Papel Picado Banner is a festive cut-out tissue paper banner that festoons Mexico during religious ceremonies, festivals and home parties. True papel picado is created by using very small chisels to elaborately cut designs into a large stack of tissue paper panels. This allows Mexican folk artist to create scenes, not just repetitive cut-out designs. The scenes often depict the various events the tissue paper banners will be used for. This technique was developed in the 18th century when paper was brought to Mexico from China. Today, you can purchase many of these intrigue papel picado banners or make simplified versions at home using scissors instead of chisels. Although they are not as detailed, they are still beautiful and provide a festive touch to any celebration. 

Tissue Paper Banner Materials

• colored tissue paper
• 1 piece cardstock paper (optional)
• pencil
• twine
• glue stick
• scissors
• iron (optional)

Tissue Paper Banner Directions

Decide on the colors you want to use in your banner. Cut each piece of tissue paper 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches. Tip: It is easy to lay a piece of cardstock paper on the tissue paper and trace around it. You can cut through several pieces of tissue paper at a time.

Finger press one of the short ends of your paper under 1/2 inch. This will be where you glue the tissue paper to the twine. While cutting, do not cut into this folded section.

Cutting the banners is similar to cutting out snowflakes. You fold the paper several times and cut through multiple pieces of paper. You can experiment with folding the paper in various ways to get different designs. We are demonstrating how to fold the paper into a long rectangle. Begin by folding the paper in half lengthwise.

Fold the paper in half again creating quarters.

Finally, fold the paper in half again, creating eighths.

One end of your long rectangle has your original fold for the twine. It is the top of your design. On the other edge, cut off a arch. This will give the scalloped edge to the bottom of your banner panels.

If you want to give the scalloped edge more detail, fold just the section in the scallop, and cut out a half circle.

Now, cut out shapes on either side of your long rectangle. Make sure not to cut all the way through. Also, do not cut into the section at the top that has the folded edge for the twine.

Carefully unfold your paper. If you would like, carefully iron your banner panel. To do this use the hottest setting on your iron. Use a dry iron. Steam will ruin the paper. When ironing, make sure the front point of the iron does not get caught in a shape and rip it. Also, keep the iron moving. If the iron stays in one spot it can scorch your paper.

Open the top flap of a banner panel and run a thin layer of glue stick along the paper between the fold line and the top of the tissue paper.

Leave an 18 inch tail of twine. Then, lay the twine along the fold line of your banner panel.

Fold the flap over the twine, keeping the twine along the fold line. Measure 4 inches of twine between each panel, then add the rest of the panels in the same manner. When you are done gluing on your panels, leave an 18 inch tail of twine.

Hang up your tissue paper banner and let the celebration commence! Note: The banner can be used over again if you are careful storing it. If the papers are slightly wrinkled when you go to use them again, simply iron them!