How to cut papel picado from tissue paper with kids

What you need

Tissue paper in two or three bright colors, a printed template or plain paper, blunt-tip scissors, tape, a ruler, and a flat table with good light. Have extra tissue on hand, because tearing is normal.

• Use scissors with rounded tips for children.
• Keep craft knives for adults only, and cut on a cutting mat.
• Hole punches can add small round holes, but small punched-out bits are not for very young children.

Prepare the paper

Cut the tissue about an inch larger than the template. Stack two to four sheets of the same size, with the same color or a mix. More layers are harder to cut cleanly with scissors, so begin with two. For a mirrored design, fold the stack once and place the template’s fold line on the folded edge.

Tape the template across the top so it does not slide. A light paper clip also works.

Cut in a good order

Cut the inside shapes first. Fold a corner of the shape in, snip, and then cut along the line, turning the paper rather than the scissors. Cut the edges last, because the paper is easier to control while the border is still whole.

• Small shapes first, large shapes next, edges last.
• Cut slowly; tissue grabs scissors and can tear if you rush.
• Take breaks when hands tire; detail work is tiring for children.

Choose a setting that fits the age

The template maker offers simple, medium and detailed settings. Simple uses fewer, larger cuts and suits children who are learning to turn paper as they cut. Medium has smaller shapes. Detailed is for experienced cutters or adults. These settings are suggestions; we have not timed real children, so choose by how your child cuts.

Finish and hang

Peel off the template, unfold the layers, and smooth each flag with a flat hand. Fold the tinted hem over a string and fix it with a glue stick or tape. If a flag tears, tape it from behind with clear tape or make another; the others will still hang well.