Dia de Los Muertos Figurine DIY

Hello lovely people of the internet, today starts one of my favorite weeks of the year…DIA DE LOS MUERTOS WEEK! I’ve got five days worth of crafts, home decor, recipes, and free printables. Seriously, between calaveras and churros, I’ll have something for everyone! Today’s project is this super fun Dia de Los Muertos Figurine DIY project that I’ve been wanting to make for ages.

Check back every day for a new Day of the Dead themed post and definitely come back on Friday for a super fun blog hop and giveaway co-hosted by the fabulous Kathy Cano-Murillo, otherwise known as Crafty Chica!

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Materials:

Step One. Gather supplies. I got my Manikin from ConsumerCrafts.com and even though they have the measurements clearly marked, was totally surprised by how large it was! The joints move easily and stay in place so that I can make my skeleton do all sorts of crazy poses. I decided to use chalky paint since it adheres to pretty much anything. I suggest giving the smooth wood a good sanding if you decide to go with another paint.

Step Two. Apply a couple layers of white over the entire body. This will be the white of the bones so make sure you’ve got some good coverage. After paint has dried completely, lightly pencil in the bone outlines. You can either follow my rudimentary drawings or go more complex and accurate. Paint around the bone shapes with a thin paintbrush and black paint. Take your time!

Step Three. Once the body has dried completely, you can pull out your colors and start having fun decorating the head! I’ve painted enough calaveras that I just kinda free-handed my designs but feel free to pencil in before applying the paint if it makes you more comfortable. Also, do a google search for “sugar skulls” if you need some design inspiration.

Embrace Imperfection

As with most things in life, this is one of those projects that looks just as great with a few imperfections and mistakes. I love how the black paint doesn’t cover completely in certain areas and how the skeletal structure is correct (which my 6 year old promptly pointed out to me.) This Dia de Los Muertos Figurine looks 100% handmade and fits in perfectly with all the other cultural items I’ve collected over the years. Hope you have fun making one of your own!

Want to join in the Dia de Los Muertos fun on Friday? Come sign up for the blog hop and giveaway! More details here: http://bit.ly/1NhY1A6