Making things out of colored tissue paper has long been a Mexican folk tradition. One of the common names for the material, papél de China, or Chinese paper, gives us a clue as to its origin. Paperwork was apparently among the imports that poured in from the Orient on the annual Pacific treasure fleet that plied its way between the Far East and Acapulco, laden with such exotic goods as silver, ivory, spices, and porcelain. Once the craft arrived in Mexico it became the basis for many important and widespread folk art forms.

There are examples of papel picado dating back to the early 20th century.  Cut from colored tissue paper to simulate lace, papel picado can be seen hanging from Day of the Dead altars and around graves during November.  Also during Christmas and other celebrations the papel picado decorates indoor and outdoor festivities in Mexico.

Papel picado is a form of "folk art," meaning that it is a popular traditional art form handed down from generation to generation.  In Mexico template patterns cut the designs into stacks of colored tissue paper producing many paper cuts-outs at once from a single pattern.

Materials:  8" x 10" sheets of colored tissue paper, stacked and folded in half like a book
                 Scissors
                 Straight pins
                 String
                 Glue
                 Pattern

Directions:  Pin the pattern to the paper taking care to place the center edge of the pattern on the folded edge of the tissues.
Cut into the pattern and tissue first around the edtes to make the border.  Then cut out the large "negative"shapes by first puncturing the center of the areas to be cut out and then following the outlines.  The small geometric shapes can be cut out by first folding on the dotted lines and then cutting the solid outlines.

When completely cut, unfold and separate the tissues.  Fold each tissue along the top edge about 1/2".  Apply glue to this flap and wrap each tissue around the string, pressing the glue into the string to secure.

Patterns: