Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday for remembering and honoring loved ones, is just around the corner. Many of us may know this holiday for the artistry and imagery surrounding its celebration — the sugar skulls, altars, candles, offerings, and marigolds. For this week’s How-Tuesday project, paper artist Yreina Flores Ortiz has created a papel picado project in honor of Dia de los Muertos. Yreina makes beautiful paper-cut work that can be found in her Etsy shop and on her website.
She recently completed a large-scale artwork for the central panel of an altar to honor victims of breast cancer for a Dia de los Muertos exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art. (More on that here and at the bottom of this article.)
The Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Here in the U.S., it is often confused with Halloween due to the prominent use of playful skeleton imagery in the decorations. Some people think it is insensitive to depict death as a silly thing, but that is not the intention. Dia de los Muertos is a time to acknowledge the loss of our loved ones by celebrating their lives. There are many ways to do this; some families go to the cemetery and eat, drink and play music. Some families light candles and say prayers. Others make an altar or ofrenda in their home.
I lost my grandfather this year and we will be making an altar in his memory to honor his life. We will put out offerings of his favorite foods. We will bring water from the well on his ranch. We will gather fruit from his orchard. Among other things, an altar is a place where the spirit of the deceased can come to be fed and rest.
Papel picado is a common decoration for this holiday’s festivities. Papel picado is cut or punched paper, made from stacks of tissue paper with the use of chisels, punches, hammer and blade. This original design is a depiction of my grandpa. A former barber, for many years he had a dashing pompadour hairstyle. The phrase Nada Es Imposible, Nothing Is Impossible, was one of the last things he said to his daughter, my mother. Go, Grandpa! This is a positive message that is good for everybody to live by. That is how I know he won’t mind me sharing a little bit about him with the world.
You will need:
Design template
X-Acto knife, blade #11 or #16 (as pictured)
About 6 sheets of tissue paper
Glue stick
String
Surface to cut on (a self-healing mat works very well)
Directions:
1. Download and print out the design template.
2. Stack the sheets of tissue paper with the printed template on top. Leave room (about an inch) above the top of the design for a flap. It may help to staple everything together to prevent shifting as you cut. Just carefully remove the staples when you are done.
3. Cut out the white areas of the template. Hold the knife firmly. Press hard. Make smooth, continuous cuts. Be brave! Use the non-cutting hand to hold your paper down around your cut.
4. Trim edges of your flags.
5. To string your banner:
- Fold the top edge of a flag.
- Open the fold and apply glue stick gently to the flap.
- Lay your string in the flap.
- Close the fold and press it closed.
6. Pick a spot to hang up your work!
Yreina's piece for a Dia de los Muertos exhibit at the Museum of Mexican Art.
If you make your own papel picado project, share a photo with us in the Etsy Labs Flickr group.
92 comments
Sign in to add your ownkathyjohnson3 says:
Wow! that takes talent, very nice!!
209 days ago
lovelygifts says:
Very nice!
209 days ago
sdaleart says:
awesommme. nice.
209 days ago
ommieohmy says:
i love the story behind your design and i love your shop name! "ay, mujer" is something i heard often from my own grandmother! thanks for sharing - your work is LOVELY!
209 days ago
rozzie says:
Lots of work! Great idea and I like the idea! :)
209 days ago
VivaGailBeads says:
Lovely Article!
209 days ago
LittleGreenRoom says:
Great article!!
209 days ago
MegansMenagerie says:
Nice!!!
209 days ago
SKTceramics says:
Thanks for the beautiful demonstration. I've always wondered how Papel picado are made!
209 days ago
LilBeeDesigns says:
This is cool, I can't wait to try it.
209 days ago
angeldamico says:
Love it Julie thanks!!! xoxo~Angel
209 days ago
dailydangerco says:
What amazing work. And that Breast Cancer piece... awe inspiring.
209 days ago
TheUntamedHeart says:
This is so cool! Thanks for sharing!!
209 days ago
BrittneyWest says:
Great and inspiring work! Thanks for sharing your passion! "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."--Rumi
209 days ago
rarebeasts says:
Rad paper work.
209 days ago
lindsayharmony says:
This is so lovely!
209 days ago
ThePattypanShop says:
Beautiful paperwork!!!!
209 days ago
KarmicCharms says:
I love this and will have to bust out my exacto knife and try my hand at it. I think they look so lovely and it is a great tradition!
209 days ago
aymujer says:
Thanks, everybody! I am so excited to share this design. Tip: The pattern makes a great coloring page for children.
209 days ago
NecessiTees says:
I love papel picado....thanks for the DIY info on it!!!
209 days ago
PrettyPatriots says:
Beautiful work and Beautiful story! I love how family can inspire us in our arts.
