Layered Dia de los Muertos Canvas

 

Living in the Southwest, I am surrounded by beautiful Sugar Skull imagery and art. Our Friday tradition for years now has been Mexican food and one of the things that was a factor in where we chose to live when we moved last year, was a nearby place to continue this tradition. We definitely found that and they know me by voice when I call in our order each week. I included them in seasonal cards last year and this year I wanted to do something more so my brain came up with this Sugar Skull Canvas. 

Supplies:

• 5x5 Canvas
• Multi-surface paint, black (I used Craft Smart from Michaels)
• Scrapbook papers / lightweight cardstock
• Self Adhesive Rhinestones
• Layered Sugar Skull cut file (I used one from Cricut Design Space)
• Digital Cutting Machine (I used my Cricut Explore Air2)

I chose pink, yellow, and turquoise papers to cut my skull. I knew I was going to do a black background and rhinestones and thought these colors would really pop. I sized the file accordingly and then cut the layers using my Cricut.

I used foam squares to attach the layers as shown.

Once the layers were constructed, I set aside and painted the canvas. I really love this multi-surface paint because fewer coats are needed. This just took one!

It was still wet here but it dried perfectly! Once it was dry, I attached the skull to the canvas with a few dabs of superglue. 

To finish, I used different-sized self-adhesive rhinestones to decorate!

And now, I'm hungry and it's not yet Friday! 

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Quilled Sugar Skulls

 

Happy Labor Day where I hope you're all getting a day to rest. My quilling adventures continue! Living in the Southwest and in what was formerly Mexico, it's no surprise that Mexican cultural influences are everywhere, for example Sugar Skulls. I decided to interpret them into my quilling! 

I'd also been curious about cutting my own quilling papers. There are tons of sources for actual quilling papers but many quillers also like to cut their own. What I learned is that you want to make sure you use papers that are dyed through and through so that you don't end up w/ white edges when you  make your coils. You also want the right weight. I took a chance on Astrobrights paper and it's PERFECT.

Supplies: 

• Astrobrights Paper
• Paper Trimmer or Cutting Knife ( XActo, Huskie, etc.)  
• Glue ( I use Aleene's Turbo Tacky and Elmers)
• Quilling Tool

I used the "Spectrum" pack which as you can see has tons of colors! I used my cutting knife and ruler and cut several colors in 1/2 inch strips. I like the depth that this width gives me in finished projects. I also cut my skull image on my Cricut Explore. This is the basis of your project, that you'll outline w/one strip and create a border to fill in. 

Like Makers are known to do,  we can find our tools anywhere from home improvement stores to the office supply aisle or office supply store. Binder clips are my friend! I use them to anchor stringing projects when making jewelry to keep the beads from falling off to, as you can see here, holding my cut strips together! 

I cut two skull images per skull and layer them using foam tape. I like the depth but you can use just one layer. Once your strips are cut, all you need is your imagination. Make your coils in various shapes or all the same shape and you're off! 

For this one, I went with a combination of leaf green, turquoise, black and white. You can fill in as much or as little of the open space. 

I filled this one completely. 

For this one, I went with a bunch of colors (this one ended up completely filled as well). 

This one, I left toothless :) 

As you can see, I had a lot of fun playing with color combinations and of course, I had to do one in my go to comfort zone of black and white ( cream ). I haven't yet decided if they're going on cards, or will become a wreath or a banner. 

"Las Calaveras"

Using My Doodles as Decor: Georgie and Georgina Sugarskull

My doodling addiction continues. Introducing Georgie and Georgina Sugarskull, the newest additions to my doodle collection and Halloween decor. I've been wanting to incorporate some Dia de los Muertos ( Day of the Dead) touches and these were an easy addition. I printed them out and framed them in black and gold painted frames to match my color scheme of black and white and  gold.  

I started my drawing by tracing a simple skull outline. I knew I wanted to give her a floral crown so I drew the flowers on top of her skull first and then kind of went wherever my pen took me. This is what I find relaxing about this. I just kind of go wherever in an image, usually without a plan and just feel my way through. 

Georgina was done first, but Georgie was named first. I'd texted him to my son, he asked if he had a name, I said "you name him" and he named him Georgie. Georgina was kind of a no-brainer after that. 

I followed the same process for Georgie, took me a while to get the hat right. If I'm adding an element like that I'll do it in pencil first, then go over it in pen but the Zentangling itself I just go for with the pen. 

The frames were inexpensive plain unfinished wood I had in my stash. I painted with a couple coats of black paint, then dry brushed with gold. 

Now, lest you think I'm allergic to color, I did color each of these in my Recolor app.