How to Make Papel Picado
Papel picado is made by folding colorful tissue paper and cutting shapes through all the layers at once. When you unfold it, the design repeats in mirror image. You need about 45 minutes for your first sheet.
What you need
- Tissue paper in bright colors, cut to letter size (8.5 × 11 in)
- A printed template — pick a free one or design your own
- Small, sharp scissors (and a craft knife for tiny details, adults only)
- Paper clips or a stapler
- String or twine and a glue stick
Step by step
- Print the template. Print at 100% on normal paper. The gray hatched areas are the parts you will cut away.
- Stack the tissue. Put two to four sheets of tissue paper behind the template. More layers mean more banners, but harder cutting.
- Fold. Fold everything in half along the dashed line, keeping the template on the outside. Quarter-fold templates are folded once more along the second dashed line.
- Clip it. Hold the layers with paper clips or two staples outside the design so nothing slides.
- Cut. Trim the bottom edge first, then the inside shapes from smallest to largest. Turn the paper, not the scissors.
- Unfold and hang. Open the stack slowly on a table and separate the sheets. Fold the top band over a string and glue it down.
How to hang a papel picado banner
Lay the string along the top of the sheets, fold the band (about ¾ in) over the string and glue it. Leave 2–3 in between sheets and alternate colors. Indoors, tape the ends to the wall; outdoors, tie the string tight so the wind moves the paper without tearing it.
Tips for clean cuts
- Cut small holes first while the stack is still stiff.
- For a round hole, pinch the paper, snip a small slit, then cut around from inside.
- Keep bridges of paper between shapes. A shape completely surrounded by cuts will fall out.
- If tissue tears, use fewer layers or sharper scissors.
How artisans make it
In Mexico, professional papel picado is cut with small chisels and a hammer, through stacks of dozens of sheets at a time, following a pattern on top. The town of San Salvador Huixcolotla in Puebla is famous for it. Folding and cutting with scissors is the home version of the same idea.
Questions
How many sheets can I cut at once?
With scissors, two to four sheets of tissue work well. Quarter folds double the thickness, so use two.
Can I make papel picado with printer paper?
Yes. It is stiffer and easier for kids, but it will not glow when light shines through.
How do I make it last outdoors?
Use plastic sheets (a thin plastic tablecloth works). Plastic papel picado is common in Mexico for outdoor fiestas.