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The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica! Saturday, October 25, 2008Faux Wood Block Transfer Technique Today I was using my Crafty Chica Flocked Skull Iron-on Transfer - which is flocked (velvety texture). After I ironed on the design, I looked at the backing plastic and said "Hmmm..." it is all outlined with the flocked stuff - it is the outlined of the design. So I sprayed on some Tulip Cool Color Spray over it and pressed it on a piece of fabric and this is what came out! The best part, is you can keep using it over and over. I'm on deadline for another project at the moment, but when I get home, I'm going to experiment even more! *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, fabric, paint Monday, October 20, 2008Skelton Shadow Box (click on image for a closer view) Take a spin by the toy section to pick up some figures, give them a makeover and then stage them inside a glittery shadow box. You can go as small as a mint tin or larger with a cigar box. Either way, you'll have a worthy piece of art! My box is called "Recuerda me" (Remember me), it is about a ballerina who was in love with a musician. They lived in the southwest. She dreams of him in the afterlife, and knows he is thinking of her too. Come Nov 1st, her spirit will return to Earth and linger at their romantic hideaway, where she knows he is waiting for her with a beautiful ofrenda in her honor... Supplies • Any collection of small boxes. • Scrapbook paper or fabric. • Magazine pictures. • Small dolls from the dollar store. • Small found objects. • Glitter, hot glue, white craft glue, paint. • Mardi Gras beads or other accents. Directions Using black paint, coat the inside and outside of the box, let dry. Line the back with paper/fabric, using white craft glue. Paint the doll to look as sweet-and-scary as you want - it can be a vampire, a skeleton, a pumpkin head, a witch, a zombie, etc. I made mine for Dia de los Muertos. Glue the doll in place and add found objects to give the box personality. Trim the inside and outside edges with the Mardi Gras beads or accents. Add a hanging attachment to the back. Tips Make several of these boxes in different shapes and sizes and display them together in a modular pattern. Add captions, speech bubbles or titles to make them funny. Use more than one figure in several of the boxes, just to mix it up. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, Halloween Saturday, October 11, 2008Crafty CHICA-ween & Day of the Dead! Looking for some fun Halloween projects? Look no further! I'll be adding more throughout the rest of the month, but in the meantime, here are some from years past. CRAFTY CHICA GHOST STORIES Rubina Chinchada & the Enchanted Dresser (flash fiction) My Real Life, Swear-to-God Ghost Story! (for real!) CRAFTY CHICA HALLOWEEN IDEAS (more to come) Candy Necklaces All about pumpkins (plus stencils!) Beehive Wig Candy Sorter Placemats Corpse Bride Costume Creepy Candles Furry Monster Candy Totes Glow-In-The-Dark Jewelry Halloween Zombie Dolls Horror Flick Fabric Coasters Hot Glue Eye Masks Mason Jar Lanterns Personalized Lucha Libre Mask Pumpkin TV Set Sparkly and Spooky Banners Stained Glass Lanterns CRAFTY CHICA DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IDEAS (more to come) Learn all about this spectacular and spiritual Mexican holiday by visiting Dead.AzCentral.com. My hubby, Patrick, did all the illustrations! More projects to come!  Teacher and student educational packet, featuring the art of Patrick Murillo! Skeleton Story Box Black and White Charm Bracelet Bleach Pen Skull Banners Clay Calaca Beaded Charm Bracelet Decoupage Lamp Day of the Dead Pin Felt Banner FREE e-cards! Funky Fantasy Skulls How to make a shrine La Catrina Cigar Box Shrine Light up Skulls Paper Flowers Plaster of Paris Skulls Reverse Glass Painting Simple Papel Picado Steve Irwin Altar The Therapist Shadow box Traditional Sugar Skulls Next is my favorite. It is dead.azcentral.com  - it is a web site for The Arizona Republic and AzCentral that Patrick and I helped put together. Patrick did all the illustrations and I wrote many of the stories.- The history of Dia de los Muertos. - Glossary of terms associated with the celebration.- Food and recipes. - Photos. - Videos. - How to build an ofrenda (an altar). - MexicanSugarSkull.com - Day of the Dead Wedding decorations.  - Rubber stamps and more rubber stamps!- home decor items from Mexico. Wedding Couple Tote White Chocolate Sugar Skulls *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, Halloween Painted Halloween or Muertos Lanterns Supplies: 1 paper lantern. Spray paint (optional). Assorted paints and brushes (or stencil and spray paint). Loose glitter in black, white, purple and orange. Newspaper.
