Skull Cake

Brian, Lindsey, and Loren Miller created this skull cake. I've been in the mood for lots of sweets. I'm sure this colorful icing rich cake would satisfy that craving. It would be perfect for a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

We want to share your skull art! Be a part of the Skull-A-Day project. Details are HERE.

Sug(uit)ar Skull Birdhouse

This wonderfully upcycled guitar turned sugar skull birdhouse is from Alexie Rutledge in Texas.  We love seeing items being repurposed, and if it happens to promote skull art then it definitely catches our eye.  Thanks for sharing this, Alexie!

We want to share your skull art! Be a part of the Skull-A-Day project. Details are HERE.

Skull Friends

Friends, Tanya and Chloe attended "day of the dead celebrations in Melbourne, Australia last November". Chloe, an artist, did their make up which took approximately four hours. Another beautiful version of Dia de los Muertos makeup. Thanks for sharing ladies!

We want to share your skull art! Be a part of the Skull-A-Day project. Details are HERE.

Skull Tags & Lamps

Down around Lexington, South Carolina there's a guy named Alexander Hibbs who is creating a new way to identify your living corpse with these hand carved and wood burned "skull tags".  As the artist behind Beaulieu Designs, Alexander is making all sorts of excellent skullery.  I had to include these skull lamps that he has made from various other parts, thus making them truly one of a kind.  Great work, Alexander!  Thanks for sharing! 

*Happy Birthday, Bobo!

[NEWS] Skull-A-Day App Announcement! (April Fools 2014)

I'm very excited to finally reveal our latest project: the Skull-A-Day: Skullify Me app for smart phones!

For the last year, in partnership with our friend Wenchkin AKA Carolyn Curtis we've been secretly developing the perfect app for lovers of skulls – and in a few more months it will finally be in your favorite app store for download!

The app's simple function is to take any photo of a person and transform it into a sugar skull style illustration, based on a revolutionary intuitive custom art algorithm. The resulting image can then be shared on your favorite social media platform such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Myspace, and Friendster.

The reason we're unveiling it now, before it's officially available is to give you the Skull-A-Day fans a chance to add your input and have a say in the final product! Would you use this app? How much would you pay for it? What features should we add? Please take a moment and let us know what you think in the comments section. And we'll let you know as soon as the app is available!

[UPDATE] APRIL FOOLS! Sorry there's no app that can create the amazing artwork of Wenchkin automatically, but if you're nice to her she might make one of these by hand for you! 

Sugar Skull Lamp Shade

Bat Fastard is back with us, to show a three sided sugar skull lamp shade that he created. Lamp shades are often boring and plain. This one is a refreshing take on a staple houseware need. I'd love to see if the skulls are cast onto the walls at night.

Felt Sugar Skull

Lydia Leigh from Sheffield, UK, created this felt sugar skull. I love seeing hand made toys and soft sculptures like this. I've been sewing for a few decades, but sadly I'm terrible with soft toys. There is no indicator of scale for this skull. I'm hoping it's human sized, as that would make for amusing photos...and a lovely pillow.

Sugar Skull Death Head Moth

Determined not to let the Death Head Moth receive a bad reputation because of one movie, Danny Hernandez is buzzing our scene with a newer, more festive version.  Instead of appearing lodged in the throats of murder victims as a sign of transformation, Danny's moth is appearing here in celebration of another day that your skull gets to appreciate this one.  Now, go rub some lotion on your skin(you know you were thinking it).  Thanks for sharing, Danny!   

Super Sugarskills Saturday

Today's super set of super sugar skulls come from Izzy Cammareri and Lynsey Morgann Laurence. Recently,the girls were featured at a showing at BrickLane Annex Gallery in London. I love the background bio that they included:

"Izzy Cammareri and Lynsey Morgann Laurence met whilst studying Illustration under Bill Wright at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. Between them they have resided in London, Hong-Kong and Australia. A global alliance; when unable to work together they share and plan ideas online. Exhibiting throughout London, in recent years they have forged the art and illustration company; Sugarskills.

Isabella and Lynsey devise sugar skull designs that have the dreams, desires and demons of a departed soul painted and collaged across the forehead. Based on no one person, each skull asks the onlooker to play the part of both dream interpreter and forensic anthropologist. Once engaged with the subject you are challenged to solve some part of it’s identity; to decipher the complex and detailed story of it’s perpetual life. Both mysterious and evocative, disturbing and comical, each skull holds a labyrinth of symbols and imagery that beckons the audience into a wonderland of cavernous questions and profound discoveries.

