This article was commissioned by Scholastic, all opinions and ideas are my own!
Here’s Dia de Los Muertos mural DIY! Looking for something above and beyond the usual decorations for the season? You can create this for your front porch. My inspiration is from the new young adult graphic novel, Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier. I’m giving away a copy! Leave a comment below and I’ll randomly choose a name one week from today to receive a copy of Ghosts. See a sample excerpt here, and a classroom guide here!
This is such a special book for all ages.
It’s about a little girl named Catrina (Cat) who has to move from her beloved home to a better climate for her little sister, Maya, who is sick with cystic fibrosis. As with all older sisters, Cat is very overprotective, almost a tad too much. Maya, is a free spirit who loves to explore and take risks. She believes in ghosts and even befriends them, which really tests Cat’s nerves. She thinks the ghosts are trying to take Maya to the afterlife. Cat eventually discovers for herself that not all ghosts are scary, many are just as sweet as when they were alive. At the same time because of the season, their parents tell the girls all about Dia de los Muertos, and Cat ends up discovering first hand how wonderful it is!
This book is sweeter than a churro, but also has so much depth and spirit when it comes to addressing death, illness, and the afterlife. There are spirits – or rather ghosts – of all ages, from all decades who come together to pay respect to the living. It’s upful and loving!
Dia de Los Muertos Mural DIY
I was asked to create a project tutorial to celebrate the book and I loved it so much, I thought a ginormous mural for our front porch would be perfect! My husband is the master muertos illustrator in la casa, so he gladly stepped up.
Click here to see the video tutorial!
This is the general sketch we came up with. The end result came out a little different, because that what happens when you create, right?
Crafty Chica Muertos Mural Pattern Here is a PDF pattern you can enlarge and use to paint your mural. Measure your window size and enlarge the image into printer paper sized sections that you can tape together. Tape the entire pattern inside your window facing out, then you simply paint all the sections like a coloring book, start with white or black outlines and fill in.
SUPPLIES for your Dia de Los Muertos Mural DIY!
What kind of paint to use? Here’s the deal – tempura or regular water-based craft paints are perfect and easy to remove after the season with soapy water and a sponge. However, you DO NOT want to use glass paint. It will stay permanent!
Have an assortment of brushes on hand, as well as cups to hold your paint.
If you want to freestyle your own design, use a dry erase marker to outline your design.
Here is Patrick’s method. Clean your window so it is free of dust and debris. Paint the background colors, then use white to paint the items that you want to stand out. The white will ensure that the colors on top will be nice and bright!
Once you have all of the white filled in, it’s time to bring it to life. Add the colors to the designs. About two coats will give a nice opaque look.
Use black with a thin liner brush to outline each items. It really helps to look at a picture, take it one step at a time!
Here’s a shortcut to painting the marigold flowers. Create a large area of orange, then use black to paint circles. You can use touches of white to give them highlights.
Then add more white areas to add more designs, just keep working in layers, and outline in black! I loved this scene in the story when Cat not only attends a muertos fiesta, but she ends up joining the band as well! So we added her in the mural!
So cute!!!
After all your designs are filled in and outlined, add highlights or other designs to really give them personality! Then set up a fun reading area so you can read more awesome books by Raina Telgemeier and other authors!
I love our porch so much, I think this will become a tradition!
I even made a little area for books!
I love Raina Telgemeier’s other books! I am looking forward to reading this new one. Nice job creating the mural inspired by the book!!!
I would love to win this. Love your tutorials!
Really want to read this book. Love the window Patrick!
It’s a great giveaway for a special holiday that I enjoy every year!
This is a wonderful idea! I’m teaching the meaning to my youngest sons now. This book sounds like a great one to read! If I don’t win, I’ll definitely buy it! Beautiful job on the mural! My porch has glass slats, but I think I’ll try to do it anyway! ????????????
Oh yes, one of my fave times of the year to decorate…would love to win! Thanks.
My daughter loves the other books, Smile, Sisters, Drama and I know she would love this book!
Love this! I want the book!!!❤️????????????
This is a great giveaway. Thank you so much for the tutorial.
Magical lovely mural. The book Ghosts would be perfect reading time with a cup of coffee during quiet time while the wind howls it’s whispering with a soft touch of rain.
I Love the Mural idea, you are Super Talented!!! Your porch looks Amazing, Cute!!❤️ Blessings!! & I will definitely get this book for my grand-daughter????
Brilliant idea with a mural. Looking forward to trying this myself.
how cool! love how the window came out. the kids would love this book too – anything Day of the Dead 🙂
Im in a retail space , but I love this idea. I may put some clear vinyl up and paint on that!
This book looks beautiful! My daughter would love it. Thanks for the tutorial and giveaway!
Thank you so much for this tutorial! Day of the Dead is such a beautiful day of remembrance/celebration. I love books that are fun, but have a deeper context that resonates with readers, young and old.
Gorgeous! Thanks for the info on the book. My 12yr old daughter will love it! She has really gotten into the Dia de los Muertos customs and traditions.
Mural came out Beautiful! I would love to read this book to my Grand daughters!
This is awesome, and not to mention beautifu!!
Kathy, thank you for promoting a beautiful cultural tradition AND literacy! This school librarian applauds you and I look forward to using your work as examples for projects in our maker space. I’d love to pass this book on to one of my students. I can’t keep Raina’s books on my shelves and we don’t have copies of Ghost in our library. Yet.
Your name was drawn for the book, messaging you, congrats!
This is beatiful! And my girls love love love Raina’s books!
Your window looks amazing. Thank you for sharing and for the opportunity to win what looks like a fabulous book.
My nieces and I are so excited about this tutorial! We can’t wait to try it this weekend. ????
Love this and what a great book!
Great mural. I hope I win the book!
Kathy, once again you have inspired us to reach outside our comfort zones to try something different while celebrating a beautiful culture. I look forward to reading this book, win or lose!
Absolutely beautiful! Can’t wait to try this out at home and read Raina’s book! Gracias Kathy!
Halloween and Day of the Dead have to be two of the best holidays in the world. This books looks great. Only problem is if I won, which set of grandchildren would get it. Yikes.
I would love to read this book with my eight year old daughter. We have experiences a couple of losses over the last year and this would help her understand. Also, can you come over and decorate my porch : }
Sounds like a fun book to read.
What a great tutorial, I love how it turned out and might try this one my windows. My daughter LOVES that series of books she doesn’t read much but loves this series and put this book on her Christmas list. So thank you for the chance to win.
This is a wonderful book and our 4th -6th grade book group is reading this for October! It is such a wonderful story and delightfully illustrated. Would love to win it so we could have a second copy!
I love your tutorials, especially the ones about Day of the Dead. Would love to win the book.
Omg so in LOVE with your mural and front porch!!! #housegoals #decorgoals #lifegoals I really like the topic of this book and would so enjoy reading it. Your sweeter than a churro line was such a nice description too.
I would love to win. Thank you for giving us an opportunity too.
Quedo chulisimo