Directions: Open the lantern. If it's white and you want to add color, take it outside and lightly spray it with the spray paint. Let dry. Prop it on a flat surface. Carefully paint on your design (or go outside and lay the stencil on the lantern and apply spray paint). Let dry. Use a liner brush and paint to highlight the edges of the design and sprinkle glitter over the wet paint. Let dry. Continue adding designs to the rest of the lantern if desired. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, Halloween, lights, paper Dia de los Muertos Education Packet Day of the Dead information for teachers and studentsThis is a special package I helped put together for http://www.azcentral.com. It features the artwork of my husband, Patrick Murillo. He painted a series of pieces exclusively for this education packet! All images are copyrighted. Thanks! enjoy!
DOWNLOAD the education package [PDF] azcentral.com is proud to offer a downloadable education companion to our Dia de los Muertos site. Adults and children alike often get their first exposure to this important celebration through the colorful art, food and folk traditions of the holiday and its close association with the more common Halloween celebration. Our goal is to educate those seeking information on this celebration through articles, original art, and interactive projects. We hope that you use this information as well the pages found on the web site to enrich young minds as well as your own. Packet Contents: Bibliography 4 coloring pages Word search game Mix and match puzzle Papel picado lesson plan, including an easy-to-use template for younger children. Calavera mask project Skeleton puppet project*** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead La Catrina Cigar Box Shrine : cigar box, clean
Tip: Add in personal objects if you like.   Figure A *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, glitter, recycled, shrines Day of the Dead Felt Banner Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition combining Aztec and Roman Catholic practices and beliefs that date back many centuries. It is believed that on Nov. 1 and 2 the souls of our loved ones who have passed away are able to return to their homes and visit with friends and family. Relatives prepare for their arrival with joy and respect. One way is to build a beautiful ofrenda (altar) in honor of the departed.This festive skull banner will add a happy touch to your ofrenda. Felt Skull BannerSupplies Directions Cut each sheet of felt into four pieces. Pull out eight pieces in assorted colors to use as your background and set aside. Take eight white pieces and, one by one, lay the template on top and cut around it to create the skull shape. Take a colored background piece and glue the skull in the center. Take a piece of black felt and cut two circles for the eyes, a triangle for the nose and pieces for the mouth/teeth. Glue them in place on the skull. Apply flowers, sequins, etc., as desired. Let dry. Continue with the remaining seven background pieces. Mix up the facial features to give your banner personality - use red felt to create lips, or make eyelashes, for example. Use embroidery thread to stitch on designs or add buttons. Arrange the pieces in a row, and then carefully flip them all over, back side up. Add a line of glue along the top edge of each piece and press the ribbon in place across all of them to connect them, leaving a "tail" on each end for hanging. Variations: Alternate pieces with different layouts that you can create by using the scissors - such as letters, hearts and flowers. ***See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, fabric Reverse Painted Skull Art While everyone else uses the same old decorations, you can add a distinctive touch to your altar by whipping together one of these cheery calaca frames. Visit the local dollar store to pick up a batch of small frames and some paint. Give them as gifts or use them at your next fiesta's table setting. You'll be the life of the Day of the Dead party! Supplies: Directions: Take apart the components of the frame. Set the piece of glass on a flat surface. Using the liner brush and black paint, draw a skull on the glass. Let dry. Now paint on flowers and other decorations and let dry. Paint the entire face with white paint. Let dry and put the frame back together. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, Latin-inspired, paint Tissue Paper Flowers  Easy Paper Flowers
