#gelliarts day of the dead banners

These are tissue paper.

I have been so inspired lately, I have about five things going at once. The last two days I have been cutting gelli prints on deli paper into day of the dead skulls. I have used tissue paper before but that is so fragile I thought that deli paper would be a perfect fit. It still looks fragile and will still move to represent the wind but very sturdy.

Here is a sneak peak of the altar, top row anyway. It has been a few years since I have done a Day of  the Dead altar. I've decided it is time for another.

We lost my dear mother in law Lola this year.  She will be the main subject. Isn't she beautiful? The top shelf is supposed to represent heaven and she herself supplied a lot of the religious items I've gathered. The St. Joseph statue for when we were moving and she gave me a lot rosaries over the years to use in my art.

The crosses are a tribute to all the catholic boys I've loved before. I guess...I'm not religious and that is the only excuse I can come up with.

Miss Firestarter is ready for the feast. (At least I think that is her name.) Her silk dress is so lovely but her hat is really shabby. Showing her years, poor dear.

Stay tuned for final reveal!

Sugar skull

I found this package from a marshmallow sugar skull I bought a few years ago in the basement.  Powered it with baby powder and used it as a push mold with paper mache.  It is kind of heavy, reminds me a little too much of bone.  I've been waiting for it to dry for days.

paper storage rack

Found this old fashion cloths dryer when junking last weekend!  I almost threw it away because it was so SMELLY!  I sprayed the hell out of it with Lysol and that only made it worse.  And, I almost gassed myself.   

Threw it outside for the night and then read on the Internet that you can seal in that awful smell.  

I let it set in the sun and dry for almost a week then my husband sealed it with Krylon Matt Sealer.  Worked great. I love having all my paper on display.  

   

I picked up a few easels to hold my Making Memories display trays.  Cool huh?

Dia de los Muertos

day of the dead

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

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

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!

Day of the Dead

I picked up this great greeting card (on the right) at the city market a few weeks ago. I enjoyed trying to mirror the image on the opposite page.

girls night out

I posted this page too soon. Now I think it is done.

girl's night out new orleans 2005

day of the dead