sugar skull decorated with vinyl

This sugar skull decor DIY is easy to make when you use vinyl instead of paint! This is a sponsored post.

Calavera wood shape decorated with vinyl

I was first introduced to sugar skulls, or calaveras, in high school Spanish class. The detailed little skulls were so beautifully made, and they sugar glittered beautifully. They were enchanting, not scary. Thanks to movies like Coco, more people are aware of the significance of this special Mexican holiday. This project was inspired by my memories of the glittering little sugar skulls I first saw long ago.

I was thrilled when I found these wood cut sugar skulls at Dollar Tree last month. I grabbed one of each design so I could embellish them using StyleTechCraft glossy vinyl. Here’s how I decorated them:

how to decorate a calavera

Sugar Skull Decor DIY Supplies

  • Wood Sugar Skull Cut Outs (Dollar Tree or Etsy)
  • White Paint
  • StyleTechCraft Vinyl
  • Silhouette Cutting Machine
  • Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter

cut vinyl to decorate sugar skull iwth

I started out by spray painting the sugar skulls with a white primer. Then I cut various sized circles, semi circles, and scrolls from different colors of vinyl.

add flourishes

I used transfer tape to place the scroll vinyl pieces on the sugar skulls.

vinyl designs on wood

I used the scallop shapes to create a border around the edge of the skulls. Then I started adding the circles to create designs.

decorate a calavera

After the front of the sugar skull was decorated, I flipped it over to cover the open sections.

vinyl application

I put these two side by side so you can see what the front and back look like. The sugar skull looks so colorful now with all the vinyl added!

Martha Stewart glitter added to sugar skull

Since the vinyl is on the back of the piece, the sticky side is facing the front. It’s perfect for holding glitter! I sprinkled it on the vinyl glue, and shook off the excess.

sugar skull decorated with vinyl

Now the open areas sparkle like sugar, creating this sugar skull decor DIY! This would make a great addition to a wreath or to hang on a wall. Have fun crafting and creating!

Trim the vellum around the vinyl to make the lampshade. Tape the edges of the vellum lampshade together using bits of the clear transfer tape. The transfer tape is so sheer you can’t even see it! Pop the groovy lampshades on the glasses and drop a battery operated tea light inside. When it's time to toast the new year guests can just remove the lampshades and lights.


2 responses to “Sugar Skull Decor DIY for Dia de Muertos”

  1. Susie Bentz Avatar

    These are really awesome – such a creative way to use the vinyl to hold the glitter.. Brilliant!

    1. Morena Avatar

      Thank you!!

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