Supplies: Directions: Take four to five sheets of the tissue paper and layer them (if you want multicolored flowers, use different colors). Cut into 8-inch squares. Keeping the sheets layered, take one set of squares and fold it like an accordion so it looks like a thin rectangle. At the center of the rectangle, cut a small v-shaped notch on both sides. Take the end of a pipe cleaner and twist it around the notch. With the stem pointing straight down, gently pull up one layer of tissue into the center. Pull up the remaining layers, one by one. Repeat for the other side of the flower. Once all the layers are pulled up, fluff them in place to look natural. Continue making more flowers with the remaining stacks of squares. Tips and variations: For sturdier stems, wrap two pipe cleaners together. Cut smaller or larger squares to change the size of your flowers. Add more layers for thicker flowers or less layers for thinner ones. For a shiny effect, dip the top edges in white glue and then dip in loose glitter. Glue a pin on the back of a flower for a fluffy lapel decoration. Make smaller flowers and string them together as garland. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, flowers, Latin-inspired, paper Sugar Skulls A Día de los Muertos altar without sugar skulls is like a Charms Blow Pop without the bubble gum inside. It's a must-have. Sure, you can be lazy and go buy pre-decorated skulls, but if really want to show your love go the extra step and make your skulls. It's the sweetest thing you can do for the one you love. Supplies: Continue making the rest of the skulls. Let them dry for 24 hours in a dry place. Icing: Blend the ingredients with an electric mixer until the peaks form in the icing. If using assorted colors, scoop the white icing into separate bowls and add a dab of different colored food coloring in each one. Mix again. Scoop the icing into the pastry or Ziploc bag (snip the corner for the latter). Continue until you have several bags of different colors. Keep sealed and refrigerated until use. *Makes four small skulls. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, food crafts Glitter Marker Lamp This is lamp I made from an IKEA lampshade - I used glitter markers to color it in. I then decoupage a picture of a Day of the Dead dog and cat on the lamp base.  *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, glitter, lights Muertos Wedding Couple Tote * Crafty Chica™ Tango Permanent Fabric Markers™ * Crafty Chica™ Market Tote™ Day of the Dead Couple Instructions 1. Color couple using any color combination you like. 2. Write the word “amor siempre” below the couple. 3. Add polka dots in open space. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, wearable art Dia de los Muertos Charm Bracelet Start your bracelet with the awesome Crafty Chica™ Picture Charms™ and add some other charms and beads to make your own Chica statement! Materials List * Crafty Chica™ Charms™ * Miscellaneous Heart Charms Needle nose pliers Medium jump rings Chain link bracelet with clasp Instructions 1. Lay out chain bracelet and decide where you would like to place charms. 2. You will need one jump ring for each charm you want to attach. Pick up one jump ring and open it with needle nose pliers. Slip on charm and then connect it to chain. Use pliers to close jump ring. Make sure there is not a gap in jump ring; make sure it is closed tight so charm will not slip off. 3. Continue for rest of chain. If desired, add other charms. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, jewelry, wearable art Tuesday, October 07, 2008Sugar Skull Glitter PIllow Here are directions on how to make this from two bandannas!  *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, fabric, glitter, Halloween Wednesday, September 10, 2008VIDEO: Day of the Dead mask!Watch to see how to make a Dia de los Muertos mask! Click here if you can't see the video above. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: Day of the Dead, glitter, Halloween, paper Thursday, November 01, 2007Dia de los Muertos Shrines It's officially Dia de los Muertos 2007! The first night of the two-day event begins at midnight, and it's the spirits of the babies and children who come to visit their former homes or gravesites. By this time tomorrow, they will have returned to the afterworld, and the adults will arrive. Dia de los Muertos isn't just about cute skeletons, gallery-worthy altars or fun crafts. It's about respecting our ancestors and loved ones who have crossed over. It's welcoming their spirits back with open hearts and arms. That's why we create ofrendas at home or at gravesites with all the things that will make their senses tingle. Things that will make them feel alive on Earth again. If your Aunt Mary used to love bottled Coca Cola, imagine how big she will smile when she gets to taste it again! Make Dia de los Muertos be a personal experience for you, especially if you have recently lost someone you care deeply for. Don't cry for them today or tomorrow. Do not let yourself feel regret or sorrow. They are here, tell them what you need to tell them, because they are listening. They hear you. Close your eyes and feel them beside you, enjoying the treats you set out for them. They