411. Ornamental Skull III

HAPPY SKULL APPRECIATION DAY! In honor of the FACE OFF: Skull-A-Day vs Street Anatomy exhibition that opened this past weekend in Chicago I created a brand new Ornamental Skull using the template we provided for artists...

You can see my original Ornamental Skull HERE and the follow-up one I created for Kenneth Cole HERE.

X-Mas Skull Ornament

Past contributor Ronn Campbell in Kennewick, WA told us: "Here is a present I made for myself- Have a skully, skully Christmas."

Unorthodox C says:

As the weather around here may keep me inside for a limited time maybe this is a good weekend to pack away some Yuletide. This piece however should be considered for a "nevergreen tree"- you know those artificial ones that just too big to store so you keep it up all year and just remove the specific Christmas theme ornaments so it doesn't look so weird. Thank you for sharing your lasted work with us we always appreciate seeing what our old friends are creating new.

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Set of Skull Ornaments

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, December 26th to enter our latest giveaway contest for a set of 2 Skull Ornaments from Laura Bartholomew. You can find the original contest posts here or by clicking the side bar ad.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+]

Of course, Laura's beautiful Dia de los Muertos wood and porcelain glass ornaments are available for purchase in her Etsy shop ARTholomew. Also, she's offering a 10% discount on all purchases if you enter SKULL10 at check out!

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Set of Skull Ornaments

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, December 26th to enter our latest giveaway contest for a set of 2 Skull Ornaments from Laura Bartholomew. You can find the original contest posts here or by clicking the side bar ad.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+]

Of course, Laura's beautiful Dia de los Muertos wood and porcelain glass ornaments are available for purchase in her Etsy shop ARTholomew. Also, she's offering a 10% discount on all purchases if you enter SKULL10 at check out!

[CONTEST] Win a Set of Skull Ornaments

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Laura Bartholomew is an artist and designer specializing in Day of the Dead inspired artwork. She works primarily in pyrography (wood burning) and acrylic paint. Laura's work can be seen on her website, Facebook page, and in her Etsy shop ARTholomew. Since it is the Winter holidays season, Laura is giving away a set of two ornaments, one wood burned star and one porcelain glass painted ball, to one lucky Skull-A-Day fan!

PRIZE INFO: One set of two ornaments...one painted porcelain glass ball, and one wood burned and stained star.

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment below telling us how you decorate for any Winter holiday. For example, I decorate my front porch with many decorative Winter things, but the inside of my home just gets stockings and small ornaments on the mantle.

CONTACT INFO: If you win, we need to contact you. With your comment, please include your email, or make sure your Blogger profile has a working email link for you on it. Entries are only valid with this information.

WHERE TO ENTER: All entries must be made on this blog post, on Skull-A-Day.com. You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

CONTEST CLOSES: 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, December 26th.

NUMBER OF WINNERS: One

PRIZE SHIPS: This contest is open to all skull lovers around the world.

IF YOU DON'T WIN: Head on over to Laura's Etsy Shop, ARTholomew. She has many ornaments and other pieces of artwork in there. Also, she's offering a 10% discount on all purchases if you enter SKULL10 at check out!

Super Pyrography & Painted Skull Saturday

Wood burning is a craft that Laura Bartholomew of Denver, CO has her artful hands around. From "skellebrities" to friends to ornaments Laura is back again bringing these skulls back to life on a dead piece of wood.

Laura has been around Skull-A-Day since 2.0 (here, here, and here) and her skills are only getting better. Be sure to check out her site for loads more burned and painted skulls. My favorites are the portraits. Thanks again for the great submission, Laura!

Happy Belated Merry Holiday Skulls (Is this a first?)

That's right. You had to know that with all of the great submissions we get, some don't get posted quite around the time we receive them. So knowing that I now have the pleasure of reminiscing with a couple of festive holiday skulls to share with you.

These happy skulls were spreading holiday cheer in Croatia when Lindvall Mario made these decorations that were donations for an abandoned children benefit.



And Emily Kalatzis agrees to the fullest when she asked us, "Merry...Halloween? Who says we can't bring a few skulls into the holiday season?" True dat, Emily! Who says so? Nobody, that's who!



Thanks for helping us bring a jolly end to our weekend with your skulls. Remember everybody, there's only 331 days until next Christmas to make your friends and family hand made gifts from the heart. Make the most of them!

P.S.- If you have any St. Patrick's Day skulls you want to send us then you may want to do that soon. No rush, but I'm just sayin'......

Dia de la Abby #67: Embroidered Skull Ornament

Since it's the season for holiday celebrations, this is the perfect time to make a skull ornament.

