Day of the dead shrine/craft swap gallery!

[amaryllisroze]

I know how that goes! I've recently hit a big spurt of creativity and have just been going nuts.

It just takes me awhile to finish things because I tend to plan it all out ahead of time instead of just running with the flow...

I should have some more shrines to post in the next couple of weeks.

[Diane B.]

smarmycloth, wonderful polymer sugar skulls!

Since you were using a polymer clay manufactured by Polyform (bulk white Sculpey in this case), the mold release of choice would be water (a light spritz or rub with damp cloth).  Cornstach, talc, or even metallic powders will work with all brands of polymer clay too (...and those must be used for the clays put manufactured by Eberhard Faber --the Fimos--because they have different "fillers" which can get goupy with water).

There's loads of info on how to use make molded items with polymer clay (as well as making the molds themselves with polymer clay, as well as how to apply releases, remove things from molds, etc.), on this page of my site if you want lots more info:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/molds.htm

I can't quite tell how large your skulls were, but if large, you can also make them around a wad of scrunched aluminum foil (underneath) to save clay.   In your case, you could also embed one end of an opened paperclip in the foil too to help remove from the clay from the mold if you want). 

The boxed white Sculpey is a really soft polymer clay when raw, so that's another reason it was hard to remove from the mold.  The Sculpeys (particulary the bulk ones, in white or terracotta) are also much more brittle after baking than any of the other brands, so you might want to make the clay reasonably thick over the foil (or make the skull solid) if it will be stressed after baking, to help prevent chipping or breaking.
 
Putting a clear finish on top can help with the fragility of the Sculpeys too, or liquid clay works really well as a strengthener (but there are other factors to consider there). 
You might also want to check out one of the two acrylic finishes that clayers most often use (Varathane), since it can be applied in coats to give a glasslike shine, or items can actually be dipped in it for even thicker coats ... there's more info on Varathane, etc., on this page:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/finishes.htm

P.S.  I thought you might also like to see several kinds of polymer clay sugar skulls done by a member of my polymer clay guild a few years ago (along with her other Dia de los Meurtos things)... so cool!
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/Halloween_etc.htm
(...click on Dia de los Muertos... then click on the tiny photo of the "skeleton lady" to see all the rest)

Don't forget to show us more when you do them!

Diane B.
GlassAttic ...polymer clay "encyclopedia"
http://glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm

[viciouskittie]

*bows to diane*

[smarmyclothes]

yeah, thanks so much diane!  for some reason, it didn't even occur to me to ask around craftster about this problem.  silly me!  you guys have been so helpful, i can't wait to try again!

[corduroy cat]

anyone know anything about the DOD tin work? ie: where to buy the tin and how to hammer and paint it? i've always loved seeing the mirrors and nichos but they are too expensive for me to buy

[CraftyZary]

anyone know anything about the DOD tin work? ie: where to buy the tin and how to hammer and paint it? i've always loved seeing the mirrors and nichos but they are too expensive for me to buy

Teamwang - There is a very good alternative that I use often but it is not with real tin, you can work it very similar but it is a kind of DIY-tin work: 
You need only a piece of metallic paper or metallic cardpaper (in silver or gold) that is not too thin. You can find such papers easily at the craft sections or craft shops. Just don't use aluminum paper because it is too thin and it gets damaged easily, but a thicker paper would work fine. You can mount your paper over a piece of cardpaper to make it a little thicker if you want (I mount it using doublesided tape).  Then you can cut in whatever shape you want (for example like a butterfly or a square or whatever).

And to give it a little this mexican-style full of little details and ornaments, draw some little shapes or dots or whatever pattern you want at the back of the metallic paper. They have this special tool for doing embossing, it is like a big thick needle with a round point, That would work fine. One day I could not find the tool and I was in a hurry so I tried with a real needle for crocheting and it works fine  .  Do it over a piece of craft foam or so, that way you will be able to draw easily your shapes. At the end just bend it a little your final piece if you want to have it with more depth or so.
For the color, you can paint it using sharpies and immediately after applying the sharpies you remove it with a cotton ball -- the more seconds you leave the color there, the stronger it will be, but I like it light -- then you get this color-but-transparency effect and it will look very mexican-like, like real tin work. then you can glue your piece over a nicho or you can glue a little mirror over your 'tin work' or whatever. I learnt this process in Mexico and I use it often  .  I hope is not confusing and that it helps you.

[chibiwakki]

I wish I knew about technique when I made my swap item, it would've made it so much cooler. I kinda wanted to do something with tin work, only I knew I didn't have the time or materials to do it with.
Maybe for the next round, then!

[mellyp]

i received my amazing package from crafty_dame today (i don't have a camera but i know she took photos so i believe she'll be posting them later). she totally "got" me and did such a rad job on the shrine, it is so beautiful! she sent me all kinds of extras too; a sweet little vinyl zip pouch that is really well made and she filled it with loads of goodies - a scapula, a rosary, lots of tiny resin beads with images of Mary and saints, little plastic charms. she also sent these gorgeous handtowels with screenprinted Virgin of Guadelupe...so freaking awesome. everything is beautifully crafted and i feel so spoiled. this is the best swap ever! thank you so much crafty_dame for being such a great partner and organizing this for us!

[corduroy cat]

thanks craftyzary, i'm definitely gonna try your method (hopefully for round 2 of this swap!)

[viciouskittie]

the tin work is beautiful...if any of your try it using the paper method as talked about above, please post a picture,,im trying to imagine it and im not doing a good job!!