Day of the Dead Crafts
In the spirit of Day of the Dead, we are in search of crafts and alter creations to create and enjoy for this holiday. In the SF Bay area there are many celebrations for this holiday, and several offer community space in which to share a personal alter for your loved ones. It’s a beautiful occasion and an act of good will towards those we have lost in our life. For me this includes my Mother and Grandmother. Who do you remember during this time?
Here are a few craft ideas for an alter, some lovely and sweet ways to share of yourself for their sake.
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Gumball-size chunk of Sculpey clay
Liner brush
Craft knife
Black and white acrylic paints
2 jump rings
Miniscissors
Snippets of fuchsia, teal, green, purple, yellow streamers
Glue gun
Colored seed beads
Small pin back
Milagro
Water-based varnish
Directions: Flatten the ball of clay into the shape of a quarter.
Use the opposite end of the liner brush to make indented eyeholes and cheekbones. Make a blunt cut for the chin with the craft knife.
Bake in oven according to directions to harden clay.
Paint base coat in white, then add thin black facial accents. Turn over so backside is up and glue one jump ring to the bottom.
Use miniscissors to cut 2-inch by half-inch of party streamers. Take one piece at a time and scrunch it, then apply it around the outside edge of the pin. Continue lining until the paper goes all the way around the pin.
Glue one seed bead in each eyehole for color. Attach pin back. Loop the milagro onto the jump ring and connect to the other jump ring. Add a layer of water-based varnish to the skull.
Tip: Milagros (a k a “little miracles,” tiny silver prayer charms) can be found at local Mexican import shops.
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These are just adorable and just a lovely way to hold onto a loved ones small possession within an alter or upon yourself. I found these beauties on Crafster thanks to Snazzlecraft.
These were created using acrylic, marker and collage images using modge podge.
I absolutely love the roses she put on the outside of the Lady of Guadalupe box.
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Sugar skulls! Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. The first Church mention of sugar art was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made to adorn the side altars in the Catholic Church.
Supplies:
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 egg white from an extra large egg, or 2 from small eggs
- 1 teaspoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Cornstarch, about a half cup, for powdering surface
- Colored sprinkles
- Food coloring
- Fine paint brush
- Colored icing
- Candy sticks (optional)
How to:
- Sift sugar into a large mixing bowl.
- In another bowl, mix the egg whites, corn syrup and vanilla.
- Slowly pour the liquid into the powdered sugar. Mix with your hands until a sandy dough forms.
- Form dough into a ball. At this point you can continue or you can refrigerate dough for later use.
- Lightly dust surface with cornstarch as well as your hands. Pinch off a heaping tablespoon of dough and shape it into a skull.
- Press the candy sticks into the bottom of each skull.
- If you’re using them, lightly press colored sprinkles into the soft candy.
- Let the candy dry overnight.
- When candy is dry, use the paint brush with food coloring to decorate the skulls. Or you can use frosting (one that will dry hard) with a find tip to decorate them.
- Hand them out as is, or wrap in a small cellophane bag tied closed with a small ribbon.
It’s the one day a week I have some time to browse through and run into fun finds, and I want to share some of my faves with you!
