Happy Cinco de Mayo!
For a very abbreviated (and very last minute) take on colorful Mexican banners, create patterns in tissue paper with a hole punch! The traditional Mexican banner pieces, papel picado, have elaborate designs hand-cut using a small chisel. Though a hole punch version can’t compete with the intricacy of traditional banners, the colorful rectangles do capture the festive spirit!
Supplies:
Hole punches, preferably in multiple sizes
Colored tissue paper (flat looks nicest, though I used the folded that I had on hand)
String
Tape
Scissors
1. Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size. Because I wasn’t going to do much cutting or punching, I made mine smaller than traditional papel picado, about 5 x 5″.
2. Punch a pattern into paper, two sheets at a time. I experimented with a few patterns and then just repeated the two that I liked most, but you can make them all unique!
3. Fold the top edge of the rectangle over 1/4″.
4. Place the fold over string and secure back with tape.
5. Continue adding pieces to the string, every 4 inches or so.
6. When you’ve reached your desired length, hang your banner and have a fiesta!
