How to make a papel picado banner for day of the dead

Learn how to make a papel picado banner for Day of the Dead with these free printable templates. Check out the video at the end.

Papel picado is an important element in the celebrations and altar of Day of the Dead, each color and accessory has a meaning on the altar.

It is widely used to decorate in different Mexican parties not only in the altars of Day of the Dead, but also in another Mexican parties like Independence Day, weddings and more. Below I show you how I did it and I leave you some printables.

His movement meaning the arrival of loved ones that Mexican families await on Día de los Muertos.

In the Altar, yellow colored papel picado is used to represent the principle of life and purple, the principle of death. Black is the only color that is not used.

Cultural Heritage of Humanity

It should be mentioned that this is not the traditional method of making traditional papel picado. This is more of a craft that we can do with children.

Papel picado has been named Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Puebla since 1992. The town of San Salvador Huixcolotla is known as the cradle of papel picado “La Cuna del pape picado).

I do not want to detract from the Mexican artisans who perform a traditional technique by carefully “punching” the paper to form the figures.

How To Make a Papel Picado Banner

This is a simple, basic design with the skull, after doing the first one, you can continue adding designs, it is easier to cut them right there.

It is an easy way to make with children or to decorate your parties.

You can add drawings of flower, heart, sun, moon, stars, rhombuses, circles or anything you like, preferably symmetrical, so it is easier and faster.

HOW TO MAKE a PAPEL PICADO BANNER

Material

• China Paper or Tissue Paper
• Scissors
• Mold or Drawing
• Pencil
• Clips
• Cord
• Glue

If you are going to use one of our free molds, just click on the image, print it and then fold it so that the design is on one side.

Cut four rectangles of china or tissue paper the size of a letter sheet.

Align the rectangles of china paper with the mold that we printed, fold it and secure it with a clip.

Cut out, taking care to cut out only the areas that would be hollow in the paper.

When finished, remove the clip, separate the four sheets of papel picado.

To make the garland or banner I used orange scotch tape. This color reminds me of cempasuchil flowers, you can use this ribbon or any thin cord.

Place the ribbon on top of each of the rectangles, fold the ribbon and glue the paper, leaving an extra piece at each end to allow to hang.

PAPEL PICADO FOR DAY OF THE DEAD

I hope you enjoy these free papel picado templates