Thursday, September 11, 2008

Day of the Dead cometh early!

Day of the Dead cometh early!

I had some fun yesterday playing again creating some funky colored skull beads. The more I learn about El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) the more captivated I am by the bright colors and imagery used, as well as it's message. Check out my fun creative process below:

lrgskullbeds

<--- Here's what the skull beads looked like before I colored them












skullbd1

There are many ways you cancolor these skull beads, I chose to use my Color Mists and was amazed at how well they took them.

skullbd2

I next used the heat gun to dry the Color Mists slightly before I moved on to my next step...

skullbd3

In this next step I sprinkled lightly with extra fine Crystal Glitter Dust (this glitter is extra fine and should be added while the piece is still slightly wet. It will stick to the wet paint without having to use any adhesives). *Optional you can mist slightly again and then dry once more with the heat gun (avoid using your fingers to move the bead around use a pencil or end of a paint brush until piece is dry).

skullbdfin2

Once I was all done coloring my beads I sealed them with PYM II

skullbdfin

Here's my finished beads! Hmm..now what do you do with them...I have lots of ideas running through my mind. Just for fun I couldn't resist making a wee Day of the Dead Fairy (check out my fairy tutorial to see how to make it substituting the bead used).

skullfairy

As for being really creative my friend Kris made some awesome neckwear using the colored skull beads. Only difference isn't a glitter queen like I am LOL

silkgrunge1

silkgrunge-003

Check back for more Day of the Dead projects and click the HERE to view more Day of the Dead and Halloween product and ideas.

Happy Creating!

13 comments:

  1. OMG, Aileen! Those are the CUTEST skulls I have ever seen in my whole life! I didn't even know I LIKED skulls!!! I really like what you did with them!!!!

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  2. You (and Kris) certainly are going to make a very festive Halloween with these skulls.

    Joanne

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  3. Your dry spell has indeed broken! I love these latest posts. That day of the dead fairy is just too cute. I think someone caught her in a jar and forgot to poke holes in the lid!

    Karen

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  4. Aileen,
    I full well expected to see angel wings on your fairy.
    Judy

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  5. Your skull fairy is adorable! And I love your CM'ed variety of skulls! I learned something new - I didn't realize the glitter would adhere to the Color Mists - I must try this!
    hugs,
    jackie

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  6. Painting beads, that's a neat idea! What are the beads made of?

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  7. Unbelievably cool! Painted skulls -- does it make me sound weird if I say that's just my kind of thing?!!! I love these and frankly, the dead fairy is my favorite... maybe I'm just a little bleak these days!

    You know, I always see your postings on our ATC group boards when I don't have time to click over and visit (though I have been here before!). I am so glad, as I've been looking down the rolls to comment here! I'll be back!

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  8. These are SOOO fabulous! I'll be linking to this project!

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  9. These are totally awesome Aileen!
    Thanks for sharing exactly how you colored them.
    Jen

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  10. What a transformation! This gives me lots of ideas for Halloween!

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  11. How cool are these!! Love them, so creative!

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  12. Love the beads! What a fun idea.

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