These past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of co-hosting an autumnal Instagram game called #HomeForTheFallidays, along with fifteen other lovely bloggers. I’ve really been enjoying seeing their creativity and ingenuity shine during each week’s fall-themed challenge. (And I admit that it makes me want to up my decor game!)
The great thing about #HomeForTheFallidays is that you don’t have to be a hostess to participate. Anyone with an Instagram account can get in on the fun!
Our theme for this week is Halloween crafts, so we thought we’d go one step further and make it a blog hop!
I was actually walking through the dollar store when I began thinking about what craft I’d make for the hop. Standing there, surrounded by bright, plastic pumpkin paraphernalia, I was struck by just how wasteful Halloween can be. So I decided to make my craft “green”: I bought nothing for it and I re-cycled materials I already had on hand!
The result is stylishly spooky, if I do say so myself!
Perhaps I should have begun this post by saying “¡Feliz Día de Muertos!” Granted, I’m still a few weeks ahead, but in Blogland I’m already several weeks late getting started on my Halloween decorating! But then again, Blogland is not like other places. Christmas arrives in August in Blogland. Halloween arrived sometime around Canada Day. 😉
Today I’m going to walk you through how to create your own eery Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) luminaries. They’re sure to lend a spooky touch to your front entrance! Día de Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday which takes place on November 1st. Families gather together to pray for the spiritual journey of of their loved ones who have died. One of the traditional sweet treats for Día de Muertos is “calaveritas de azúcar” or sugar skulls. My luminaries were inspired by the designs of these skulls.
Materials
- A large or medium tin can (labels and glue removed)
- A copy of my handy-dandy Día de Muertos skull printable! (I can’t take credit for the designs: my talented husband drew them!)
- A sharp, round nail
- A hammer
- Black spray paint (or a colour of your choice)
- Painter’s tape
Step One: Tape your chosen skull template onto the clean, dry can. Using the nail and hammer to make holes, trace the template. I recommend having someone hold the can firmly while you do this. Safety first!
Step Two: Once you have punched all the holes in your design, remove the template. It will look a little squashed-in, but that’s ok! Holding the can on a firm, flat work surface, lightly hammer the can from the inside to bend it back into shape.
Step Three: Tape around the inside top of the can and over the inside of the punched-out design (so that you don’t get any over-spray). Spray paint the outside of the can to your desired colour. Let it dry completely and apply a second layer.
And that’s it! These luminaries are a simple, “green”, and FREE alternative to the plastic Halloween decor you see in stores. If you were to purchase a can of spray paint for this project, the total cost would be around $10. A can will do way more than two luminaries, though, so you’ll have plenty left over for other projects!
Since this is a blog HOP, I encourage you to hop around to the other participants and check out their Halloween crafts!
1 – Flourish and Knot – Día de Muertos Luminaries
2 – Little bits of Home – Textured Jute Pumpkin
3 – Our House Now a Home – Boo Pumpkins
4 – Pocketful of Posies – Boo Sweater Pumpkins
5 – Lehman Lane – Scarecrows
6 – Beauteeful Living – Spooky Chandelier
7 – Oh the fun – Spider and Bats Wreath
8 – Shabby Grace Blog – Spooky Halloween Village
*****
This post was featured at The Huffington Post, Quick and Dirty Tips, Heart Handmade UK, Made in a Day, Merry Monday, Oh My Heartsie Girl, OhOh Blog, and Le blog friendstitch!
