Dia de los Muertos special edition! Kathy Cano Murillo, the Crafty Chica chats about the history of Day of the Dead, explains the basics of building an ofrenda and shares her favorite muertos craft - White Chocolate Sugar Skulls! This episode is a sneak preview of Kathy's new book, "Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul", due in February, but available for presale at Amazon.com

Show links:
Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul

CraftyPod interview

Dead.AzCentral.com (Kathy's hubby, Patrick, did all the artwork.)

To hear this episode, CLICK HERE.

*~Peace, love and glitter from Crafty Chica!*~
Subscribe to Crafty Chica Podcast

Labels: Day of the Dead, Latin-inspired, podcasts

Looking for something spectacular and special to wear for Dia de los Muertos on Monday and Tuesday? I know, I know - a calaca mask won'tr exactly be appropriate for the office or classroom. Instead, wear your skeleton style with this dangly charm bracelet!

Whatcha you need:
Chain link bracelet
Charms, beads
Eye pins, head pins
Needlenose pliers
White polymer clay, black paint
Glue

Whatcha do to make it:
Pinch off small bits of clay and shape into mini skulls. Clip an eye pin down so you can insert it in the top of the skull (so you can hang it from the bracelet). Bake per directions on package. Now feed beads thru headpins and attach to link bracelet. I like mine super dangly, so I add one or two charms/beads to each link. After skulls are done baking, use the head pin to paint on eyes, nose and teeth. Add a teeny drop of glue to hold eyepin in place, attach to bracelet.

This is a project from my La Casa Loca book. Thought I'd share it with you!


* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Cinco DeMayo, Day of the Dead, jewelry, Latin-inspired, wearable art

(Image from http://www.popartuk.com)


Ever since my daughter and I saw Corpse Bride, we knew exactly what her costume was going to be for Halloween!

We took a thrift store wedding dress, soaked in the kitchen sink with 8 large tea bags, bought a wig, painted some blue on it and painted her arm like a skeleton. None of it did any good until we did her face - they key is in the eyebrows people! You gotta get that "curvy" thing down! Practice on paper first. Oh, and I added alight blue wash color to her skin using watered-down craft paint. I love it and so does Maya!

A Corpse Bride costume goes down as a timeless classic costume. Not only because the Tim Burton movie is so eerily entertaining, but also because Emily, the dearly departed, is just too cute and funny to resist. Who wouldn't want to be her in the afterlife? To get the look, you can visit eBay to find handmade Corpse Bride-inspired dresses that are going for up to $300. Or you can check out the expensive packaged costume route, the flimsiness of which will only disappoint you. Third choice? The do-it-yourself version. It's not only affordable, but so much fun to put together. Remember, Emily had been buried for years so the dress has to look old and tattered, but still pretty. I found this wedding dress at Goodwill for $19. If you aren't so lucky, a white slip and tulle will work just fine.

Corpse Bride Costume

Supplies

1 unwanted wedding dress or slip
1 unwanted wedding veil
1 unwanted pair of long white gloves (optional)
1 black wig with white stripes (or all black is fine)
1 can blue spray-on hair paint
Water-based craft or face paint, light blue, white, yellow, green, red and black
Medium brush and a liner brush, sea sponge, cup of water
Red lip liner
Scissors
1 box of large tea bags

Directions: Take the dress and snip it vertically in various places at the bottom, and then rip it up above the knee, so the lining shows. Snip, and then rip the hand portion off the gloves. Fill the kitchen sink halfway with hot water, and add about 8 tea bags. Submerge the dress, veil and gloves in the tea bath and let soak for a couple of hours. During the process, squeeze the tea bags in your hands over various areas of the dress so there will be contrast in the stain. When the dress, veil and gloves are at the desired shade, take them out, wring and then hang to dry or put in dryer. Lay the dress flat on a table and on the right side of the rib cage area, paint on a white blob. Outline it with the black paint, using the liner brush so the blob will look like a hole in the dress. Use the white to paint bones and use the yellow to highlight and black to outline. Let dry.

To paint the wig, go outside and use the blue hair spray paint to cover the white streaks.

To paint the body, you want to create a "blue wash" look. Create a creamy, watery mixture of the light blue, white and water. Use the sponge to spread a light layer over the face, neck, arms and upper chest and back. Use the white and black paints to paint bones on the left arm. If desired, paint the skeleton jaw line and teeth along the left side of the face. Under the right eye, use the green, red and yellow paints to draw the maggot that crawls out of Emily's eye.

The trick to getting the right facial expression is to paint the eyebrows in a curvy fashion (see picture), use dark-blue eye shadow on the lids and paint lines for the eyelashes. Use the lip liner to outline the shape of the mouth and fill in.




* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Halloween, recycled

Episode Three: Letters from listeners about making a juice bag purse and mysterious pin cushions; sharpening sewing needles; a pep talk on ditching a boring lifestyle; and an honest to goodness Crafty Chica ghost story!

