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Presenting Young Writers and Artists

How-to: Activity

How to Create an Arpillera

You will need:

  • Pencil
  • Construction and Origami paper
  • Sponges and scrapers/sticks
  • Tempera paint
  • Glue
  • Hole puncher
  • Yarn
  • Paint Pens and/or Sharpies
child's illustration of an Arpillera

1. Cut a piece of construction paper 12” x 12” in blues or purples, not much of it will show. Paint paper strips to use for your mountains and hillsides. Paper should be about 12” x 4”. Sponge and scrape the paint for an interesting texture on the papers, in various blues and greens for the land and water and then neutral browns and grays for the mountains.

 

How to create an arpillera - illustration of step 1

2. After the paper sheets are dry rip the paper to create rough edges that are somewhat pointy. Start at the top of square and glue the mountains on, overlap the next one to create several heights and layers. Then start on the land, overlapping the bottom edge of the mountain. Rivers, waterfalls and lakes can be added to the land. Make sure each succeeding section of land or water overlaps the previous one. Always work from the top down.

How to create an arpillera - illustration of step 2

3. Now hole punch closely, all along, about 1” from the edges of the piece. This way students know not to place items too close to the edges. Make Origami houses, glue on. On separate paper make any animals or trees to glue onto the landscape base. Any extra details like flowers or pathways can be added now with Sharpie or pens.

How to create an arpillera - illustration of step 3

4. Whip stitch with yarn all along the edge. Two to four pieces of yarn can be used in the needle to fill up the edge a bit more. Glue on little worry dolls that can be purchased separately.

child's illustration of an Arpillera - completed