are happy because you care enough to remember the joyful times, the smiles, the love and warmth they brought to your life, and you to theirs. That's what they want you to think of! This is a time to party with them again! Remember Dia de los Muertos is about celebrating life - not mourning death. We celebrate the cycle of life. not only the deceased, but our own lives right now too. Let these days remind you to count your blessings. To try new things. Take chances. Meet new people. Let yourself experience goosebumps galore! That is truly living. Give your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren something to remember you for! Whew. That was intense, I get like that around this time of the year. But as with so many things these days, it's easy to forget the true meaning. There are calaca clothes, shoes, jogging suits, barrettes, candy, posters, you name it! That's all cool, because it hopefully will motivate people to learn more about what Dia de los Muertos is all about. But just in case, I wanted to send out my little reminder :-) OK, let me share some altars and shrines I've made so you can get ideas to make your own!  This mint tin shrine I made for Patrick's Grandpa Greg. He was such a cute man, so dapper and downright lovable. He was in his mid-80s and he would still flirt with the young girls and faithfully watch Sabado Gigante every weekend. He always had Jolly Ranchers in his pockets and passed them out to everyone from his grandkids to the pharmicist at the drug store. There are other little personal objects in this shrine that he would enjoy. When it comes to making your ofrenda, it can be as simple as a photo and a marigold flower, or an ornate display. Even if you haven't lost anyone, make a shrine for victims of violence or disasters, your favorite movie star, pet or someone who really inspired you.     La vida es dulce. *** CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2006. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: Day of the Dead, Latin-inspired, shrines Wednesday, October 31, 2007SKULLS: Plaster and sugar 1. Plaster skulls. Today is Halloween (Yay!), so that means all the decorations will be marked half off tomorrow. Here is a tip: If you celebrate Day of the Dead, go early to the stores and scoop up some of those light up sparkle skulls - you know, the ones that are made of pitted rubbery plastic? Peel off the felt eyes and nose. Buy some plaster wrap from the craft store, cut it in strips and cover the skull with one layer. Let dry. Now take some decoupage medium and white gift tissue and cover it with that. Let dry. Paint white, and decorate as desired!  2. Sugar skulls. Every year I get oodles of e-mails asking about sugar skulls. Used in Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations Nov. 1 and 2, the sugar represents the sweetness of life, while the skull signifies that the body has passed on. The sugar skulls are colorful and bright and are used in altars to honor loved ones who have passed away. The trick to the skulls (and the icing) is the meringue powder. Mixed with water, it hardens the sugar for the skulls. It also works for the icing, but it is a long process. I have a shortcut, which is why I use mini-tubes of frosting from the grocery store. When all is said and done, they look just like the real thing and are simple to use. And you can learn more about Day of the Dead, its history, traditions and local celebrations at dead.azcentral.com. Supplies: 1 set of plastic skull molds Mixing bowl and spoon 2 cups of granulated sugar 2 teaspoons of meringue powder 2 teaspoons of water 1 piece of cardboard, approximately 5" x 5" Mix the dry ingredients together in the bowl. Sprinkle the water in and continue to mix until the sugar is completely moistened and becomes the consistency of moist sand. Scoop some of the mixture into the mold and pack it evenly and firmly. Place the piece of cardboard on top of the mold and quickly flip it over so the sugar skull pops out. Very carefully slide it onto a flat surface. Continue making the rest of the skulls. Let them dry for 24 hours in a dry place (indoors so ants won't get to them!). Traditional icing (I prefer mini-icing tubes from the grocery store instead!): 2/3 cup of water 1/2 cup meringue powder 2 pounds of powdered sugar Electric mixer Concentrated food coloring (the kind professional cake bakers use) 1 pastry or Ziploc bag Plastic cups Spoon Blend the ingredients with an electric mixer until the peaks form in the icing. If using assorted colors, scoop the white icing into separate bowls and add a dab of different colored food coloring in each one. Mix again. Scoop the icing into the pastry or Ziploc bag (snip the corner for the latter). Continue until you have several bags of different colors. Keep sealed and refrigerated until use. Makes four small skulls *** CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2006. