- Pre-pack kits for each person with materials, templates and instructions in English and Chinese.
- Book a room with large tables and good light. Protect the tables if you are using ink or glue.
- Have a host demonstrate the first steps and help colleagues who get stuck.
- Display the results in the office lobby or pantry until Chap Goh Mei, then let colleagues take them home.
- Add a little competition, such as a vote for the best lantern, with a small prize.
Materials Checklist
- Red packets: around ten per lantern, so ask colleagues to bring spares
- Red and gold paper, in A4 sheets and diamond squares
- Small scissors, staplers, double-sided tape and glue sticks
- Brush pens or gold markers for fai chun
- Red cord, gold beads and tassels for lucky knots
- Plain folding fans, stamps and stencils
- Printed templates and step-by-step instruction cards
- Table covers, wet wipes and a bin for offcuts
For remote or hybrid teams, post the kits to home addresses a week ahead and run the session on video, with a host demonstrating each step on camera.
Combine Crafts With Other Activities
Crafts pair well with a tea session or a lo hei. A common afternoon format is 45 minutes of crafts, a Chinese tea workshop and then the yusheng toss. For more ideas, see our corporate CNY activities and office games guides. If you would like the whole programme handled for you, let us organise your corporate Chinese New Year event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an easy Chinese New Year craft for adults?
Red packet lanterns and simple paper cutting are the easiest. Both take about 30 to 45 minutes and need basic materials.
How do you make a red packet lantern?
Fold eight to twelve red packets, staple them edge to edge into a ring, then add a tassel at the bottom and a loop at the top to hang it.
How long should an office craft session be?
45 minutes to an hour suits most teams, including setup and a short demonstration.
Can crafts work for a large team?
Yes. Use pre-packed kits, several hosts and multiple tables, or run sessions in rotating groups.
What Chinese New Year crafts suit the Year of the Goat?
Goat paper cuttings, goat-themed lanterns and fans decorated with goat motifs all suit 2027.