Dia de los Muertos

day of the dead

Added some real flowers and a mexican coke to the altar today.

Summer fun

Did this background using cloth medical tape and golden paints while watching Paula. Love it. Added some pictures and tickets from this summer. Also used some rub ons that are meant for decor. Really nice watercolor look.

haul

I got all this stuff at the local freight store. Can't wait to play with the tape. Two bucks! The cutouts are k and company!

Check out the shell fan on the second shelf. It is so cool. Found it at a sale a few weeks ago. Hand made. Cork back.

Pine cone wreath

I finally did this project. We collected the pine cones out of a very generous stranger's yard a few years ago. He was more than happy to donate to my project. I love the way it turned out. Really enjoy using nature in my art.

Dia de los Muertos

Ms Firestarter

Really enjoyed making this art doll this weekend. Friday night, I took a dollar store skeleton and wired it to a metal base. I had already distressed the skeleton for my Halloween display. I found some velvet I had embossed from a previous project in my fabric stash. On Saturday morning ran to the thrift store and I found a 100% silk tank top for only $1.99. Back at home I found a feather boa that matched the silk. It took me only about ten minutes to fashion her skirt. The next four hours were spent on the simple looking shaw. The piece was perfect already. All I had to do was line it with the silk. Well needless to say my machine made that nearly impossible. Off to bed. Next day I made her hat out of a chocolate mold and more scraps of fabric. My glue soaked through the fabric and really messed up both fabrics. Rather that recover them. Which would have been easy enough at that point. I left it. Made it look tattered. And, after all Ms. Firestarter has been dead for a very long time. Had to vacuum after attaching the feathers. Spent the next couple days beading her rosary and covered a button with velvet for her skirt. Don't you just love her purse?

day of the dead tissue cutouts

Printed off this free pattern from the internet. Made a sandwich with four sheets of tissue paper with the pattern on the outside. Easy to cut out. And really added something to the altar. It moves so encourages the spirits to move on and not get stuck at this altar. Or so I've read...

Sugar skull

Here is a close up on the sugar skull. Sure hope I have sealed it well enough with white glue and glitter for it to last. It is actually made of marshmellow from Wal Mart. I picked it up after Halloween for half price $2.50. The packaging was what I was after! A perfect mold for future projects. Not a bad price compared to the Wilton cake pan I was coveting $34.50. Even at half price that was too much for me and I liked this guys' face better.

Dia de los Muertos

Here is a close up shot of the photos. Love this tradition. It is said to be an insult to your dead to approach the altar with grief.

Dia de los Muertos

Finished the skull, so have been working on the altar. Going to add a few finishing touches but have all the elements so far. Earth-plant Wind-bliss art doll Water-in pink vase fire-candle.

Also included salt and chocolate. Need to do some paper cutouts and maybe a few other things.

This project was really fun and honors my dead. Cora Winch my mother's grandmother, Glenice Jackson my mother and Nita Lou Roberts, my mother's sister and my aunt.

Sugar skull

I finally finished this today. Love it! Even the dog has glitter on him.

Craft storage

Love the new shelf! Holds so much STUFF! Need to find one more small ball jar to balance out my collection. Who knew the pints are rare?

Sugar skull

Glad to hear that some places celebrate the Day of the Dead all month. It may take me all month to finish my altar. Love it so far.

The sharpies are a peace offering. Can't wait to do some sharpie tie dye!