Our tutorial for how to make a papel picado is all kinds of fun and great for the kids to help you brighten up any party.

Cinco de Mayo is always a fun holiday to celebrate. If you enjoy it as much as we do, then you will not want to miss some of our other popular Cinco de Mayo craft posts including DIY Flower Crown, Pinata Planter, Cinco de Mayo Bingo, and Mini Rainbow Piñatas.

We highlighted this Mexican-themed Craft along with some other fun kid's crafts in our May Crafts for Kids along with our 101+ Easy Craft Ideas for kids.

You also do not want to miss our 101+ Fun Coloring Pages For Kids and 101+ Free Kids Printables full of Crafts & Coloring Pages.

Mexican Celebrations

As Cinco De Mayo (5th of May) is quickly approaching, I thought I'd share one of my favorite quick, simple and inexpensive ways to decorate for your fiesta with these DIY Papel Picadao - Mexican Cutout Banners!

The traditional folk art of the Papel Picado is to cut some amazing designs into paper. Today, I'm not getting as intricate with my designs, but definitely can be with the right skills.

We have also highlighted this fun craft in our Day of the Dead Crafts and October Crafts for Kids

Okay friends... we all know I love any and all holidays. While I do not live in Mexico or come from a Mexican blood line, its holds a special place in my heart. Maybe it was being raised in San Diego, so close to Mexico, or with friends within the Mexican culture, it is part of who I am, and am proud. And lets get real... any celebration where there are tacos and pinatas is pretty much my favorite celebration EVAH!!!!

What you Need to Make a Mexican Decorations DIY

While perusing through the Dollar Tree the other day, I came across this 14 pack of felt sheets. $1 for all that crafting goodness? Yep, it came home with me! But this ended up perfect for this project. There were 3 pink, 3 blue, 3 green and 3 red plus one black and one white. (Not totally sure why only one black and one white??)

DIY Papel Picado | Felt Papel Picado | DIY Mexican Cutout Banner | Cinco De Mayo Decorations | Fiesta Decorations | Homemade Party Decorations Mexican Fiesta | www.madewithhappy.com

Package of Felt Sheets
Twine
Small Clothespins (optional)
Scissors

I did used some small clothes pins (yep, also at the dollar store) to hang, but you could easily thread the twine through holes in the banners to hang as well if you don't have clothes pins.

Here is a quick video on how to make

How to Make a Paper Picado

What you'll see is that they are made similar to paper snowflakes in the winter. Fold the felt up and cut small shapes (triangles, half circles, rectangles, etc.)

After a little bit of folding and a little cutting, you end up with some pretty fabulous patterns.

I'm loving the felt for these projects because they last longer and can be used for multiple parties, which is always a bonus!!

I love all the bright colors. Don't you?

The term papel picado means cut out paper, so maybe I should change this fieltro picado? 🙂

In any case, if you are looking for how to make a papel picado, simply grab some sheets of tissue paper and fold the paper the same as you would the felt and cut. This will give you the same look.

These are great for Cinco De Mayo, Dia de los Muertos, or any other Mexican Fiesta.

Celebration Mexican Food and Drinks

Yield: 1 Felt Papel Picado Banner