Day of the Dead cards

I know it's been awhile, but these are busy times. 4 more major shows to go this year! Gotta start cranking out. This is the time when you forget that your doing this because you LOVE it. Gotta remember that! Anyways, i've been working on a lot of metal embossed Day of the Dead cards and thought I share a little.

First I embossed the tin and and then embedded the images. For some of the cards, i used the Crafty Chica Mojito paper images. For the others, I got a sheet of white DCWV glitter paper (from Michaels), cut out skull shapes, and then drew on the plain white glitter paper with colored Sharpies. It's that easy;  glitter paper and sharpies of all colors. Now time to mount them onto cards!




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Shrines made from boats!! That's right, boats!!

Lately, for some reason everything I see looks like a shrine. Maybe it's because i've been gearing up for a Day of the Dead show or maybe i'm just crazy. Anyways, i've decided that boats, you know, the ones that look like they've been cut in half, make great shrines.



I found these at Dollar Tree. The frame had a little anchor on the bottom corner. (I already pried that little baby off with a screw driver).



I sanded it, painted it black, embossed some tin and then glued it on. Decorate the photo insert (here I used Crafty Chica loteria cards) or just insert a photo and your done!



This next one is a boat frame I found at Hobby Lobby for about $6. It's pretty big and it even has a drawer!

I just painted it and then added my shrine fixins'.


Don't you just love Day of the Dead!!!
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Tacky Boa Dollar Tree Frames

I found these (tacky) frames at Dollar Tree and had to have them.  Only $1.   OOOHH, the possibilities.   I got them home and wondered what the heck I was thinking.   

I spiced them up a little and am pretty happy with the result.   (Now i'm wishing I had bought more!!)   First, I embossed a metal frame and glued it to the original frame.  Then I removed the insert for the picture, painted directly on it and added a Crafty Chica Loteria image to it.   Voila, i'm done.   

I only have about 6 more of these so I think my next step will be trying to make my own.  Try cutting up a boa and gluing it onto the outside edge of a regular, painted frame.  Another idea is to glue Mardi Gras beads around the edge.   Also, rather than embossing metal for the frame, decorate the frame any way you like and add a mirror instead.   OOOHHH, the possibilities!!

Let me know if you make anything using this technique.  I would love to post photos on this blog.

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Simple Shrine Frame Tutorial

This is a simple way to make a shrine out of recycled materials.  You simply take a box of some sort, cut a CD or other round object in half and then screw it on the top.   I love recycling!!!   Clean up the environment and save $.   How can you lose?   Besides, they look amazing!!   This tutorial is for the basic shrine shape.    What you do with it is up to you.   I will post a few tutorials on how to make shrine elements out of polymer clay, including skeletons, so stay tuned!  

What you will need:

• a box of some sort  (I usually use hinged wooden boxes that I take apart.  This way you have two!!).   Make sure the box has some sort of lip on it.
• CD, jar lid, or other round (found) object that will serve as the top of your shrine
  
• tin snips
• ruler
• Sharpie
• drill and drill bit (I use a 1/16" drill bit)
• tiny screws (the size that usually comes with saw tooth picture hangers)

Step 1:   Aha, another victim!!  Choose your box and disassemble if necessary.  Remember to make sure that you choose a box with a lip on it; this is where you will be attaching your lid.   

Step 2:  Choose a round object that will become the top of your shrine.   Choose a CD, jar lid or other object.   You will be cutting this object in half, so make sure that the size of your round object, when cut in half, is smaller than the width of the top of your box.   Take your sharpie and ruler and draw a line through the middle of your round object.

Step 3:   Using your tin snips, cut the object in half.

Step 4:   Position the half of the lid (or CD) onto the top of your box, and taking your drill, drill a hole through both objects (the lid and the box).

Step 5:  Screw the lid to the box.   I attached this one after I applied the glitter.   Usually I attach it before decorating, this way the screws won't show.

Step 6:   Decorate your shrine and enjoy!!   Note:   I used Crafty Chica glitters on this one!!   (Available online at Amazon or at Select Michael's stores).   (Sorry I can't post the link, still working on that one).   Amazing colors!!

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Funky, five minute, flower pin tutorial

This is a super fast way to make fabulous, colorful pins.    (Or use these little beauties to embellish your other creations!!) 

What you will need:

• silk flowers of various colors, shapes and sizes  
  
• jumbo brads, 1" across (available at scrapbooking stores)
• 1" round piece of chipboard
• pin back
• jewelry glue (E-6000 or clear liquid nails)
• ephemera to decorate the front of the pin (bottlecaps, 1" images, broken jewelry, charms, small skulls or hearts)

Step 1:  Disassemble the silk flowers  (you will need flowers that have a hole in the middle when taken apart;  if there is no hole, you will need to make one using an 1/8" hole punch or a craft knife)

Step 2: Layer the flower pieces by placing them on top of each other.   I usually use four or five layers of different shapes and different color flowers.  

Step 3:  Thread your brad through the flower layers.  (Remember, your flowers each have a hole in the middle of them).  Line up the holes and thread the brad through.  

Step 4:   Using jewelry glue, glue your 1" piece of chipboard (or flat object of similar size) to the back of your pin.  The chipboard piece should be centered and cover the prongs of the brad.   (Here, I used a flat alphabet tin as the backing).

Step 5:  Embellish the front of your pin.  You can do this in several ways.  

• Decopauge an image directly onto the top of the brad
• Glue a bottle cap onto the top of the brad and then decorate the inside of the bottlecap
• Glue bits of jewelry or charms onto the top of the brad
• I make little polymer clay skulls that I like to glue onto the top of the bradDon't forget to use glitter glue to give the flower petals a little sparkle!

Step 6:  Using jewelry glue, glue the pin back onto the back of the pin. 

Enjoy!!

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