Paper cuttings may be one of the most ubiquitous decorations that adorn many places and homes every year at Spring Festival. This traditional art form symbolizes happiness and luck, and the Chinese give it as a gift to express good wishes.

What better way to ring in the Year of the Dog than to do paper-cutting, right? This month, beijingkids invited Atelier and 7-year-old Sophie Gauthier to help make this project. They have a special idea, since it is intricate and will take some time to finish.

Atelier mixes this Chinese art form with mola, a handmade material with different patterns made by the Guna indigenous people of Colombia and Panama. Sophie, meanwhile, has a suggestion: make a design inspired by the puppy she dog-sits. The second-grader at the French International School of Beijing (LFIP) tells us another thing: she really likes dogs! This project can be done by kids 7 and above, and can be finished within an hour, depending on the design.

Materials
A4 paper (assorted colors, but black and white are a must), glue sticks, scissors (regular and craft/pattern-type), gouache paint, paintbrushes, colored markers

Step 1
Choose a picture of any dog in any kind of pose. Draw an outline of the dog on a colored A4 paper first, then cut it out.

Step 2
Stick the dog cutout on a white A4 paper, then cut it out. Make sure you leave a 5mm outline.

Step 3
Paste the new cutout anywhere on a black A4 paper, but leave space for your designs.

Step 4
Now, let’s work on the background with patterns and layers. Cut rectangles and circles of different colors with a pair of pattern scissors. Stick the shapes and layers around the dog.

Step 5
Woof woof! Your dog wants some designs! Unleash your creativity and use colored markers and gouache paint to draw thin lines, dots, and other details around your new dog.

Photos: Uni You
This article appeared on p28-29 of beijingkids February 2018 issue.

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Free
“Summer Time” Talk with INN, May 22
Adults. This month INN will be featuring guest speakers Vanessa Jencks with beijingkids and Andy Killeen with The Beijinger to talk to about fun things to do the summer months in Beijing. Whether you have children and are trying to figure out how to keep them busy, or maybe it’s just you, these speakers will give you lots of ideas on ways to keep yourselves entertained and beat the heat. Afterwords, the group will head to lunch at Athena’s Greek Restaurant. Free. 10am-noon. Capital Mansion Athletic Club.

Unlocking the Mystery of Marriage, May 22
Adults. This coming Monday Beijing International Christian Fellowship will be hosting a discussion on “Unlocking the Mystery of Marriage“. This will be a follow-on from Suzy Brown’s insightful sharing at MOPS earlier this month. If you’ve missed that MOPS session, this would also be a great chance to catch up on the topic. Please RSVP to mops@bicf.org. 10am-noon. Beijing International Christian Fellowship.

US Expat Seminar, May 23
Adults. If you are from the US, or have a green card, and you need assistance with your personal financial planning, then this event will walk you through how you can plan your finances whilst living overseas. Many Americans move abroad leaving 401k’s, IRA’s, and other qualified and non-qualified accounts behind them in the US, which on the whole go unmanaged and underperform. Also, it is often difficult for non-resident Americans to save for their future whilst being away from home. Reserve a place here. Free. 7pm-8pm. Park Hyatt.

Free Paper-Cutting Class, May 24
All ages. Paper-Cutting is a very distinctive visual art of Chinese handicrafts. It became one of the important art styles in Chinese folk culture. This art has evolved uniquely all over the world to adapt to different cultural styles. The Paper-cutting artwork is used at festivals and important events like Spring Festival, weddings, and childbirth. Free. 2:30pm-4pm. Beijing International Chinese College.

Maximize Your Confidence, May 24
Adults. This English-language workshop is presented as part of Amcham’s Professional Women Training Series. Are you a professional woman with high standards for herself, trying to have it all? This workshop will help you develop confidence and self-esteem and have an impact in your role and beyond. RMB 1819, RMB 1498 (AmCham members). 12.45pm-5pm. The American Chamber of Commerce.

Tibetan Dancing in the Park, May 25
Adults. If you want to be part of local life and you’re interested in learning Tibetan group dancing, then this morning Tibetan dancing class is the right fit for you. Dances occur almost every morning but this invitation is good for Thursday and Sunday for this month. Contact the instructor in advance through WeChat if you want to join. Limited to 1-2 people each time, experienced dancers who can dance for a long time are preferred but not a must. Free. 8.15am-9.15am. Temple of Heaven. (WeChat: kongrui2013).

