How to Make Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls {join me at the library!}

Hi Friends! This weekend marks the Mexican Day of the Dead. Every year at the library my friend, and librarian, Audrey does a wonderful program to remember and pay respect to our loved ones who have passed. If you are unfamiliar with the holiday check out the history of Day of the Dead on MexicanSugarSkull.com. They also have recipes for making royal icing and the sugar mixture as well as the mold that Audrey and I used to make these. I have helped Audrey control the mayhem on decorating night with the kids at the library but this year I asked if I could try the project from soup to nuts.  She showed me how to mix the sugar, mold the skulls and put them together. I think the most important tip was that you know the royal icing is ready when your mixer starts to smell like the motor is burning out LOL! So, without further ado I would like to introduce you my friend Audrey and show you how to make these sugar skulls yourself! Please note that the intro was filmed AFTER the class right before the library closed so if we look a little frazzled/tired, that is why:)

And here are some pics of the skulls that were left to dry at the library:

I know traditions from other cultures can seem odd to us but I think this is such a positive way to remember our loved ones who have passed, especially for children.  Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

They Call Me the Voodoo Woman…

Oh, yeah! I have the Koko Taylor song “Voodoo Woman” playing in my head right now! Today I have a Halloween/Day of the Dead/Voodoo Juju project going on.  But wait! First I want to let you know that everything at Lindsay’s Stamp stuff is 40% off today and tomorrow! No Tricks, only a treat for you…hey, even the voodoo woman’s gotta pay the bills LOL! OK, enough of that foolishness, this week I have been playing with one of the humblest of art supplies: Plaster of Paris. Lookie what I made:

I made a bunch of the skulls bones and fingers by pouring plaster of paris in Halloween ice-cube molds I got at the dollar tree. This would be great for Christmas ornaments too when the Christmas themed molds are out. Also you can use candy molds. I am helping the librarian with the Day of the Dead craft this week (She had made 50 real sugar skulls for the kids to decorate!) and I came up with this as an additional craft for the kids to make. Instead of sugar I used glitter from Papermart. The fingers and bones are for my Halloween home decor project. Here is how I did it:

What I think is fun is that you can give someone the finger this Halloween! Hardy-har-har…I can’t resist a good pun.

Other things to do with Plaster…

• DIY Sidewalk Chalk: Mix tempera paint or food coloring to the water before adding plaster and pour into molds or toilet paper tubes wrapped in plastic wrap for custom colorful sticks of chalk!
• DIY Chalk Paint: Mix one part plaster of paris to 2 parts latex paint for a beautiful opaque matt paint. Seal with a rub on wax for a satin finish.
• Faux Paper Mache: dip strips of gauze or newspaper in plaster of paris for a quick drying sculpture material!

I hope I gave you some fun ideas on using plaster of Paris. Let me know if you have any questions and til next time happy crafting!