Cinco de Mayo is a big deal in Texas. So big that I decided to decorate a tree for it.
Okay, I know I decorate a tree for every holiday, major and minor, but this one is really cute. Plus I made a wee little papel picado banner that you can make, too.
You don’t have to hang it on a tree, though I think it looks muy bonita on mine.
Papel picado is a folk art from Mexico that involves paper cutting. Typically the banners are about the size of a sheet of printer paper but made of colorful tissue paper with intricate paper-cut images.
They are often displayed during holidays, like say Cinco de Mayo, perhaps!
SUPPLIES
- Festive paper (I used Crafty Chica paper)
- Avery Elle stamps and dies
- Big Shot
- Embossing powder
- Embossing gun
- Embossing stamp pad
- Bakers twine
- Paper hole reinforcers
- Scissors
- Acrylic stamping block
When I set eyes on these papel picado stamps and dies back in January, I knew they had to be mine. I was not sure what I was going to do with them, but as with most craft supplies in my life, this didn’t stop me. Little did I know these stamps and dies would make the perfect garland for a Cinco de Mayo garland.
First things first: Run your cutting dies through your machine. I happen to have a Big Shot, but any will work.
Once I had tons of shapes cut on a variety of papers, I made an embossing assembly line. I’m not a very prolific stamper or embosser, but I learned a few things with this project.
2) Baby wipes are good for everything, including cleaning off stamps.
3) There is such a thing as too much embossing "juice" on your stamp, just like there is such a thing as too little.
4) Firm, even pressure is a must when stamping, as is a flat surface.
5) Stamp, sprinkle, stamp, sprinkle -- don’t let too much time lapse between the two or the embossing liquid will dry.
So ya, stamping is a fine art. Practice makes perfect. Just follow my above tips and tricks.
When I had tons of embossed flags, I started making my banner. I alternated printed paper that was not embossed with decorated flags. I used the small paper reinforcers to attach the mini flags to my bakers twine.
All that was left to do was string the flags onto my tree. As I mentioned, there is nothing magical about hanging your banner on a tree. Maybe you could send a Happy Cinco de Mayo card, hang one over a book shelf or perhaps you have a kitchen window begging for some upbeat festive fun.
Please pop over to www.jenniferperkins.com for more crafty fun.