Jean’s original post about papel picado for little ones received a fresh update by our editorial manager, Rachel Withers. Learn how to generate gorgeous paper styles with tissue paper. For the ideal Valentine’s Day garland, attempt adding heart shapes as demonstrated right here.
Updated February 2021
Have you heard of papel picado? It’s the Mexican folk art tradition building gorgeous styles in paper.
In the early days of The Artful Parent, Jean produced papel picado with her daughter right after reading Making Magic Windows by Carmen Lomas Garza. They added hearts to generate a gorgeous garland for Valentine’s Day!
I was excited to attempt papel picado as it is been on my want list for a handful of years. My toddler was delighted for the likelihood to use scissors. And my preschooler was in a position to reduce a standard style with some guidance. But this is a truly entertaining art activity for older little ones in particular (grade college & teens).
Each paper reduce style is special and that alone kept me attempting new variations and styles. When completed, string these with each other for a gorgeous garland produced by the complete family members!
Papel Picado for Kids
Components
Directions
Time necessary: 45 minutes.
Papel picado is the Mexican folk art of cutting gorgeous styles in paper.
- Prep components
Gather scissors and tissue paper. Choose the colors of tissue paper you’d like to use. I wanted our garland to be a Valentine decoration so I chose pinks, reds and whites.
- Cut tissue paper into rectangles.
Choose the size for the papel picado. I feel 5″x7″ is a excellent beginning point.
- Fold tissue paper
Similar to cutting snowflakes, commence by folding the rectangle in half.
Then fold in half once more.
- Make reduce styles
Now here’s the entertaining element! Begin producing your paper reduce styles. I chose to use largely hearts or oval styles.
Then unfold to see what your cuts appear like. If you want to add more intricate styles then re-fold and make further paper cuts.
If you’d like a scalloped appear to your style, fold paper in half and reduce the bottom in a half moon shape, repeating across the length of the paper.
- Repeat!
Once I got the hang of it, I located the procedure to be pretty addicting….just one particular more, suitable?! Continue building further styles till you have sufficient for a garland.
- Create garland
If you’d like to generate a garland there are a handful of techniques to do this. Fold more than the leading of the tissue styles more than string and use a glue stick to attach. I made use of washi tape + transparent tape to attach string to the backs of my tissue paper. I like the further colour it adds.
This is such an uncomplicated and entertaining art activity for little ones, I hope you give it a attempt!
I truly like the addition of gold washi tape to finish off the garland. It’s the ideal Valentine’s Day garland, but would be wonderful other holidays as properly.
More Papel Picado for Kids
How about you? If you give papel picado for little ones a attempt be certain to tag us on Instagram, we’d adore to see your photographs!
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