Rather than focusing on spooky tricks and treats as we do on Halloween, Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is about honoring our dearly departed in a positive light. The tone of this traditional Mexican holiday is one of remembrance and love. It is also a pure, playful celebration of artistic expression.
Learn about the history of Día de los Muertos celebrations.
Handcrafted decorations go hand-in-hand with Day of the Dead celebrations. If you plan on celebrating with (and for) your family this year, gather inspiration from the simple Day of the Dead crafts below.
Create a Home Altar… and More
Special home altars are created to showcase the life of departed loved ones. Here is a fantastically crafty site, chock full of Día de los Muertos inspiration. Visit SpanglishBaby.com to learn how to make your own Day of the Dead Shoebox Altar, Popsicle Sticks Calaveras and DIY Ornaments.
Here’s another crafty article highlighting how to make Day of the Dead altars and shrines.
Personalized Sugar Skulls (Calaveras)
This is one Day of the Dead craft that you must try! Sugar skulls and skeletons are an integral part of this Mexican tradition. Follow along with this step-by-step guide to making your own brightly decorated sugar skulls; it’s a delightful recipe. Watch this video tutorial for DIY sugar skull face painting.
Sugar Skull Paper Rosettes
This video tutorial is a great project. Learn how to turn fun, themed scrapbooking paper into folded paper rosettes for a festive Day of the Dead decoration. You can also create miniature paper roses for your home altar.
There are so many artistic ways to celebrate Day of the Dead. These three crafty ideas are just the beginning to more festive fun!
Día de los Muertos is one of our favorite holidays here at Mexicali. It is a meaningful tradition worth celebrating, rich with culture, customs, food, and, of course, fun crafts. We hope you will join by making your own Day of the Dead crafts this year. And for authentic Mexican food and fun all year round, join us at Mexicali Fresh Mex Grill!