Tissue Paper Dragon Mask - CNY Craft

Chinese dragons are considered important and powerful creatures. During Chinese New Year’s celebrations, there are dragon dance performances which symbolize the bringing of good luck and prosperity in the year to come for all human beings.



Two years ago when we were preparing for Josie, Emma and I spent one winter Saturday afternoon making tissue paper dragon masks.



This craft activity is a little more time intensive, but the tissue paper gluing technique can be used for other future crafts. In fact, I remember using this tissue paper gluing technique in elementary school to create beautiful Valentine cards.

Supplies needed for this project include:

1. Glue
2. Unsharpened pencils
3. Dragon face printable (see this link)
4. Colored tissue paper
5. Paper and printer for printing your dragon mask
6. Paper plates



Step 1. Go to this website and print off your dragon mask. There are several options of Chinese New Year printables on this website, but we selected the dragon face. You can print it in color or black and white.



Step 2. Trim your dragon mask with scissors and trace the outline of the mask on the paper plate. You could also glue the mask directly onto the paper plate. Emma and I used the outline of the dragon's face to form the basis of our mask, but we didn't follow it exactly. You could get creative and make your own dragon face and use this printable as inspiration only.

Step 3. Cut up your tissue paper into tiny squares (having a paper cutter makes this task go much faster).



Step 4. Take the tissue paper square and wrap it around the center of a unused pencil (or the eraser pencil top). Be sure to wrap the paper around the pencil to form a cup shape.



Step 5. Pour glue onto a paper plate or a plastic lid, dip the bottom of the tissue paper onto glue and place the pencil with the tissue paper onto your dragon mask. Pull the pencil out gently leaving the tissue paper glued onto the paper plate mask. You can work in rows, using different colored tissue paper, or just place the tissue on any way you want. Once you get used to wrapping the paper around the pencil to form a cup, the process does go pretty fast.





Emma and I enjoyed using all kinds of different color tissue paper to decorate our masks. We then used sequins to embellish the mask a bit further. We also used long strips of tissue paper to form a beard. We now have them on display on our fireplace mantle as part of our Chinese New Year display.



Josie enjoyed touching the masks before we put them up on the mantle. The tissue paper gluing technique gives it some dimension and texture.



In elementary school, we used this tissue paper gluing technique to create fancy valentines. It's the same process, but instead of a dragon, you glue your tissue paper onto heart shapes. We might just have to do this project again in a few weeks for Valentine's day.

Happy Crafting!!

PS. Josie's new bed has turned into big sister Emma also getting a new bed. It's going to be a month before the beds arrive from the furniture store. Do you think I have time to patch holes, paint and give their bedroom a complete make over? Stay tuned for more.