skull1 2085

Create a beautiful calavera (skull, in English) to celebrate Mexico’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Traditionally, skulls are created out of sugar or clay, elaborately decorated and placed on an altar to honor loved ones who have passed away. This art project is made with felt. Celebrate Día de los Muertos Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

Discussion Points for Teachers/Parents

  • Talk about family celebrations and traditions.
  • Decorative calaveras are a reminder to celebrate life. How do you celebrate life and people you love?
  • Learn the Spanish words for skull (calavera), Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), family (familia) and love (amor).
  • Discuss symmetry, pattern and color.

skull2 2085

Supplies

  • 9”x12” piece of white felt
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Felt scraps in variety of colors
  • White glue (Tacky Glue works best) or a glue gun (adult use)
  • Embellishments such as silk flowers, sequins, beads, buttons, feathers, ribbon and bits of lace

skull3 2085

Directions

  1. In pencil, draw a skull shape onto the white felt and cut it out. Tip: Trace around a glass then add a rectangle at the bottom for the jaw.
  2. Cut circles for eyes using colored felt scraps. Layer 2-3 circles for each eye (reduced in size) for interest (see photo).
  3. Cut out a nose and again, layer 2-3 shapes to make the piece more colorful and interesting. Tip: Start with a heart shape and place it upside down in the center of the face.
  4. For the mouth, cut several small white rectangle teeth and glue onto a black oval felt piece. Cut a slightly larger oval in a bright color and glue the mouth on top. Attach the entire piece to the skull.
  5. Decorate the skull as you wish using embellishments and felt scraps. Tip: Laying out all the pieces before gluing allows you to move things around. Glue embellishments down once you’ve chosen your design.


Other Ideas

  1. Make the skull a stuffed decoration by cutting two skulls out of white felt. Decorate the first skull and allow glue to dry. Run a bead of Tacky Glue around the inside perimeter of the second skull leaving the bottom open. Press the two skulls together. Let dry completely. Stuff with small scraps of felt or fiberfill and glue the bottom closed.
  2. Adapt this to a sewing project by stitching on the felt pieces and embellishments and stitching two skulls together if you choose to stuff it. Enhance with embroidery stitches, if you wish.
  3. Have each person in the family make a skull and create a hanging banner decoration.

Alyssa Navapanich is an art enthusiast who teaches art to elementary school kids in North County. Photos courtesy of Alyssa Navapanich.

DIY Christmas Advent Calendars

DIY Christmas Advent Calendars

      Everyone loves advent calendars that reveal a daily surprise—it's also really fun to make them! Start your own family traditions in the days leading up to Christmas (or any cel . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Christmas Village Putz Houses 

Art with Alyssa: Christmas Village Putz Houses 

Get the whole family involved in creating vintage Christmas village houses using cardboard, glitter and a whole lot of creativity!  Vintage putz (or glitter houses) originated in Europe in the . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Poinsettia Yarn Painting

Art with Alyssa: Poinsettia Yarn Painting

Create a yarn painting featuring the season's favorite festive flower, the poinsettia. Find books about poinsettias at your local library to learn more about them. Did you know? Poinsettias are nat . . .

Read more

Twig Christmas Tree Decorations

Twig Christmas Tree Decorations

This is a fun Christmas craft for families that offers plenty of room for imagination and creativity! Use mini strands of tinsel to make glittery trees or twine for a more rustic look. Smaller trees . . .

Read more

Crayon Holder Craft for the Kids Holiday Table

Crayon Holder Craft for the Kids Holiday Table

These crayon holders are perfect for the kids’ table for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any winter-themed party or gathering. The kids can decorate the crayon holders first (two free, printable pic . . .

Read more

How to Make Candy Land Yard Decorations

How to Make Candy Land Yard Decorations

These pop art candy decorations were made to create an amazing Candy Land-themed house in Clairemont Mesa (San Diego). They’re inexpensive to make and have multiple uses as they can also be used a . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: DIY Menorah Craft

Art with Alyssa: DIY Menorah Craft

Get the kids involved in decorating for Hanukkah by designing a menorah with wooden blocks. Discussion Points for Parents/Teachers Talk about Hanukkah family traditions. Talk about the symbols . . .

Read more

Hanukkah Countdown Calendar

Hanukkah Countdown Calendar

Count down to Hanukkah with this fun and easy craft—a menorah made with paper towel tubes and a few decorative supplies. Put a toy into eight of the tube “candles” to be unwrapped each night. . . .

Read more

Hanukkah Place Card Holders

Hanukkah Place Card Holders

These happy Hanukkah bags serve as place card (or utensil) holders for the holiday table and make festive party favors!Supplies Small, flat brown (or white) paper bagsScraps of blue, white, silver p . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Dreidel Garland

Art with Alyssa: Dreidel Garland

Get the kids involved in decorating for Hanukkah by making this festive dreidel garland by local art teacher, Alyssa Navapanich. There is lots of room for creativity using just a few art supplies. F . . .

Read more

Marshmallow Snowman Card

Marshmallow Snowman Card

Kids can create great winter greeting cards while they enjoy a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Just put out some paint, colored paper and a few extra marshmallows for stamping! Su . . .

Read more

Art with Alyssa: Make Beautiful Snowflakes

Art with Alyssa: Make Beautiful Snowflakes

This winter, gather the kids to make beautiful, colorful snowflakes using coffee filters and water-soluble markers. This craft project promotes creativity and a sense of intrigue as kids wait to see . . .

Read more

Sock Snowman Craft

Sock Snowman Craft

This cute sock snowman craft is easy enough to make with the kids from items you probably have on hand at home. Thank you to Deborah at Super Moms 360 for sharing her project with us.Supplies 1 l . . .

Read more

Make and Send a Hug to Loved Ones

Make and Send a Hug to Loved Ones

Don’t you miss hugging people? Here’s a clever DIY hug craft that lets loved ones know they are missed! Whether it’s Mother's Day, Father’s Day, Teacher Appreciation, a birthday or some othe . . .

Read more

Be Family Informed – Sign up for our Newsletters below!

Subscribe