This Paper Mexican Marigold Flower Headpiece Craft is an excellent craft for kids and perfect for Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) or Halloween. Step-by-step instructions with a video to show you how to make this beautiful headpiece.
Ever since I returned from Mexico, I’ve been reading a lot about the culture and the Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. It’s a day that coincides with All Hallows Eve, and it takes place over three days. It’s a day for honoring the dead with altars, sugar skulls, marigolds, and gifts of favorite foods for the deceased. When I think of the Day of the Dead, I think about the sugar skulls that women paint their faces and wearing marigolds. I wanted to make a Mexican marigold headpiece to go along with my Book of Life make-up tutorial. It was the perfect addition for my Day of the Dead look. It’s also super easy to make, and your kids can help. Here are step by step directions or just watch the video at the bottom of this post.
Paper Marigold Flower Craft
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Orange Tissue Paper
- Green Pipe Cleaners
Instructions
- Start by folding your tissue paper in an accordion fold back and forth. I made big flowers that were used with half of the tissue paper and small flowers by cutting the tissue paper into smaller sections.
- Secure your folded tissue paper and secure it by wrapping the pipe cleaner around it.
- Cut the edges off into a rounded shape. This will make the petals of the flower.
- Lift one piece of tissue paper at a time, separating it to point upwards.
- When they are completed, they are big and fluffy paper flowers!
- To make the headpiece, you will need smaller flowers. Make the same way as above. Put the flowers into a circle and start twisting the pipe cleaners together into a circle, added in another flower as you go.
- It's ok if the pipe cleaners don't fit around your head. The flowers are so big that they hang down around your head. Set it on top of your head like a hat and use clips or bobby pins to secure it to your hair.
Video
The Aztecs called them cempasúchil, which in Nāhuatl means “twenty flowers.” In modern Mexico, this name is sometimes replaced with the term Flor de Muerto (Flower of Dead). In some villages, people leave a trail of marigolds from their front door to their loved one’s grave, so that the deceased may easily find their way back home again. The attractive scent of the marigold is said to draw them back to earth for the yearly Dia de Los Muertos reunion.
Happy Crafting!
Check out my Book of Life La Muerte / Sugar Skull makeup tutorial and my DIY Sugar Skull 3D Printed mask!
OMG! I am going to try this for my little girl!!!! Its amazing!! Thanks a lot!!!!
Such an easy craft! Enjoy