Home » 5 Ways to make a sugar skull centerpiece

5 Ways to make a sugar skull centerpiece

Here are five ways to make a sugar skull centerpiece, you’ll love this Day of the Dead craft.

Dia de los Muertos is a little over a month away, and that means it’s time to break out the colorful decorations. While everyone else spends more than $9.1 billion on Oct 31 festivities, those of us who celebrate Dia de Los Muertos love to make our own decorations.

(And those who celebrate both!) It not only saves money but also looks great!

Dia de Los Muertos

This is a 3,000 year-old tradition from Mexico where we honor our loved ones who have passed on. The overall spirit is celebrating the cycle of life. An ofrenda is set up in the home or graveyard and lined with fresh marigolds, sugar skulls, copal and small items representing the soul who passed.

You can read more about Dia de Los Muertos here!

Elements of a Dia de Muertos Ofrenda

How to make sugar skulls + Icing

The Meaning of Marigolds for Dia de Los Muertos + Free Printable

Day of the Dead crafts play a big part in honoring the cycle of life. In Mexico, there are flowers strung together, handcut papel picado banners, decorated candles for the ofrenda and so much more!

Sugar Skull centerpieces are a MUST! 

Whether you are into making a glamorous vision statement or something small and minimal, here are five Day of the Dead craft ideas to spark your inspiration. 

Jumbo Floral Skull with silk flowers

This floral skull centerpiece acts as both a vase and a decor focal point that you can easily customize with your favorite autumn flowers. You can use it for party decor or even as the centerpiece of an ofrenda.

Check your local pottery place or Mexican import shop for a skull planter that you can paint. Fill it wil silk marigolds set in foam.

Fresh Flower Sugar Skull Centerpiece

 

What You’ll Need

  • Life-size model skull
  • A wet floral foam block
  • Pruning shears
  • Knife
  • Large resealable plastic bag
  • Medium bowl of tepid water
  • Variety of fresh flowers

What You’ll Do

  1. Skull Surgery: You’ll start this project by playing surgeon on your model skull. If your skull is built with a removable calvarium, the top part of the skull that would cover the brain, then you can simply take that off. If not, use your knife to cut the top of the skull off, starting about one inch above the eyes.
  2. Foam Fitting: Cut a square block out of your floral foam and fit it inside the skull. Slice off corners and edges with your knife so that it fits snugly in the skull. Press down on the foam so that it goes as deep as possible. You can slice off extra foam, but you want at least half an inch of it to stick out of the top of the skull.
  3. Soaking The Foam: Once you’re satisfied with the foam’s fit, remove it from the skull and submerge it in the bowl of water. Let it absorb water for a few minutes. Meanwhile, fit your resealable plastic bag over the skull. The bag will prevent water from leaking through the skull and allow you to water the flowers once they’re in the centerpiece. Set the wet foam back in the skull and trim the excess plastic lining so that it doesn’t hang past the opening on the top.
  4. Flower Arrangement: You’ll want your floral arrangement to be an assortment of large and small blooms, twigs, and various greenery. To keep with the autumnal look, use seasonal flowers in oranges and reds, such as celosia, goldenrod, and helenium. Trim the stems at an angle to maximize water absorption. As wet foam doesn’t spring back to its original shape, you won’t be able to remove a stem once you insert it. Start with the leafiest, largest flowers to set a framework. Insert the stems upright and approximately three-fourths of the way down. Keep going with the arrangement as you like, making sure to add foliage around the edge to hide the foam. Save tall green stalks and slender stems last as fillers.

Now you have a beautiful showpiece for Dia de los Muertos! These centerpieces also work well for fall and Halloween events. You could even use it for a wedding! October is the second most popular month to get married, with 14% of couples doing so.

Here are some Muertos wedding ideas from The Knot!

Day of the Dead Craft: Reverse Glass Painting

You can use this method on larger frames and set them in the middle of a table or smaller ones grouped together.

Day of the dead craft

Day of the Dead Centerpiece: Lantern Shrine

This is a beautiful statement piece that is easy to assemble. Find a glass lantern and fill with flowers and small muertos figurines. you can find these at a Mexican import store or even at the dollar store!

Day of the Dead Centerpiece

 

Calaveras de los Muertos Centerpieces

This is such a great idea to decorate and stack these skulls! You can customize them even more! I can see these bookending a dessert table…

YouTube video

Whipped Clay Prayer Candles

This is a project from my book, The Crafty Chica Creates! You use faux icing to cover a prayer candle, check out  my post for the tutorial!

whipped clay prayer candles

And here is my TikTok on these whipped prayer candles!

@craftychica

Whipped clay candles!#LearnOnTikTok #decoden #prayercandle #diademuertos #ofrenda #latinxcreator

♬ Life Goes On – Oliver Tree

No matter how you use it, make sure to have fun with your centerpiece, and let your sugar skull side shine! I hope you liked these Day of the Dead craft ideas!

DIY Halloween Llama Costume Tutorial #Boxtume

Trunk or Treat Idea: Graveyard Scene!

Tags

1 thought on “5 Ways to make a sugar skull centerpiece”

Leave a Comment

Related Posts