Don't these look pretty and festive? I checked out a new stack of books from the library recently, including one called Making Magic Windows by Carmen Lomas Garza on the Mexican art of papel picado (cut-paper art). Maia and I tried some yesterday and we both loved it. It's pretty much like cutting snowflakes out of colored tissue paper, with varying degrees of complexity. I worked my way through the first half of the book, meaning I did most of the easier ones.
Maia really got into making papel picado, too, and made even more than I did, which is no surprise considering she's glued to her scissors these days. She mostly just cut lines which don't show up well when you open the paper up, although she did cut out a few triangles and other shapes.
Afterwards, we followed the instructions for attaching the papel picado onto string for hanging (using a glue stick and folding the top of the tissue paper over).
The whole project was easy and fun and makes me want to drape our entire house with these pretty banners! And to make some to hang in the window, too. I think I'll try my hand at some Valentine-themed designs. Wouldn't they make great party decorations?
