A Tilma for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe


Catherine Fournier

As soon as I saw this craft, I thought "Gee, why didn't I think of that?" Our oldest daughter attended a family retreat this summer with her young family and brought home this charming, easy craft home. It's perfect for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th. The whole family can dress up like Juan Diego and re-enact the miracle of the roses!

Materials:

  • For one child: one paper grocery sack or bag
  • For a class: a roll of brown kraft paper (available at office supply stores or the Post Office, usually sold for wrapping packages)
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe (see link below)
  • Crayons or markers
  • Colored raffia (optional)

Directions:

For one child:

  1. Cut out the sides of the paper grocery sack, and lay it flat
  2. Cut a 7 inch circle (for the child's head) from the bottom of the sack.
  3. Fringe the bottom of the tilma with scissors or punch holes and tie colored raffia as a fringe.
  4. Color the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe - make it as bright and colorful as you want, Our Blessed Mother will love it!
  5. Cut out the finished picture and glue it to the front of the tilma.
  6. You are done! Now put it on and imagine how excited Juan Diego was when he discovered Mary's picture on his tilma.

For a class:

  1. Cut at least a 40 inch length of kraft paper for each child. For taller children, you may need a longer length. Fold each piece in half lengthwise to find the middle.
  2. Cut a 7 inch circle (for the child's head) from the middle of the paper.
  3. Fringe the bottom of the tilma with scissors or punch holes and tie colored raffia as a fringe.
  4. Color the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe - make it as bright and colorful as you want, Our Blessed Mother will love it!
  5. Cut out the finished picture and glue it to the front of the tilma.
  6. You are done! Now put it on and imagine how excited Juan Diego was when he discovered Mary's picture on his tilma.

Illustrated Steps:

Cut the sides of the grocery sack

tilma_step_1

Cut a circle for the child's head

tilma_step_2

Fringe the bottom of the tilma

tilma_step_3

Glue Our Lady of Guadalupe's picture on the tilma

tilma_step_4

For a coloring picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, click here.

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