I've wanted to do a hand embroidered skull for a while, but since I've been doing embroidery since I was a young child, I wanted a challenge. I choose to make this embroidered skull through layers of bridal tulle and stiffen it with a simple glue mixture. This was so the skull would be delicate looking, but sturdy. This is meant to be a holiday ornament, but could be framed or used as an applique. This thankfully wasn't too challenging, so I am able to provide you all with a tutorial.


Every other Thursday in the 5.0 year, I will post my own Dia de la Abby creations   Every Thursday in the 4.0 year, I posted my Dia de la Abby creations and occasionally tutorials with instructions on how I made my pieces. Hopefully you feel inspired by my posts just as I was by Noah's Skull-A-Day 1.0 daily project. Need more of me than just a weekly dose, follow me on  Facebook, Google+ and/or Twitter.

Happy Skullidays!

No matter where you are, how you celebrate, or even if you don't, let Skull-A-Day and Funboy Artworks wish you a...

HAPPY SKULLIDAYS!!

A Skulliday message from Tatman:
I'm a big fan of the Skullidays this time of year. It's wonderful how so many people can find the right attitude to help out their fellow humans. Families everywhere prepare to spend time with one another even when they live very far apart. A wonderful sense of good spirit fills most everyone who wishes to accept it. Well, everyone, what's wrong with having that same feeling everyday? It doesn't need to stop just because the Skullidays are over. If we all make a concious choice to be the a part of the answer instead of the problem then maybe we can all enjoy these wonderful feelings year round. Try it. I'm willing to bet that you'll feel better...everyday! (Especially June 4th)

Skulliday Ornaments

Dan from See Dan Paint sent us one of his creations to get us in the spirit. He said: “...perfect for the holidays or anytime of the year.”


Melissa Beramendi, from Calico, CA sent us this Christmas Tree ornament made of dough.


Weihnachtsmann C says:

Christmas Eve is never too late to put out your decorations, just a couple of last minute decorating idea to inspire our last minute readers done in an East Coast/West Coast style. Dan and Melissa, thank you for your submissions and your willingness to share your work with our readers. Thank you for reminding us of the uniqueness of one-of-a-kind handmade ornaments and how much better they are than the mass produced factory ones. The North Pole is a little colder today because of your efforts.

I am sure I won't be the last to say it, but Happy Skullidays to each and everyone of you.

Skull Ornaments

Emily S. Yates "wanted to share with you my newest contribution to The Mütter Museum Store and Mütter Day of the Dead celebration (10/30/10). While recently working in my studio space at The Clay Studio, I've been developing small works of a decorative nature, influenced by both the holiday season & my macabre surroundings at The Mütter Museum - mainly ceramic skull ornaments. These colorful & flowery ornaments are reminiscent of sugar skulls used in the celebration Day of the Dead."

I saved these until now to share, as I though they would also make pretty winter holiday ornaments. I like the stylized skull shapes. The use of additional clay details and impression details is neat. They add texture and interest. The different colored glazes are used beautifully to accentuate those details. These pieces are available for purchase through Emily's shop, Ma'amamics.

[Flashback Friday TOP 10] 192. Ornament(al) Skull

Flashback Friday is a weekly countdown of the fan selected top 52 skulls of Skull-A-Day 1.0. Each week I'll be posting an original skull along with some additional commentary in order from lowest to highest rated, with the #1 skull appearing in the last week of year 3 of the project...

#10: 192. Ornament(al) Skull

I had no idea when I was making this one how popular it would be. In fact this image was actually used without my permission and sold on T-shirts at a major retailer! Luckily a fan in Texas discovered the shirt and with his help and the help of my lawyer I was able to resolve the situation positively. I displayed the documents related to the case at my exhibition After Life and you can spot a bit of bootleg shirt in this photo.

Tuesdays With Tatman #27

'Tis the season to make skulls
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Making them is never dull
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Trim the tree with adornments
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Let Tatman bring you a "skornament"
Fa la la la la, la la la la


Merry Skullmas to all, and to all a good night.

**P.S.- If any readers are interested in ordering a "Skornament" then please leave a comment and let me know. If there is enough interest then I'll start making them soon.

Each Tuesday in the 3.0 year will bring a new Tuesday With Tatman. As a tribute to the Skull Master's astounding feat let's all get creative and try something new(and hopefully skull related).

Send To Phone

Skull Ornaments

Jessica from Oaklahoma said: “I created these ornaments in honor of Day of the Dead. They were made by stamping acrylic paint onto fabric using foam stamps that I carved myself. The skulls were then decorated and embellished with beads, glitter paint, fibers and ribbon.”



Rhinestone C says:

I really enjoyed seeing your work. Besides their intended resemblance, I am also reminded of the Mummers of Philadelphia. I don't recall ever seeing any Skull brigades, but these would fit in perfectly. Thank You for sharing your skulls with us.

192. Ornament(al) Skull

Arranged Victorian Decorative Border Elements.