David & Goliath Musical, May 26
All ages. Hope International School (HIS) Music department is proud to present their Elementary School Spring Production Let The Righteous Rejoice. Act I of the production will feature Hope elementary school classes, kindergarten through fourth grades performing songs of praise. Also, the school’s beginning and intermediate orchestras will be performing. In Act II Grades five and six will be presenting the original musical David and Goliath. Free. 7pm-9pm. Hope International School.

Dulwich College Beijing Founder’s Day, May 27
All ages. The Founder’s Day is a celebration of the Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) community. It is DCB’s biggest community event of the year. The day highlights the school’s diversity and includes performances and mini-events that showcase the “four pillars” (Academic, Sports, performing arts, and community service）. Free. 2.45pm-9pm. Dulwich College Beijing.

Hutong and Siheyuan Walk, May 27
All ages. Walk the true Hutongs of Houhai and Gulou and understand more about Siheyuan culture using the example of the Sinology Institute’s own courtyard campus. Free. 1.30pm-3.30pm. The Sinology Institute.

Unique
Legal Updates on Foreigners Working in China, May 22
Adults. Are you a newly arrived foreigner seeking a work permit in China? Or you have been here for a while and want to stay permanently? The Bookworm will be hosting Luka Lu, the Founder and Director of NCO China, to brief you on recent changes in the application of Chinese visas and “green cards”. Luka Lu is the founder and director of NCO China. She is a law graduate from Peking University, and a longstanding legal adviser to various domestic and international companies, as well as government departments. RMB 120 (includes one drink). 7.30pm-9.30pm. The Bookworm.

Raindance China Virtual Reality Film Festival, May 22 to May 25
All ages. Raindance is supported by the British Film Association and has an authoritative review process and a rigorous accreditation system. This festival focuses on virtual reality, allowing you to experience the artistic possibilities of this new technology. For more information click here. RMB 80 to RMB 199. 10am-6pm. Ceramics Three Street Art Factory (789 Art District).

E-Commerce in China: What You Need to Know, May 23
Adults. This English-language workshop is for entrepreneurs and merchants with e-commerce or digital projects targeting the Chinese market. It is designed to help you understand the unique traits of the Chinese e-commerce market, best practices and the Chinese digital ecosystem. RMB 3180, RMB 2650 (AmCham members). 8.45am-5pm. The American Chamber of Commerce.

China National Shuck Off Oyster Festival, May 24
Adults. In 2016, Oysterlicioius hosted China’s first ever oyster shucking competition and crowned China’s first National Shucking Champion. Due to the success of last year’s event, this year will see China’s 2nd Annual SHUCK OFF, featuring a week-long festival with events in three different cities. The winner will go on to battle in the first ever World Cup Shucking Competition in, hosted the same evening. Shucking champions from seven different countries will be flying in to compete in the first ever World Cup in China. RMB 388. 3pm-late. C Pearl.

A Walk and Discussion at the Summer Palace, May 27
All ages. The Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) was one of the most notorious figures of Modern Chinese history. As the group strolls along the shoreline and hillsides of her magnificent creation, they will discuss the life and legacy of this fascinating historical figure. RMB 300, RMB 260 (Hutong members), ticket includes all guide fees, boat ride, tips, and admission tickets. 10am-1pm. The Summer Palace.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0, May 27
Adults. JoinTheBookClub.com is an online book club focused on personal and professional success. JoinTheBookClub holds monthly webinars on WeChat on the last Saturday of every month based on the topic of the book the group read that month. Each webinar provides valuable insights and practical take-aways to help you grow. The next webinar is on the group’s May book: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves. RMB 10. 10am-10.45am. WeChat.

Dragon Boat Festival Coding Workshop, May 27 to May 30
Ages 12 and under. During this workshop students will learn the basics of coding using an Arduino microprocessor. Arduino is an electronics prototyping platform that helps you control real-world objects. Children will get familiar with electronics and C programming language. They will realize funny and useful objects including sensors, lights and electro-mechanical components. During this workshop, they will build a detection system, radar, traffic light system and control a car for obstacle course. RMB 4500 per child. 10am-4pm. Atelier.

