Kumquat Thumbprints and "Hello Kitty" Giveaway (Crafting with my kids, Chinese New Year Project No. 3)

Recap: I have posted about three different Chinese New Year Crafts (Koi Kites, Glass Lanterns, and Paper Tube Fire Crackers). 

A visit to an Asian market is an interesting outing for young kids.  My girls love to look at the seafood (especially anything in a tank) and the interesting fruits and vegetables.  

This week, we bought some kumquats.  A kumquat tree has significance in China - the leaves symbolize wealth and the small oranges symbolize unity and perfection.

I spotted this really neat idea for making a fingerprint orange greeting card and modified it by using faux bois contact paper (oh how I love that stuff), fancy papers, and my new Chinese New Year punch.  V the Baking Barrister recently returned from Asia and brought me back a Chinese New Year craft punch (how wonderful is that - pictured in photo below, right bottom?!) 

To create our kumquat trees, we used the contact paper for branches.   The thumbprints are kumquats.  The vase is pretty paper.  This activity could also be used for springtime - think pussywillows.

Here is our finished project

In this one, we used a Chinese New Year money envelope as the vase. See the little boy is holding a mandarin?

For this one, instead of thumbprints, we used a punch for the oranges.  The vase is made from the wrapping paper from Bee & Flower sandalwood soap.  I always save the paper from that soap.

This was an easy and fun craft. I have posted before about how much I enjoy gluing/collage-based crafting for young kids.

And now, drumroll, the

GIVEAWAY {CLOSED}

So here is the giveaway.  From Project No. 2, you all seemed interested in Hello Kitty.  So I hit Chinatown for a little package: two red paper lanterns with butterflies, one small role of Hello Kitty cellophane tape, one Hello Kitty mechanical pencil, a package of Hello Kitty money envelopes (string them together for a garland, or use them in a collage), and one H&M Hello Kitty badge.  I will also send the winner this year's Canada Post Chinese New Year postage stamp.

Just leave me a comment and say something and tell me if you have ever enjoyed a kumquat.  I will draw a winner on Sunday evening.

Please make sure there is some way of reaching you either through your profile or in your comment.  Thanks! 

Happy Crafting and be sure to stop by

Until Wednesday Calls, for some reason I can't get the button working!

and check out all the tot crafting ideas at