For tutorials on making a juice bag purse visit Craftster.org

To listen to this podcast, CLICK HERE

*~Peace, love and glitter from Crafty Chica!*~
Subscribe to Crafty Chica Podcast


* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: podcasts

After going to all the trouble of assembling an award-worthy costume for your kids, it would be a crime to send them out trick-or-treating with a boring plastic pumpkin candy basket.

Go that extra step and whip up an adorable furry friend that serves a great purpose. These monster bags can be made in any size, only take a few minutes to assemble and will make a happy statement for collecting candy. Visit your local fabric store to find fur in all kinds of crazy colors to match almost any kind of outfit. And after Halloween has come and gone, they will make great accessories year-round, because monsters never go out of style. Elmo can vouch for that.

Supplies
1/2 yard of fluffy faux fur in desired color
Scissors
Straight pins
Sewing machine or fabric glue
White craft glue
Googly eyes
1/2 yard of thick ribbon (for strap or handles)

Directions: Cut two pieces of fur each measuring 12 by 12 inches. After making the cut, pull off any loose fur fibers. Line up the two pieces fur-side in and pin three sides in place. Sew around three sides, backstitching and the beginning and ending stitch. Trim excess fur around edges, along top of the seam. Measure desired length of ribbon to make strap. Sew each end of strap to the inner seam of bag through opening. Be sure to sew several seams around attached area to secure handles. Trim any hanging threads. Arrange eyes on bag and use white craft glue to attach them. Let bag dry before using.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Halloween, sewing, wearable art

Despite going off of 3-4 hours of sleep a night this past week, I managed to get another podcast up!

Click here to hear it!

Subscribe to Crafty Chica Podcast

Show notes links mentioned:

My interview with Diane from Crafty Pod on Dia de los Muertos

For the lumber, Patrick and I went with 2x6-foot pieces. They cost about 3-5.00 each, the cuts were .25 each. Look for smooth, non-warped pieces. Ask the cutter to cut them into desired lengths. I really liked working with the smaller chunks, they just looked more folk art-ish. We also used wider pieces, like the wood planks to cut and decorate. Much cheaper than the shrink-wrapped versions from the craft store! You can do all kinds of things with the wood blocks, glue finials for the feet, drill holes and add beads, cover them with flashing to make a magnet board, add eye screws so they can be hung. Glue a mirror in the center and do a mosaic around it.

See what I mean? Addicting!


Sawtooth picture hangers: We have a huge bag of these on hand so we can turn anything into a piece of wall art!


Reverse Glass Painting. Im ade a bunch of these with small wood frames I bought at the dollar store.


Here is what I mean by the glass blocks. I really love these curved ones:


Glass blocks can be purchased at any home improvement store.


Gallery Glass

Latino Soul book reading. This will be up the week of 10/24.

Thanks for tuning in!!!!
* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: podcasts

by Kathy Cano Murillo - Oct. 15, 2005 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Sometimes all we want is easy. No directions, no thought of goof ups, nothing too detailed. That's when it's time to head to places like Target or Wal-Mart and pick up some ready-to-go Halloween decorations. But you don't just buy them and put them out, silly. I spotted these plastic light-up skulls and they looked so sad and well, plain. They were crying for color, especially for this time of the year. So I picked up a batch of them and embellished them with acrylic craft paint and added glittery accents with squeeze paint. No muss, no fuss and not too gory or scary. The skulls come in various sizes and price ranges ($2.99-4.99), which make them even more appealing. If you have kids, line the kitchen table with newspaper and set out a shoebox full of craft supplies and let them go at it. You can then use them to light up the front porch, the fireplace mantle or use as centerpieces for a party.

Supplies:

1 plastic skull light purchased from a discount department store
Acrylic paints
Assorted small paintbrushes
Dimensional squeeze paints in assorted colors and textures (shiny and glittered)
Loose glitter, sequins, gems, etc.

Directions: Using a paintbrush and paint, add designs around the eyes, mouth, cheeks and top of the head. Use different colors for the various areas. Let dry. Use the squeeze paint to outline or accent the areas of dried paint. Keep the designs big and bold for a more vibrant look. Add gems, sequins or loose glitter over the wet squeeze paint. Let the squeeze paint dry (about an hour) and then "brush" on the glittered squeeze paint over the flat paint to make it sparkle and look varnished.

Variations: You can also find light up pumpkins to be decorated as well. Write words on the forehead or even glue pictures on.

And I have a new Podcast! CLICK HERE to learn all about it!

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Day of the Dead, Latin-inspired, lights

This is a project I whipped up last year, but I love it so much that I'm sharing it again. Otra! Basically you are making a mask out of hot glue. you just drizzle it over... oh heck! Just click here to read the directions!

NOTE: More Halloween projects to come, keep checking back! I'd add the rest now but I'm sleepy and need to go to bed!

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Halloween

I can never leave good enough alone. I saw these originally crystal clear lanterns looking all sad and lonely on the store shelf. I walked by them and I could swear they whispered to me: "Embellish us wtih Gallery Glass squeeze paint!" So I did! And this is how I did it.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Halloween

For under $10 bucks you can paintyour own Halloween or Day of the Dead lanterns. Check out Cost Plus Imports for some great deals! Here's how to do it.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Halloween