209 days ago
friartuck1111 says:
You might want to have correct links to the artist page and site, as well as the shop name, and her full. Please give this woman some credit. We shouldn't have to be googling various names to find her.
209 days ago
TraditionalNative says:
.............YOU...............
209 days ago
TraditionalNative says:
........ARE AWSOME SIS......... A TRUE INSPIRATION TO ALL OF THE FAMILY. I KNOW GRANDPA IS PROUD OF ALL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. NADA ES IMPOSIBLE !!
209 days ago
sweetrocket99 says:
This is reallly an awesome post. Thank you so much for sharing. I absolutely adore anything Dia de los Muertos related and am psyched to see these instructions on how to make this super cool banner!
209 days ago
Talula says:
Just returned from San Antonio, TX... The graveyards near the Mission Trail were decorated so beautifully... Love this tradition. Honoring the departed, but remembering them in a joyful and happy way. Very, very special indeed...
209 days ago
crankbunny says:
one of my favorite paper art forms! lovely article!
209 days ago
studiokgraphicdesign says:
This is awesome!! I love it - thanks for sharing the craft, too.
209 days ago
LadyCuba says:
Lovely! It was a fun read : )
209 days ago
HibouCards says:
amazing! It's just like lace with paper :)
209 days ago
wildfireatheart says:
yeah!! love it I have some day of the dead sugar skull keychains in my shop!!!
209 days ago
LaSantaMuerte says:
I'm such a fan of her work, it's great to see it highlighted on How-Tuesday!
209 days ago
TuesdayFreya says:
Interesting and detailed craft. I'll try it sometime. :)
209 days ago
VictoriaMBaron says:
Great project! Thanks for sharing it.
209 days ago
muerto2go says:
!Que fabuloso!
209 days ago
dichotomystudios says:
Papel picado is one of my favourite things ever! Thanks for the info and the template and your piece going to the Mexican Museum of Art is beautiful!
209 days ago
PattiTrostle says:
Great story...great information! Beautiful work!
209 days ago
coketa says:
just wow!!!
209 days ago
fidencio says:
This is beautiful, i especially appreciate the concept merging with the old tradition, very nice work!
209 days ago
FlowersFoundation says:
Wow! This is beautiful!
209 days ago
vitamini says:
Coming from a mexican-american family I have a great appreciation for mexican folk art, especially anything dia de los muertos related! I've already made many sugar skulls but I would love to try making one of these! I just recently started doing papercuts so my xacto knives are handy. Thanks for the how-to and the template!
209 days ago
PeachyCheek says:
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful article! I celebrate Dia de Los Muertos and much of my art is inspired by the holiday, one thing I have always wanted to create was Papel Picado, but I never have. This really inspired me to. I will be creating a few this week! :) Thanks so much!!
209 days ago
prosttothehost says:
Love tissue paper as a medium ;) iFelicidades! i va la emocion y el amor de su abuelito!
209 days ago
myvintagecrush says:
Fun! Thanks for sharing!
209 days ago
VintageChics says:
Love day of the dead celebration
209 days ago
VoleedeMoineaux says:
So darn pretty!
209 days ago
Iammie says:
Nice!
209 days ago
accentonvintage says:
How intricate and beautiful!
209 days ago
ThePolkadotMagpie says:
How cool, Julie! I have 48 sugar skulls drying on my kitchen counter. Those picados inspired me to make the ones in my shop.
209 days ago
RossLab says:
Nada es imposible, but this look quite complicate to make. I LOVE this and your all shop!
209 days ago
peshka says:
Beautiful work !
209 days ago
nicilaskin says:
very very cool, i will try it out tomorrow, great article, thanks for sharing
209 days ago
NataliaKoroleva says:
Very beautiful!
209 days ago
PortugueseVintage says:
WONDERFUL IDEAS
209 days ago
flaquitafea says:
That's excellent work Yreina. Its been 1 year since I hung the papel picado you made for my wedding day 'Chris y Ali'. It was such a special touch to a very special day. I kept one piece for my wedding album. Good luck y lo siento mucho por tu abuelito. Que tengas un dia de los muertos muy bonito.
209 days ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
beautiful tribute, I think its important to celebrate the lives of people who've touch us to remember all those happy times!
209 days ago
sewZinski says:
Absolutely love it. Huge fan of Mexican Folk Art. Your paper cuts are lovely!
209 days ago
IGotAJarOfDirt says:
I made some of these last year! Will you do a Sugar Skulls tutorial onetime?
208 days ago
Itzamna87 says:
I LOVE IT...AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH THAT I SPEND MONTHS MAKING SOME FOR MY WEDDING LAST YEAR!
