A {Chinese} New Year

My mom taught me how to cross stitch when I was 6. I took a home economics class when I was in the 8th grade that included making the ever-popular-at-the time vest. It was not a complete success, but it wasn't a total failure either. In high school and college I helped build and paint many a theatre set. I was on many a costume crew. I know how to use a Mekita and hastily sew a ripped hem or seam. I was happy with the calligraphy I did for my own wedding invitations. I quite like flower arranging and The Boy thinks I'm a pretty good cook. And yet somehow despite all these things at some point, for some unknown reason, I decided that I was just not good at crafty things. This is just silly and this year I decided to do something about it by embracing my craftier side in 2012. So yesterday after school The Babe and I sat down to celebrate the beginning of The Year of the Dragon by doing a little crafting. (Yeah, The Babe thought it was funny, too.) 

Inspired by this cute little Halloween jar o lantern, I decided my first little project would be to Mod Podge the heck out of one of the many jars waiting to be recycled. I whipped up some homemade Mod Podge , spread some newspaper out, rolled up my sleeves, and settled into creating my first masterpiece.  I chose red and yellow crepe paper because the colors reminded me of the costumes used in the lion and dragon dances performed in Asia for Chinese New Year.

I cut up the paper hoping I would end up with a kind of mosaic look. 

Turns out crepe paper was not the way to go because when crepe paper gets wet, it bleeds.

My little bits of yellow turned as red as the red bits. 

 Not exactly what I envisioned, but not bad. 

Next time I will use the recommended tissue paper.

To celebrate our craftiness (and Chinese New Year) we feasted on Peking Chicken and Brothy Chinese Noodles. OK, I feasted. It was a bridge too far for The Babe. He decided to have pizza and yogurt. 

Happy Year of the Dragon!