Here’s where I link up each week:
Mondays: Merry Monday, Monday Funday, Inspire Me Monday, Show & Tell, Lou Lou Girls
Tuesdays: Tell ’em Tuesday, Two Uses Tuesday, Together on Tuesdays, Tutorials & Tips, Tuesdays with a Twist, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Tickle My Tastebuds, Treasure Box Tuesday, Tasty Tuesdays
Wednesdays: Pin Worthy Wednesdays, Work it Wednesday, Wow Us Wednesday, Wake Up Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Whimsy Wednesday, Welcome Home Wednesdays
Thursdays: Think and Make Thursday, Handmade Hangout, Weekend Re-Treat, Favourite Things, Artsy Fartsy Link Party, What to Do Weekends, Friday Features (Thursday)
Friday: Fiesta Friday, Feathered Nest, Frugal Friday, Link Party Palooza, Friday Favourites
Saturday: Share it One More Time
Sunday: Nifty Thrifty Sunday, Silver Pennies, Sundays at Home, That DIY Party, Frugal Crafty Blog Hop, Share the Wealth Sunday, Food Stars
Monthly/Recurring: Great Blog Train, Sunday Brunch, Before and After
These are SO great! What a fun idea and very spooky!!!!
Thanks, Sara!
Hi Sarah! I LOVE how this project came out. So awesome that your husband drew those designs! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks, Tee! I’m glad you stopped by. Yes: my artistic husband makes up for my inability to draw anything.
What a cute idea Sara! They turned out perfectly! What a great way to get the whole family involved, I love that your husband designed the image! Thank you for sharing with us!
Cat
Thanks for stopping by, Cat! It’s great to have an artistic husband because everything I draw looks like a pig. Or a duck with four legs. Sadly, that’s a true story.
What a fun project! And I LOVE the fact that it is “green”, too! Now…where did I put that empty coffee can….?
Thanks, mom!
This is such a fun idea – I love that design!
Thanks: I owe the design entirely to my artistically-inclinded husband.
Sarah, these look awesome! Great idea to make a craft only using what you already have.
Thanks for stopping by, Tara!
Oh wow! This is one for the works!…I would totally do this! Love it.
Thanks, Jessica! They’re really simple and CHEAP to make. I mean: we’re bloggers – of course we have spray paint lying around! 🙂
Such a great idea! Love it! Amazed your hubby drew the design!
Thanks, Samantha!
I believe if you filled the can with water and then froze it, the punching process would be easier. Less dents too.
I imagine it would make fewer dents. Thanks for the tip!
Cute project and very eco-friendly. Love it!
I love how they turned out! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
This is amazing! I want to make some of these and line my walkway with them, so spooky!
Thanks, Emily!
Like these luminaries. I think my DYI’er teen gal will love making us some for the fall and Christmas events! Have a good weekend! Linda
You could definitely make some for fall or Christmas. I see a beautiful fall leaf pattern or snowflakes working really well. Thanks for stopping by!
These are so clever and cool! Stopping by to let you know you were my feature pick for the Halloween Spooktacular party! Sharing to day on social media! Have a great weekend!
Kim
What a great way to finish my week! Thanks so much for featuring them!
Great designs! I love the frugal craft and what a scary Halloween presentation 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Together on Tuesdays!!!!
Thanks for reading, Lisa. I think they’re a good blend of spooky and elegant.
Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop
Congratulations on having your luminaries featured in so may places, they are really nifty and I love that they are re-purposed. Hope you have a great week! Karren
Thanks, Karren! I always like to try to recycle items for decor… We can all do our “green” part. 🙂
Your husband is so talented! I love how your luminaries turned out 🙂
Thanks, Brittany!
I am a HUGE fan of giving recyclables another use and this is A.W.E.S.O.M.E!! Thanks for linking this up with us at the Welcome Home Wednesday Link Party =)
Thanks so much! I love it when we can recycle and DIY at the same time.
To prevent squishing the can, freeze water in it before making the nail holes. Works like a charm!
It’s a great DIY idea! The Muertos is looking pretty! Hope I got it and will make perfectly like yours for the next Christmas! Thanks, Sarah for sharing such a wonderful idea with us! 🙂
I had a really hard time getting the nail to penetrate cans (empty tomato cans). Is there a preferable can or type of nail (mine were sharp!). These are so pretty would love to be able to do!
Hi! If I did this again I’d probably just drill the holes instead of trying to puncture them with a nail.