Papertrey Blog Hop!

This month's theme for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop is to make a card or project celebrating a winter holiday!  Since PTI showcased Christmas for 10 days in October, Nichole Heady asked participants to make a card featuring a holiday that is celebrated by another culture or in a different country.

Happy Chinese New Year!
A time for new beginnings, giving thanks, and reunions with family and friends.  Chinese New Year begins at the second New Moon after winter solstice.  This typically corresponds with a day between January 21st -February 19th on the solar calendar.  The holiday lasts 15 days, and each day is distinguished with a different activity, such as visiting relatives or eating special foods.

I bought my daughters Eva and Claire a darling book called "My First Chinese New Year" by Karen Katz when they were little.  The book is torn and tattered because they loved reading it so much.  This inspired me to head to Google to find out more about this holiday!  To my surprise, it represents "Turning over a New Leaf" which just happens to be a stamp set from Papertrey Ink!

Here is my card.  The meaning of each part of the card is listed below:

The red signifies the Red Lai.  These are red envelopes given to children with money or gold coins inside for good luck.

The white leaves are from the PTI set "Turning a New Leaf"

Used PTI's Guide Lines stamp set on the bottom to signify Spring Couplets.  These are expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming New Year.  They are written in black ink on red paper.

Used orange rhinestones to signify tangerines, oranges, and pomelos, foods typically eaten on Chinese New Year.  Orange signifies "wealth", and tangerines signify "good luck".  The reason these fruits came to represent these things is because of a language "pun".  These pairs of words in Chinese have the same sounds (tangerine/good luck, orange/wealth).

Kept the design clean and simple.  It is tradition to clean the house and "sweep away the bad luck from last year, so the family is ready to welcome good luck in the New Year."  This holiday, more than any other, stresses family ties.  On Chinese New Year's Eve there is a dinner gathering which is among the most important family gatherings of the year.

Lastly, I used the Best of Luck sentiment from PTI's Faux Ribbon set.  To wish Good Luck in the coming year.

I so enjoyed making this card and learning somthing new!  I can't wait to see everyone's creations!  Thanks for stopping by!