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: Day of the Dead, Halloween, Latin-inspired Thursday, October 11, 2007Dia de los Muertos 2007 Send a free Dia de los Muertos e-card featuring Patrick's paintings! Below is a picture of some sculptures he has been making for our upcoming events. They are about 4 feet high and he has four of them. Yuppers, these went over real nice when our neighbor came over the other day to ask about our tile floor. He was like, "Um, nice dead people you have in your living room..." Nah, he didn't really say that, but his expression kinda did. We don't know what we are going to do with these yet - use them in one of our gallery exhibits, or at a fiesta, or heck, just sell them? They sure are fun to have around the house - except one night when I got up in the middle of the night for a drink of water. The lady scared the bejesus out of me! I hadn't seen that Patrick finished her clothes, so I thought she was a real midget - only dead.  Here are the events we will be at this year. There are only two - we are just too swamped with other projects: - Desert Botanical Garden: Oct 27-28. - Vision Gallery: Exhibit Oct 22-Nov 3. Fiesta on November 3rd. - Oh! I also have a book signing at the Mesa Arts Center, I'll check on the date and post it here. I'm surprised I didn't post about Dia de los Muertos sooner! Every day I get at least 3-4 emails asking for info. So here are some links for you: Crafty Chica Dia de los Muertos Podcast! Next is my favorite. It is dead.azcentral.com - it is a web site for The Arizona Republic and AzCentral that Patrick and I helped put together. Patrick did all the illustrations and I wrote many of the stories. - The history of Dia de los Muertos. - Glossary of terms associated with the celebration. - Food and recipes. - Photos. - Videos. - How to build an ofrenda (an altar). CRAFT PROJECTS: - Egg shakers, sugar skulls, paper flowers, reverse glass painting. - Cigar box shrine, white chocolate sugar skulls, felt banner. - Funky Fantasy Skulls. - Bleach Pen Skull Banners.  - Clay Pin. Steve Irwin Altar - Plaster of Paris Skulls. - Calaca Charm Bracelet. SHOPPING: - MexicanSugarSkull.com - Day of the Dead Wedding decorations. - Rubber stamps and more rubber stamps! - home decor items from Mexico. OK, that should be enough to keep you busy for a while! Look for more projects daily! *** STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. 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, multi-culti Tuesday, October 09, 2007Funky Fantasy Skulls This is a project from last year, but I'm going to post it again because I love it so much! 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 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 Tulip 3D Fashion Paint 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. *** STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: Day of the Dead, Halloween, lights Monday, October 30, 2006PROJECT: Bleach Pen Skull Banners Here is another sneak peek from my book (Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life )! Enjoy! Bandera de Calaca The purpose of hanging splashy banners for a muertos celebration is to show that the festivities are a celebration - not a mourn-a-bration. It's believed that the souls of the dead are hurt if they return and are greeted by weeping relatives. Traditional altars use Papel picado to signify the party, but you can be innovative by using this sassy substitute. Supplies: 1 red cloth napkin with a patterned border 1 Clorox Bleach Pen 1 package of Creative Iron fusible fabric borders (or any other kind!) 1 piece of balsa wood 8 grommets and tool Paints Fringe hot glue small drill Directions: Lay the napkin on apiece of cardboard. Shake the bleach pen and use the fine point side to draw on the skull design. Set aside for 30 minutes (until you can see that design has soaked thru to the other side). Rinse in warm water to remove bleach. Let dry. Iron on the fusible fabric borders. Paint the balsa wood, drill three holes at the bottom, and two at the top. Make three holes at the top of the napkin and connect to the balsa wood with ribbon. Add a strand through the two holes at the top to hang. Hot glue the fringe along the bottom of the banner. You can go bleach pen crazy by making a whole bunch of these and tieing them together, or decorate napkins, seat covers, pillows, etc. Make sure the fabric you are using does not have ScotchGuard, otherwise the bleach pen won't work on it. *** STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. 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, garden, Latin-inspired, outdoors More muertos ideas
Learn all about this spectaular and spiritual Mexican holiday by visiting Dead.AzCentral.com. My hubby, Patrick, did all the illustrations!
