Cleo Papanikolas Mooncakes are a rich Chinese pastry that you traditionally eat to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Their round shape represents the roundness and fullness of the moon. This festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month on the lunar calendar and is a time to celebrate the rice harvest and gather with loved ones. Learn how to make a festive paper box that looks just like a delicious mooncake. Hide a message or a treat inside and give them out to friends and family.
Supplies
- Printout the mooncake art PDF
- Manila file folder
- Scissors
- Glue brush
- Glue: depending on how thick your printout is you will need some combo of glue stick, white glue, or Mod Podge
How to Make a Paper Mooncake Box
- Rough-cut around the three boxes. Only cut in the white paper areas. You should have three boxes that each have two lids with a band in the center.
- Glue the pieces to the file folder. Let dry.
- Cut up to the brown edge of the cookie and around the blue tabs. Cut the three dots.
- Fold the tabs under. Bend the band into a circle so it fits just inside the scallops of the bottom. Overlap the ends by approximately 3/8 inch. Put a dot of glue on the end and pinch it until it is dry and stays closed.
- Put a dot of glue on the blue side of each tab and press onto the bottom of the cookie. While the tabs are still wet, glue the back of the blue dot and insert it into the center, pressing it down over the tabs. Adjust the ring and tabs so everything is a nice round circle. Let dry.
- Fold the tab on the lid at the edge of the cookie and again at the line. Tuck it under the band to close the box
Cleo Papanikolas is a painter, author, and educator. Her daily practice classes on Creativebug are Painting Repeat Patterns By Hand: A Daily Practice and Learn to Paint with Gouache: A Daily Practice in Questions and Answers . You can find more of her printable crafts on her website, and while you are there, take a look at her Patreon scarf club.