7. Intricate Clay Sugar Skull Garlands
Celebrate the vibrant traditions of Dia de los Muertos and Halloween with a colorful, hand-carved clay sugar skull garland. Using lightweight air-dry clay, you can create a series of flat skull plaques that are light enough to string together and hang across your fireplace mantel, bookshelf, or doorway. This project is a wonderful way to play with intricate patterns, bright colors, and texture, resulting in a festive decoration you will cherish for years to come.
Roll out your clay and use a cookie cutter to stamp out uniform skull shapes. Once the basic shapes are cut, use clay sculpting tools, stamps, and even the tips of pens to press intricate floral, leaf, and geometric patterns into the surface of each skull. After the clay has dried completely, paint the recessed designs with bright acrylic paints like turquoise, marigold, and magenta, leaving the raised surfaces white for a striking contrast. String them together on a rustic jute twine with wooden beads for a bohemian, festive look.