fiesta flags!
When I first came to Earth, I was amazed at all the varieties of different colored & textured paper there are to be found everywhere. So today, I will show you a beautiful & simple paper craft, in celebration of scrap paper everywhere!
This craft is from a beautiful book we found in the library…
Each page has a different paper craft from somewhere in the world…I would like to try them all!
Today, we will try colorful fiesta flags from Mexico…Tissue paper works really well for these flags, so you can just collect any used tissue paper that comes your way throughout the year, & when it is time for a celebration, you will have plenty. It is really pretty & traditional to use a variety of bright colors of tissue paper, although I just had yellow on hand today…
If your paper is pretty crumply, just simply iron it with a clothes iron or press it between the pages of a book for a day or so.
First, cut rectangles of paper the size of the flags…we made ours about 9 by 6-1/2 inches, but they can be of any size…
These flags can also be made in triangle shapes, like little banners, with the point hanging down!
Fold each paper in half lengthwise, and then fold again in half lengthwise…
…and then a 3rd time…
Sometimes, you can even fold them a 4th time! You may need thin tissue paper & sharp scissors for this!
Then, simply cut out shapes along both long edges of the paper–semi-circles, semi-ovals, half-hearts, triangles, etc…
You can just leave the top 1 inch or so uncut, so you can use that edge to attach the paper to a string at the end.
Gently unfold the paper so it does not tear. It will be very wrinkled, so you can just iron it with a clothes iron if you have one handy. (We used the high heat setting & just gently went over the paper once or twice.) If no iron is available, you may gently flatten out the flag, & place it in a book until the wrinkles are smoothed out.
Thicker paper may not need pressing…
Then, just attach all the flags to a string or thread.
To attach each flag, you can tape a 6-1/2-inch piece of scotch tape along a strong thread, & then carefully adhere the top edge of the flag to the tape, with the thread in between the tape & the flag. Or, you can fold the top edge of the flag over the string & glue or tape.
Next time, I think we’ll just thread the string through the cutout design near the top of the flag instead. I think they will look pretty that way, a little wavy! Maybe just a tiny piece of tape to hold them in place on the string.
You can make 2 strings of flags, and criss-cross them from the 4 corners of the room, but even just 1 string of flags is quite festive!
I hope you enjoy your fiesta!
love,
Clay Ball
