Dia de los Muertos Cigar Box Shrine

cigar box, clean
craft knife
decorative scrapbook paper
acrylic paint
loose glitter
thick cardboard
Day of the dead image
Sculpey polymer clay (to make skulls)
1 strand of Mardi Gras beads
4 balls or blocks for feet
hot glue
dimensional squeeze paint

1. Use a craft knife to remove the lid from the cigar box and set aside.
2. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit as the background of the box. Use hot glue to attach.
3. Paint the inner borders and quickly sprinkle on the loose glitter over the wet paint.
4. Apply the La Catrina picture (figure A) to a piece of scrapbook paper to act as a border. Flip it over and glue a piece of thick cardboard to the back so it will give a dimensional look when in the box.
5. Apply hot glue to the back and set the picture in the center of the box.
6. Pinch off four dime-size pieces of clay and shape them into skulls. Bake according to manufacturer directions and then paint on eyes, nose and teeth. Let dry and then glue on in each corner of the box.
7. Use the glue gun to attach the strand of beads around the edge of the box.
8. Glue on a ball or black to each corner of the side of the lid that you had cut off earlier to act as the "feet" to the shrine. Let dry and then set it right-side up. This will be the platform that holds your cigar box shrine.
9. Apply a generous amount of glue to the bottom of the cigar box and set it in the center of the lid.
10. Decorate the outside areas with fancy papers and/or squeeze paint. Let dry.

Tip: Add in personal objects if you like.

Figure A

See the new line of Crafty Chica products at select Michaels stores and at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008.