White Chocolate Sugar Skulls Traditional Sugar Skulls Reverse Glass Painting Day of the Dead Pin Paper Flowers *** STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: Day of the Dead Ofrenda for Steve Irwin Homemade shrines honor departed loved ones for Dia de los MuertosNot all skeletons are created equal. Set aside the skulls and crossbones and the spooky Halloween versions and what's left are happy, colorful calacas for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Dia de los Muertos (Nov. 1 and 2) is a time to honor our loved ones who have passed away. The Mexican holiday, based on a 3,000-year-old tradition, stems from the belief that on these two days spirits from the afterlife return home to party with family and friends. To attract the spirits, personal altars known as ofrendas are set up. Each one is lovingly assembled to fit the departed's personality and then embellished with marigold flowers, ornate banners, copal incense and favorite food or drink. Dozens of other elements can be added, such as notes, pictures and mini-treasures. For example, one would play the deceased's favorite music or set out a favorite candy or cocktail.Building an ofrenda isn't always upbeat and jovial or only for the sake of the departed. It also can empower the person creating it. Last year, Phoenix artist April Edwards created an ofrenda titled Stage IV: NO FUMAR, dedicated to her father who died of lung cancer. "Finding closure is an ongoing thing, especially when it comes to a parent," said Edwards, 35. "Part of my altar was a box of my father's favorite cigars that he used to smoke. I tore them up. While I was doing it, I felt wrong, destroying something that he loved so much. But then I wished I had done it earlier and taken a stronger stance with him. In the end, I felt more vocal about smoking and how harmful it is. And I do feel like I have been visited by his spirit." Edwards presented her assemblage last year at the Vision Gallery and says she received passionate responses from smokers, non-smokers, physicians and other lung cancer victims. "I had a strong feeling about smoking, and, through my altar, I was able to relay it," she said. "As long as you respect the traditions of it, it is a way to honor someone or something you loved and express your thoughts and emotions on a personal level. Hopefully, that will get some dialogue going." The beauty of creating an ofrenda for Dia de los Muertosis that no two creations will be alike. Some will be small enough to fit inside a mint tin, while others may consume an entire living room wall. An ofrenda can be a heavy statement about society or a simple dedication to a loved one. Regardless, each represents the cycle of life, skeletons and all. MORE NOTES: In 2002, I had the pleasure of conducting a face-to-face interview with Steve Irwin while he was promoting his film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course. Until then, I had never watched his TV series. Five minutes into the conversation I knew I would start watching. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious enough to convert me into a card-carrying Crocodile Hunter fan, which is why I chose to create this Dia de los Muertos ofrenda in Irwin's honor. Here are basic elements of building one of your own. For more examples, a glossary, photos, crafts, recipes and features, visit dead.azcentral.com. Focal point: Whatever topic you choose for your altar, you will need a main piece to build around. It can be as simple as a photo in a frame or a large decorated art piece. I took a thin piece of wood, covered it in glitter and affixed a cutout of Irwin (and friend) to the center. I then hot-glued crepe paper around the edges and small plastic animals in the open areas. Marigold flowers: It's believed that the dead follow the scent of the marigolds back home. Call your local florist for cut flowers and greenery. I prefer to use live marigolds and then plant them after Dia de los Muertos is over - thus continuing the concept of celebrating the cycle of life. If you don't have access to real flowers, you can purchase silk versions from the craft store or make your own from colored tissue. Prayer candles: These tall glass candles can be embellished with photos, glitter, gems and charms. Sugar skulls: These are colorful treats made from special molds, granulated sugar, meringue powder and colored icing. The skulls represent death, while the sugar relays the sweetness of life. Food or drink: The spirits will be hungry and thirsty after their long journey, so set out their favorite thirst quencher or tempting treat. Miscellaneous: Add whatever other elements you'd like, such as colorful Mexican banners, papier-mâché skulls, more candles and photos, or personal items. Copal: (not pictured) This resin-like incense is us | |||||||||||||
If you are into handmade decorations, paper flowers are the way to go. Non-crafty types can even get into the spirit because it only involves simple accordion folding - a la kindergarten class. There are more elaborate, artistic ways to create paper flowers, but for starters this method is just right for adding a splash of vibrant color to a table centerpiece or place setting. 