Sugar Skull Papel Picado Template
A smiling calavera framed by a ring of tiny diamonds, with flowers in the corners. Four thin paper bridges hold the skull in place, so it stays attached when you unfold the sheet.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Fold
- Folded in half
- Cutting time
- About 30 minutes
- Paper
- Letter-size (8.5 × 11 in) tissue paper
About this design
Calaveras (sugar skulls) are not meant to be scary. On Día de los Muertos they are a playful reminder that death is part of life, and they are often decorated with flowers and the names of the people being remembered.
How to cut this template
- Download the PDF and print it at 100% on letter-size paper.
- Stack two to four sheets of tissue paper behind the template.
- Fold everything in half along the dashed line, template on the outside.
- Clip the layers and cut away the gray areas, starting with the bottom edge.
- Unfold slowly, fold the top band over a string and glue it.
Tips
- Cut the eyes, nose and teeth before the big ring around the skull, while the paper is still stiff.
- Leave the four bridges wide on your first try. You can trim them thinner once you know how your tissue behaves.
- A craft knife makes cleaner teeth slots than big scissors.
