by Noreen Doll.
The idea for this skull wreath came to me one day when I was wandering around the dollar store and came upon a mesh bag full of skulls.
In Mexico the Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. This skull wreath would make a perfect Day of the Dead wreath.
I like to do quick and easy inexpensive crafts so I decided to recycle items, as well as use craft supplies I already had.
I scrunched up newspaper squares and glued them to a paper plate with the center cut out – then spray painted the whole thing black.
What You Need
Skulls
Paper Plates
Newspaper
Tacky Glue
Black Spray Paint
Scissors
Ruler
Ribbon for Bow – I used a piece of lace I had.
What You Do
1. Cut the center out of a paper plate, leaving a ring.
To make a sturdier wreath base, glue 2 or 3 of these plate rings together. The glue plus the plates will be quite strong.
2. Cut lots of 2 inch squares from newspaper – they don’t have to be exact in size or shape.
3. Apply some glue to a section of the plate.
4. Scrunch a square of newspaper around your finger and stick the center of it into the glue on the plate.
5. Continue adding squares fairly close together, using more glue as needed.
If you find too large a space between squares, just add another scrunched piece there.
7. Let glue dry.
8. Outside, spray the newspaper with a couple of coats of black paint.
I allowed the newspaper to slightly show through in places because I liked how it looked.
9. Turn the plate over and spray the back with a couple of coats of paint,
Spray around the edge to cover any bright white areas. Let dry.
10. Lay the bow and skulls on the wreath until you find an arrangement you like. Then glue them down.
11. Carefully punch a hole through at the top and use a wire or black thread for hanging the skull wreath.
Or you can attach a picture hanger to the back.
Tips
I used light coats of paint and didn’t try to cover the Day of the Dead wreath too thoroughly with black.
If the glue on the plate dries before you can use it, just add more glue.
Kids could easily make this skull wreath or Day of the Dead wreath.
Try decorating it with pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns instead of skulls.
Noreen Doll
Tracey says
WOW, when I saw the picture I never would have thought that was made from a paper plate and newspaper. It looks awesome!
Paula says
I love it!! I need this tutorial for a Halloween party I’m planning! thanks for linking up to Marvelous Mondays.
A Lived in Home says
So wickedly fun!! I would love for you to come link up your awesome blog to my Get Social link party that’s live right now! http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/2012/09/get-social-sunday_22.html
Karri Reiser says
Great wreath! I love how simple it is to make yet looks like it wasn’t. Thank you for sharing at my Our Favorite Things Link Party.
Jami says
Love the look of the spray painted newspaper! Thanks so much for sharing your talents at the Tuesday To Do Party!
Smiles!
Jami
http://www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com
Nicole says
What an awesome and cheap Halloween wreath! I love the skulls and using the paper plate is very clever 🙂
Christy says
I would have never known that was a paper plate. What a great idea. Thanks so much for linking up to tip-toe thru tuesday.
Tracey says
I just love how you make paper plates and news paper look so awesome! Thanks for sharing on the We Made That linky!
Penny says
What a cute idea, I love it! Hugs, Penny
Michele says
This is a great inexpensive and easy idea. I would never have guessed the wreath was made from newspaper and a paper plate. It looks wonderful!
Capri + 3--Theresa says
That is cute and you’d never know it was from a paper plate and newspaper. Kids would have fun making that. Thanks for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday on Capri + 3.
Laurel@Ducks in a Row says
Thanks for this – my kids are wanting to be less cute, more scary this year. I think this wreath works for both!
Brittany @ Crafty Mischief says
I would never have guessed it was made from newspaper and spray paint! I love the skulls!
Michelle says
Noreen,
Love it! I love how simple it is. I seem to ALWAYS buy new Halloween decorations every year and now I can just make them 🙂 Thanks for sharing . Have a great weekend
Michelle
andiejaye says
i never thought about using newspaper to make a wreath. that’s genius and a great way to upcycle. thanks for linking this up to tip-toe thru tuesday.
Debi @ Adorned From Above says
This is so cute. I have a link party on Wednesdays, and I would love it if you would link this and any other posts. It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party. It runs from Wednesday to Sundays.
I hope to see you there. I am your newest follower, and I would love for your to follow me also. Have a great Day.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Heidi says
Love that wreath, and it looks so easy! My weekly linky party–One Creative Weekend–has gone spooky this week in honor of my thirteenth party. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll visit “One Creative Weekend” on OneCreativeMommy.com (open every Fri-Wed) and link up this idea and anything else you’d like to share. (You can include non-Halloween posts as well, but feel free to link up as many Halloween-themed posts as you like.)
Jill @ Create.Craft.Love. says
Darling! Love that you used garbage bags!
Charlene@APinchofJoy says
Would never have guessed a paper plate and newspaper! Looks great and just the right level of scary! thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!
Susie @Bowdabra says
Congrats, Noreen! You are being featured in our Top 10 Halloween Wreath post! Stop over and see your feature. Feel free to grab the image and use it as a button that you were featured!
We love all your crafty ideas!
Susie
BeColorful says
Timely and fun. Thanks for your spooky door candy idea. I love posts like this.
p
Cathy@My1929Charmer says
I like the way you think, using the newspaper and then spray painting is very creative and economical. Very cute, I was always afraid of this celebration! Love the skulls! Thanks for sharing your inspiration with Sunday’s Best – you helped make the party a success!
Christina at I Gotta Create! says
Great idea and inexpensive.
Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina
Debi @ Adorned From Above says
Great Wreath. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/10/jasmine-body-butter-and-wednesdays.html
from Wednesday until Sunday.
Hope to see you there.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
Katie says
I love this wreath! Thanks for sharing on Blog Stalking Thursday. I have featured you with this week’s party! Stop by to grab a feature button and wear it proudly. You deserve it! Thanks for sharing! http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2012/10/blog-stalking-thursday-61.html