208 days ago
OhMafelt says:
So beautiful! Looking forward to creating these with my daughter, thanks for the instructions!
208 days ago
theonutmegotree says:
love it!
208 days ago
mazedasastoat says:
I love the idea that through you & your design, there will be literally thousands of people all over the world honouring YOUR grandpa, his wise words & his rather rakish hairstyle... he truly would be proud (as well as probably amused & slightly embarrassed, but definitely proud!)
208 days ago
HappyBonesArt says:
¡Felicidades! Beautiful work! Must take a lot of patience and talent. Your abuelito would be so proud of you!
208 days ago
BanglewoodSupplies says:
Beautiful.
208 days ago
carliechew says:
I love Mexican art. One of my favorite things about Dia de los Muertos has always been these paper decorations. I can't wait to try and make one myself.
208 days ago
nuttylee says:
Thanks for sharing this idea...I will try it when i have time..^^..
208 days ago
bhangtiez says:
Beautiful! Thank you for teaching me about Dia de los Muertos, and for sharing this fun tutorial too.
208 days ago
rooftopmelodies says:
Great work! It's very beautiful. I also love the idea behind Dia de los Muertos: celebrating the lives and memories of our lost loved ones. I thought it was Nov. 2nd though. Isn't Nov. 1st Dia de los Inocentes?
208 days ago
YarnUiPhoneApp says:
The Papel Picado concept could work for a thousand themes - weddings, birthdays, anniversaries...I personally would do one with a ball of yarn and knitting needles 'cuz I'm all about the fiber arts.
208 days ago
BeatificBijoux says:
Sweet! I can't wait to try this!!
208 days ago
Sporky says:
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to do my own... :)
208 days ago
Notanja says:
I just love your work, thanks for sharing!
208 days ago
SewAbundantly says:
Beautiful work - takes me back to when I lived in Mexico! There's nothing more fun than walking through the streets of Mexico with papeles picados strung across the streets in grand celebration. I love the delicate designs and seeing your pictures of the papeles picados at weddings. How I wish I would have done this! Thanks for the tutorial!
208 days ago
AllUsedUp says:
thanks for the directions, I plan to make these for our office, we have Dia De Los muertos decorations already up! Very nicely done and clear directions.
208 days ago
HouseOfMoss says:
The piece you made about breast cancer is such a perfectly poignant statement, and beautiful as well. Thank you for sharing this.
207 days ago
taralinda says:
Thank you for sharing your words, art and beautiful tutorial! Your abuelito is proud of you, no doubt ;) I buy papel for my alter often to celebrate El Dia, but never knew how to make them. It looks like it takes much patience and some skill with an exacto. Excited to try now ;)
206 days ago
crankbunny says:
papel picado / dia de los muertos was a huge inspiration for making my latest animated short - http://soda.crankbunny.com. Feel free to watch!
206 days ago
TreeCookies says:
i love papel picados. this is an amazing diy, and i cant wait to make one or two.. or more. thank you!
205 days ago
erinzam says:
Wonderful story and an awesome project. I can't wait to try this!
201 days ago
maechevrette says:
Such a great article and step by step instructions... I can't wait to try this out :)
201 days ago
tdqcbymlj says:
I love this! Great job, Yreina!
201 days ago
sandymulberry says:
So great. Can't wait to try this today.
201 days ago
VintageAndSupply says:
Thank you for sharing your creative talent with us. I will love to raise my child to know of these wonderful holidays and why we celebrate them. I wasn't exposed to worldly cultures and customs growing up and I am excited to learn about them now. I say worldly b/c they seemed so distant, even though I am sure people in my town celebrated. again thank you for your insight.
201 days ago
simplytammy says:
I really like this idea, I'll have to try it. I like the lacy photos as they look like filet crochet. Thank you for sharing.
200 days ago
thePrettyRepublic says:
Very very cool.
200 days ago
andieaccesorios says:
i really love this, thanks to the mexicans for this lovely and colorful tradition
200 days ago
monicazanetti says:
This is a wonderful DIY! Thanks for sharing the story of your abuelito!
200 days ago
darknightstar says:
Awesome! :D Congrats! This is so great!
200 days ago
FreehandCards says:
Thank you, Etsy, for highlighting 'the other' holiday at this time of year. Papel Picado represents the spirit of the tradition so well- colorful, happy, fun celebration of the departed. I love "Dia de los Muertos" and have a series of cards that are popular all year. I agree, sugar skulls would be a fun tutorial.
196 days ago
mamwell24 says:
Thanks for another great tutorial XD
173 days ago
marieowltoinette says:
Very pretty!
167 days ago
kendrasred says:
I love it!
150 days ago