“Dia de los Muertos” decoration “Papel picado” (cut-out paper) Tutorial 2014/10/25

Hello everyone!

We are a few days away from Halloween and the Day of All Saints and each country has their own traditions to celebrate.

In Mexico “El Dia de los Muertos” is celebrated, which in the last years has grown in popularity around the world. One of the most representative things of this party is the “ofrenda” (offering), which consists of offering to loved ones, who have passed away, their favorite food. This offering comes with a very particular decoration: “Papel picado”. This decoration has the skull as the main theme, known in Mexico like the “Catrin” or “Catrina”.

These decorations are very hard to find in Europe and today I share with you readers, how to make this beautiful decoration.

Materials:

• Tissue paper (various colors of your choosing)
• Paper
• One meter
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Cutter
• Paper clips
• Clips
• Needle

We start with a simple thing, a wreath (long) made with color skulls.

1. First you have to cut tissue papers to the desired size. Use 26 cm x 15 cm rectangles for both crafts.

2. Select a simple drawing and symmetric to a skull, print and draw it by hand. (This design will have to be folded in half to facilitate the cutting).

3. Make a line with the rectangles under the design and, after aligning them, fold the paper sheets in half. Now you can start to cut.

Tip: to facilitate the cutting you can hold it with clips.

Once all the skulls have been cut-out, you will be ready to assemble the wreath.

4. Depending on the desired length of your wreath, cut the thread and with the help of the needle insert all the skulls leaving one, three or four centimeters in between each skull.

Now it is time to make the typical “Papel Picado”

1. Make sure all your sheets of paper are the same size.

2. Following the instructions of the first project, choose a drawing and draw it on the paper sheet leaving approximately an inch on the top blank. I have drawn a skull with crossbones.

3. Make a line with rectangles under your designs and, after aligning them, fold the paper sheets in half and start cutting carefully. I recommend you don’t cut many sheets at the same time.

4. Once you have cut your designs, put a little glue on top of the centimeter we left blank and insert the thread in the fold we got from the blank centimeter. Leave four or five centimeters between each drawing and hang.

You can play with the designs and make them as different as you want. To complete your Day of the Dead decoration you can download the kit Ofrenda of the Day of the Dead di Tempo di Festa

Tutorial: Joci Franco

Images: mexicodesconocido.com.mx