Easy Lunar New year Rat Paper Cutting Craft

The rat is 2020's Chinese New Year animal. Today I'm sharing a fun paper cutting craft that celebrates the rat. This project is enough that elementary kids can enjoy the art of paper cutting while also celebrating traditional Chinese culture and the New Year. (I also particularly love today's craft because it's cute AND combines my affinity for making Chinese New Year crafts,  trying out different origami and kirigami crafts, and cutting fun designer snowflakes!)

How to Make A Rat Paper Cutting... with kids!

Today's craft was inspired by this Chinese New Year Kirigami Lantern. (My apologies, I couldn't find the original source, but if you know it, please let me know!)

How to Make a Cute Chinese New Year Rat Paper Cutting

1. Fold a sheet of red construction paper (or Origami paper) in half. Draw half of a rat. (If you're doing this with younger kids or a lot of kids, it might help to have a template that the children can trace.) Then, cut out your rat.

Now we're going to fold down portions of the rat to make our paper cuttings.

2. Fold down the ear and fold the rat's stomach in half. Or, if you want to get fancy, fold the stomach in half again (like a snowflake.)

Folding the tummy only once

Folding the tummy like a snowflake

Note: If you're using construction paper, the snowflake folds are a bit tougher to cut. The flimsier origami paper worked better for the snowflake type of fold.

Also, feel free to keep folding and unfolding your ears and stomach to create different sorts of cuts. 

3. Proceed to cut! 

4. Voila! Unfold and admire your paper cutting. Add a cute face and you're all set! 

Note: If you're using origami paper, I highly suggest using a Sharpie marker. Normal markers may smear.

And that's it! I hope you enjoy this easy Chinese New Year craft. If you make some, tag me on IG so I can see!  (I love it when inspired readers show me what they're making. It makes my heart happy seeing so many kids and adults creating together.)

More Kids Lunar New Year Crafts:

If you enjoyed this Lunar New Year Craft, here are a couple more from the archives:

• Paper Chain Dragons
• Easy Drago Kite Puppets
• Folded Paper Lanterns
• Tissue Paper Plum Blossoms
• Paper Bag Lion Masks
• Tissue Paper Blossom Paintings

Happy creating, friends!