This coloring page allows kids to add their personal touches to traditional designs, making it a fun way for the entire family to participate in the Día de Muertos celebration.

If you’ve checked out some of my previous projects like this mini papel picado or this easy papel picado for kids, you might have noticed that I have a bit of an obsession with papel picado. For those who might be new to this tradition, papel picado is a Mexican tradition where colorful sheets of tissue paper are perforated or punched into intricate designs. It’s a beautiful way to decorate for special occasions, particularly during the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations.

Growing up in Mexico, making papel picado was a cherished part of preparing our home for Día de los Muertos. I remember fondly the days when my mom and I would gather around to create these delicate paper designs. We would cut and fold the paper while sharing stories and memories of my grandpa. The process was a beautiful blend of creativity and tradition, making it one of my favorite family activities.

Inspired by these positive childhood memories and the joy that papel picado brought into our lives, I’ve designed a new and adorable papel picado printable that you can download and color with your kids. This version adds a playful twist to the traditional art form because it’s a coloring page!

NOTE: Unfortunately a few moths ago the site crashed and we lost the original PDF printables, but I created a new version below that I hope you like as much as the other one :)

Download the high res printable here: PAPEL PICADO COLORING PAGE

Once the kids have added their personal touches, you can add some holes on the sides and string them together to create a colorful garland.

This garland can be hung on walls, refrigerators, or even used to decorate your Día de los Muertos altar. Not only does it bring a festive and cheerful atmosphere to your celebrations, but it also allows children to feel engaged and connected to this meaningful tradition.

The first version of this papel picado was created in collaboration with latinamom.me.