Together the girls of “Sugarskills” take the totem metaphor of death and dance with it. Their work is a series of appositions; chaotic but ordered; moribund but hopeful; as wise as it is immature. Each canvas is celebratory, mischievous, calculating; sentimentally childish and unapologetically spirited. Impishly waltzing through layers of creativity like a pair of rogue opportunists; Izzy and Lynsey pick up the bare bones of life and puckishly paint them into a myriad of Mexicana colours. With every stroke they dare the on-looker to come and play with them."

Thanks for helping to make this Saturday super skullified, Isabella and Lynsey!

                            

Roller Girl Skull

Julie Linebarier Reilly's 8 year old daughter "Tiny CrusHer", plays Jr roller derby with Florida Junior Roller Girls. She wore this skull makeup for one of her games. If I was in roller derby (I can't skate though), this would be intimidating...or just really distracting. Glad to see young girls getting into a rough sport like this. By the group photo on their Facebook page, it looks like they have a blast!

Music Video Skulls

Lukasz Pytlik, from Poland, created this Dia de los Muertos inspired music video. It was for the Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros music video contest. I love the use of skull masks to unify the characters. You can see the video below the still photos.

The music video, for the song "Please" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Dia de la Abby: #86 Dia de los Muertos Box

Inspired by Valentine's Day and Dia de los Muertos, I took a heart shaped box and transformed it into a dark Valentine box. I covered the box with tissue paper, to give it a faux leather look. I painted a sugar skull, flowers, and leaves on the box, as a way of personalizing it. This box would be great to contain mementos, gifts, treats, or a shrine. Head to my blog to learn how to do the faux leather tissue paper treatment and see photos of the anatomical heart box. For the artwork, check out the Sugar Skulls and Marigolds Sneakers Tutorial. To see what else I'm creating, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sugar Skull Makeup

Alicia Troiani created this sugar skull makeup. This is another great interpretation of the sugar skull motif in makeup form. Painting a face as a sugar skull is commonly done during Dia de los Muertos and recently Halloween celebrations. I love that Alicia included a flower headband and shawl into her costume. That really helps bring together the costume of La Calavera Catrina.

LotsaPotsa's Super Ceramic Skull Saturday

Holly Murphy of Zanesville, OH is rockin' tons of skulls in her ceramic and pottery works with lots of different designs and a diverse offering of items.  This is just a sampling of what she's been up to(see more of her LotsaPotsa stuff here), but of course these skulls are our favorites.  Holly's works are fun and functional, and we thank her for sharing them with us.  Keep up the great work, Holly!

Dia de los Muertos Couple

Will Rawlings and his wife Christie, from Bossier City, LA, were "skulled out for Halloween". Christie did the makeup. I love seeing skull loving couples. Especially in skull makeup. Thanks for submitting these!

Sugar Skull Wedding Cake Toppers

Dany Hernandez gives new meaning to "Til death do us part" with these beautiful handmade sugar skull cake toppers.  A perfect match for each other as we hope that the bride and groom will be.  Best wishes to the recipients of these and thanks to Dany for sharing your work with us again.

Felted Sugar Skull

Jessica Johnston of Manchester, England, created this felted skull. This type of felting uses wool roving, a barbed needle, and lots of patience. The addition of embroidery is something I haven't seen. It adds a great dimensional and textural element, blending two types of fiber arts. You can see more of Jessica's artwork in her Etsy shop and Facebook page.

Sugar Skull Face

Richmonder, Meena Khalili, is an Assistant Professor of Visual Communication at VSU Art and Design. She creates a variety of artwork including this Seven Hills Scooter Skull and Match Head Skull. Recently, she created this sugar skull face makeup on her own face. You can see more of Meena's work on her Website, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Dia de la Abby: #84 Sugar Skulls and Marigolds Sneakers

I had a plain pair of canvas sneakers laying around unworn, for several years. I decided to paint sugar skulls, marigolds, vines, and leaves on them. I love Dia de los Muertos motifs and often incorporate elements from the celebration, into my artwork. These sneakers are just another canvas for me, and a great way to use my artwork for practical things. Head over to my blog to see additional photos and follow the tutorial, for these sneakers! To find out what else I'm creating, follow me on Facebook, and Twitter.

Dia de la Abby: #83 La Calavera Catrina Makeup

A couple weeks ago, I attended a party on Dia de los Muertos. Over the past few years, I've been doing skull makeup at least once a year, for various things. I decided this was the perfect time to do a La Calavera Catrina, in honor of Dia de los Muertos. I wanted to play with a softer design and do colored eyes instead of my normal black. For this one, I also painted bones on my neck and decolletage. For more photos and a makeup tutorial, head on over to my blog. To find out what else I'm creating, follow me on Facebook, and Twitter.