Day of the Dead - Foiled Skull

 Day of the Dead - Foiled Skull

Good day, fellow crafters. It's Tamara once again, with a new post where I will be showcasing my latest card created using I Brake for Stamps and Blank Page Muse products! 

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a vibrant Mexican tradition that honors the lives of those who have passed away. Often mistaken for a spooky holiday like Halloween, it is actually a joyous celebration of life and remembrance. The holiday spans two days, with November 1st dedicated to deceased children (Día de los Angelitos) and November 2nd focused on adults. Families build colorful altars, called ofrendas, filled with photos, personal items, and offerings like sugar skulls, candles, and pan de muerto (a special sweet bread), inviting the spirits of their loved ones back for a visit. Marigold flowers, known as cempasúchil, play a central role, as their bright color and scent are believed to guide souls home. The iconic skeleton figure, La Catrina, also represents the equality of all in death, no matter one’s status in life. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Day of the Dead reflects a deep cultural connection between life, death, and family, emphasizing that death is not an end but part of the human journey.

To create this project, you will need the following: 

Blank Page Muse Sugar Skulls by Michelle Frae	Colored Paste (Colors optional)
1 piece of White cardstock	Blending Pads
1 piece of watercolor paper	Scissors
1 A2 White Card Base	Liquid Glue
Black ink - watercolor friendly	Stamping Platform
Watercolor Pallet	Foam Tape
Fine Tip Watercolor Brush	Heat Tool
Qucik Gel Glue Pen	White Embossing Powder
Various Colors of Foil (Brand/Type optional)	Anti-static Pad
Background stencil: Geometric Pattern	Watermark ink

Focal Image

• Place the watercolor sheet into the stamping tool and secure
• Position and secure the stamp into place
• Ink the stamp with black ink
• Stamp the image by applying even pressure
• Repeat as necessary for a clean image,
• Allow the ink to dry

• Dampen the colors to be used in the watercolor pallet with some water and allow it to become saturated with pigment
• Using the fine-tip watercolor brush, carefully color the focal image.
• Allow to dry completely
• KEY TIP: Be sure to keep the brush clean between each color change and do not over-saturate the brush to prevent the colors from running

Boosting the Color

• Using the Quick Gel glue pen, apply gel to areas where you will be applying foil following the manufacturer's directions
• KEY TIP: Stick to one area and one color at a time so that the foil does not adhere in unwanted locations
• Apply the foil gently over the gel and press it lightly.  If the gel is ready, then the foil will easily peel from the foil transfer and remain on the gel.
• Repeat this step for each of the foil colors to be added.

Background Panel

• Use white cardstock, colored paste (the color choices are optional), and a blending pad, apply the paste to the card until the desired hue is reached.
• Once the desired hue is reached be sure to allow the background panel to dry completely. This will prevent the paste from being smeared or removed accidentally in subsequent steps.

• Using a geometric patterned stencil, place it over the dried background panel
• Using a complementary colored paste to background panel paste, in this instance gold over blue,  blend the paste over the stencil until the desired hue is reached
• Carefully remove the stencil and allow the background to dry.
• KEY TIP: Always clean your tools after using them as a lot of brands of these pastes are meant to be permeate so they will stain the stencil if left to dry.

Sentiment

• Using white cardstock and colored paste, apply and blend the paste to the same hue as the background panel. Allow to dry completely.
• Using a stamp platform, align, ink, and stamp the sentiment with watermark ink.
• Apply the white embossing powder, remove excess, and then heat set with a heat tool

Assembly

• Trim the background panel to 4.25" x 5.5" using a paper trimmer
• Use liquid glue to adhere the background panel to the card base
• Apply foam tape or pop dots to the back of the focal image to add dimensions
• Remove the backing from the foam tape
• Repeat for the sentiment
• KEY TIP: Add some liquid glue onto the foam tape or before adhering into place. The liquid glue will allow a small opportunity for repositioning before the foam tape adheres to the background panel

The stamps I used can be found by following the links in the materials list or you can find them with a quick search on www.blankpagemuse.com. Visit our social media sites for more stamping fun!

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Day of the Dead Banner

Hello! I created a banner using two sugar skull stamps from Blank Page Muse in preparation for the Day of the Dead which is celebrated on November 1 to November 2. 

The Blank Page Muse stamps I used are:

• Sugar Skull Male Mustache Day of the Dead Art Rubber Stamp
  
• Sugar Skull Floral Flourish Day of the Dead Art Rubber Stamp
  

I prepped a black cardstock with an anti-static tool before stamping the image using an embossing ink. This step limits the amount of stray powder on the cardstock. 

I poured embossing powder to the inked panel. I am using different neon colored embossing powders. I brushed off any stray embossing powder using a dry paint brush.

Using a heat tool, I melted the embossing powder. I usually start with the heat gun pointed towards the back of the powdered image. This somehow prevents the powder from being blown off. After which, I melted the rest of the powder with the heat gun pointed directly on the powdered image. Make sure to move the heat gun frequently to prevent over melting the embossing powder. 

I wiped off the anti-static powder from the embossed panel with a dry cloth. I fussy cut the image leaving a small border around it. 

I added details to the embossed image with neon gel pens. 

I added gems to the eyes keeping the colors the same for a monochromatic look.

I temporarily adhered the skulls to a trim with a piece of tape. To make this permanent, use a glue gun to adhere the skulls to the trim.

You can create more skulls depending on how much you need to decorate your home. 

Find more inspiration by visiting the following blogs:

Visit our social media sites for more stamping fun!