YCIS Beijing Open Day, May 25
Adults. Join the Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) in their Open Day. Tour their campus and meet their school Co-Principals, Noel Thomas and Christine Xu. Learn more about their school’s unique education model. Parents will have the opportunity to see the exciting changes that are happening all across their campus and visit their newly renovated Learning Communities. Free. 1am-11.30am. YCIS Beijing.

Parkour Camp, May 27 to 30
Ages 8+. Experience leaping into foam pits, jumping on trampolines, balancing on a slack line, climbing on a bouldering wall, and so much more! Parkour is a great way to build foundation skills for all other freestyle action sports. RMB 700 per day; RMB 600/day/each (three kids together); RMB 600/day/each (early bird). 8.30am-5pm. Imagine. (designer@imagine-china.com, 010-57394933).

Pop Art for Dragon Boat Festival, May 27 to May 30
Ages 5 to 12. For the Dragon boat Festival, Atelier Sanlitun presents a exciting workshop that will allow children to discover, explore, and learn about Pop Art and become Pop artists themselves. For this workshop discover Pop Art at Atelier! Pop art began in the US in the 1950s. Artists used everyday, standardized iconography in American life. RMB 1500 per child. 10am-4pm. Atelier.

Stop Motion for Dragon Boat Festival, May 27 to May 30
Ages 10+ Discover the stop motion technique during four days and produce a short movie animation. Understand the principle of animation by watching examples and making a flip book with photographs, then learn how to tell a story, to invent characters, write a scenario, prepare a storyboard, create your 3D characters and the set. Then it’s time to shoot, to edit, and to add your name in the credits! RMB 2600, RMB 2200 for Atelier’s students. 10am-4pm. Atelier.

HOPE Fundraising Auction for Children with Special Needs, May 28
All ages. HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment) is an non-profit organisation offering therapeutic horse riding for children with special needs. Through therapy sessions on a horse, HOPE has helped children with specials in Beijing since 2009. HOPE is running a fundraising auction and bazaar to raise money to cover costs such as stables rental, medical fees for the horses, equipment costs, training and purchase of new horses. The auction will feature arts and crafts from local and foreign artists, and art work by HOPE’s young riders and also children with autism. Free. 10am-3.30pm. Roundabout.

Best of Next Week
798 International Children’s Art Festival, May 28 to May 30
All ages. Already in its 4th consecutive year, 798 ICAF is back. Whether it’s handmade accessories, design products, toys, activity sets, clothing, artworks, food and drinks, mini workshops, books or more you’ve got to offer, running a booth at 798 ICAF offers an unbeatable opportunity to reach out to families in the heart of bustling 798 arts district during the Dragon Boat national holiday. Free. 10am-6pm. 789 Art District. (Wechat: redhattie, phone: 13716744690).

Dragon Boat Festival Feast at the Great Wall, May 29 to May 30
All ages. Come out to the farmhouse under the Great Wall and try “zongzi” along with other traditional fare. The feast will be served at night and there will be live folk music. View the menu and book online here. RMB 98 to RMB 188. All day. The Brickyard Inn and Retreat Center at Mutianyu Great Wall.

Tiananmen Square Walk and Discussion, May 30
All ages. This walk and discussion will take us through Beijing’s history from its days as an imperial capital through the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and down to the present day. The group will visit the Beijing Urban Planning Hall (a fascinating museum in desperate need of a catchier name!) and explore Tiananmen Square. The walk will conclude by taking in two of Beijing’s most beautiful parks, both former imperial spaces that were part of the Forbidden City. RMB 300, RMB 260 (Hutong members) includes all guide fees, tips, and admission tickets. 9am-12pm. Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall.

Dragon Boat Festival, May 30
All ages. This Chinese festival marks the entry into the heat of summer and the season of epidemics. It takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar. RMB 100. 7pm-9pm. That’s Mandarin.

Children’s Day at the Beijing Marriott, June 1
All ages. There will be a dinner buffet, special kids’ menu, DIY kids’ cooking class, 3D photo environment, and special guest Giant Polar Bear Mr. Bartee. Reservations can be made by calling Sasha at 13311130538. RMB 398 (adults), RMB 199 (kids). 6pm-9pm. Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast.