Make Your Own Colorful Papel Picado

Start with a square of tissue paper. Create a bottom border by folding the square in half, then in half again in the same direction. Make small cutouts along the bottom of the long rectangle in any shape you and your child like, trying not to cut deeper than 1 inch. Open your tissue paper and notice the pattern created on the bottom edge. For younger children just getting the hang of scissors, use a pen to draw guides for your child to follow.

Fold the tissue paper in half from side-to-side, then fold it in half from top-to-bottom, just to the top of the bottom border you’ve created.

Cut out shapes from the sides of your folded paper. Try making triangles, semi-circles, snip off corners, or cut out half-heart shapes. There’s almost no wrong way to experiment with your cuts! Use a pen to draw shape guides if your child could use them. As you snip, ask your child to notice how their paper is changing, and what they think it will look like when it’s open!

Open the tissue paper to reveal the pattern. As you look it over with your child, try to figure out which snips resulted in each shape! Next, grab another square of tissue paper and do it all again. For one banner, you’ll need about 6 pieces of papel picado, but can have more if you like! Experiment with different ways to fold the square — corner to corner, side to side, or top to bottom — and different shaped cut-outs. Make as many unique pieces of papel picado as you’d like!

Once you’ve cut about six sheets of papel picado, you’re ready to assemble the banner. Lay out a length of string or yarn long enough to fit all of your sheets. Working with one sheet at a time, spread glue across the very top half inch of the papel picado. Lay the string on top of the glue, then carefully fold the tissue paper just over the string. Repeat with each sheet of papel picado, spacing them about an inch or two apart.

Hang your papel picado banner wherever you need a pop of color, or at your next family get together!