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The Blank Page Muse- https://blankpagemuse.com/

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Please visit my blog, Maria Giselle's Creative Cuts, for more additional project details.

Have a blessed, brilliant and creative day!

Maria Giselle B.

Blank Page Muse and I Brake For Stamps is generously offering a 15% discount to their online store to YOU, my blog readers. Just use the code BPMMaria when you check out. Enjoy!

Sugar Skull Halloween

 Sugar Skull Halloween

Good day, fellow crafters. It's Tamara once again, with a new post where I am going to be showcasing my latest card created using I Brake for Stamps and Blank Page Muse products! 

Sugar skulls, known as "Calaveras de Azúcar" in Spanish, are a traditional part of Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations, particularly in Mexico. These colorful, decorative skulls are made from a sugar paste and are often adorned with vibrant icing, beads, and foil to create intricate designs. They hold a deep cultural significance, symbolizing the deceased and serving to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away.

Sugar Skulls Pattern Play

 Hello all,

Monique here, December is usually all Christmas themed crafts, but not this one.  

The Pattern Play theme for this month just asked for those skullies to be used. So I went with all happy and bright colors, it's just to brighten up a gloomy winter day :-)

Supply List:

Blank Page Muse stamps:

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls SL 52 by Michelle Frae Cummings

Cardstock in White, Yellow and Orange

Archival ink in Jet Black, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Mermaid Lagoon.

Distress ink in: Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry

Flower shaped rhinestones

double sided foam tape

For detailed instructions see video below:

here some more pictures

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day! I'd love to have you follow/subscribe on my YouTube channel

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Sugar Skulls Matchbox with Surprise!

 Hello, on the blog today with Blank Page Muse Stamps, a wonderful red rubber company with lots of awesome stamps! I decided to use the sugar skulls stamps in several creative ways this month, there are all kinds of images in this set allowing you to come up with all kinds of uses!

Supplies - 

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls stamp set

Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink

Tombow Markers in various colors

Ranger Archival Ink in various colors

Matchbox

Black Paint

Red Glitter

White glue

First of all, paint the matchbox with the black acrylic paint and let dry. As the box dries, stamp out the flowers (2 small and 1 large) from the Day of the Dead set in various colors of ink, stamp the sugar skill with black ink and then color with the markers. Stamp the heart icon and color with the markers. After coloring all of the images, fussy cut them out.

Next, glue the flowers to the top front of the matchbox and then using foam tape add the skull slightly below the flowers, so there is a ring of flowers around the skull, set aside. 

Now using foam tape, build up the back of the heart icon, set it aside. 

Now, add some glue to the bottom left corner and add lots of red glitter to the inside of the box. Tap excess glitter out of the box, then add the heart icon to the box.

Here is the finished project! 

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Mini Nicho Boxes

Mini Nicho Boxes!

What is a Nicho box? You might be asking yourself, to keep it simple they are like a shadow box. Often used for Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican religious holiday that is celebrated November 1 and 2.

Items used:

Imagination

Scissors

Alcohol markers 

ink- Palette, hybrid acid free

Sharpie marker

Card stock

Acrylic paint

Cardboard tubes (like toilet paper rolls work great)

Rubber Stamps used Day of the Dead Sugar Skull set by Donna Gray

Cut the carboard tubes into your desired shape. I cut little window like shapes into mine to slip the stamped paper inside. Paint and decorate anyway you want. I stamped the outsides of my tubes with the marigold flowers and scared heart stamps. As you can see in the picture I'm a messy crafter. 

♥ So have fun and don't forget to share your creations with us!

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Sugar Skull Poinsettia Snowman

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Glitter is everywhere. Take a look at my studio, glistening, with Blank Page Muse, Red & Green, and Copics! Ok, maybe I do need to just stick with creating art. I am so excited to be here today and apart of the Ornament Showcase featuring Blank Page Muse Stamps. 

I would like you to meet the newest ornament for my tree... My Sugar Skull Poinsettia Snowman! 

I started with wood pieces that I bought a few years ago... you know, those things you just have to have and then they sit in the "one day I will use them" bin. I painted them with White Liquitex Paint and then a slight glossing with ColourArte Primary Elements in my favorite color: Dragonfly Wing. 

Now, time to stamp and color. Use a Sugar Skull from the Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls Marigold Flowers Scared Heart Stamp Set and the Poinsettia from the Classic Christmas Art Set. Stamp the images in Memento, Tuxedo Black Ink and then colored with my Copic Markers and Atyou Spica Markers. 

I had so much fun curled up in front of the fire coloring. 

Once everything is colored, fussy cut out the images.
I hand drew the hat, colored, and cut out as well.
Next start to put the Sugar Skull Snowman together. Cut apart one Poinsettia and use pop dots to add a little dimension to the Snowman's hat. 

Here is a close up of the Poinsettias at the base of the snowman. You can see how beautiful the sparkle is from the Atyou Spica markers. 

I really love this Poinsettia Stamp and so enjoyed coloring them. 

Using my drill, I drilled holes into the sides for the arms to stick in and a hole in the top for a hook to be able to hang it. You can see the support chipboard pieces I used and the hook at the top. 

So my snowman had her own little photo shoot around my home amongst all the Christmas decorations.

I hope you are feeling a little more festive and inspired. ...and don't forget to keep coming back to see all the amazing ornaments and Christmas inspiration the Blank Page Muse Design Team has for you this holiday season. 

Until next time... Happy Creating! 

XOXO, Christine 

Scrapbooking Techniques

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