Many moons ago, I made these adorable Sugar Skull Dolls for Halloween and Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). They turned out so beautifully that I had to share the process with you all! They look fantastic as stand-alone ornaments but also look amazing added to table centerpieces!
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If you like this then you may also like some of my other Halloween Crafts like my Felt & Feather Halloween Garland, Needle Felt Spiders and Upcycled Halloween Wreath.
Materials Needed To Make Sugar Skull Dolls
- Card (empty cereal packet is fine or you could use card stock (UK Amazon link, US Amazon link)
- 40mm polystyrene ball,
- patterned paper (I used fancy wrapping paper from Paperchase)
- double sided sticky tape,
- pva (white) glue,
- permanent marker pens,
- non bleed tissue paper,
- cotton pipe cleaners
- felt scraps
How To Make The Sugar Skull Dolls Body
1. Draw a circle about 21-22 cm in diameter (I use a plate to draw around) on a piece of card. You can use card stock or an old cereal box which is what I’ve used for this tutorial. Cut the circle in half and keep one semicircle to make the doll dress.
2. Cut a piece of patterned paper to cover the semicircle making sure you add an extra 1cm all the way round to fold over and glue to the back. Glue ths in place but before folding over around the curved edge make small incisions all the way around so that the paper will fold over and glue neatly.
3. When dry find the center of the straight edge and gently bend the two ends in to form a cone. Try not to crease the cone. Allow the cone to undo and add two strips of double sided sticky tape to each edge see picture. Now curl the edges back around and stick in place. If the card is thick you may need to add a little PVA glue in between where the sticky strips hold the cone together.
You may also like these craft projects; Egg Carton Bat & Ghost Bunting, Ghost & Skull Soaps and Paper Pumpkin Bunting
How To Make The Sugar Skull Dolls Head
1. Using a sharp pencil make a hole in the polystyrene ball so that the point of the cone can be glued inside.
2. Using permanent marker pens (sharpies are great for this) draw your sugar skull face on.
3. Using a sharp point (I use a nail) make 2 holes towards the top of the cone and thread your pipe cleaner through (I use a natural coloured one) and bend the arms into shape. Glue the head on and allow to dry.
How To Make The Sugar Skull Dolls Hat
1. Glue a doubled up piece of rectangular shaped tissue to the top of the head and curl the edges to make a hat (it’s a smaller version of this tissue paper hat). You may need to hold it in place and shape it a little whilst it dries.
2. Finally, add some felt flowers to the side of the hat and one between her hands …
Finished.
The pink Sugar Skull Doll was made last year and considering she has been played with loads she’s weathered pretty well.
Oh how cute are these?! I am going to make some up for halloween, they are great! <3
Oh how cute are these?! I am going to make some up for halloween, they are great! <3
These are gorgeous. How clever of you and a great tutorial to show us how it’s done.
These are gorgeous. How clever of you and a great tutorial to show us how it’s done.
This is really cute!!!!
This is really cute!!!!
This is adorable!! I love sugar skulls and it seems super easy!! 🙂
This is adorable!! I love sugar skulls and it seems super easy!! 🙂
How creative! I actually (randomly) have some polystyrene balls from an old craft project, so I might do these Sugar Skull Dolls ready for Mexico’s Day of the Dead event. Thank you xx
How creative! I actually (randomly) have some polystyrene balls from an old craft project, so I might do these Sugar Skull Dolls ready for Mexico’s Day of the Dead event. Thank you xx
They look lovely. I used to make angels that way with my grandma at Christmas 🙂
They look lovely. I used to make angels that way with my grandma at Christmas 🙂
So cute and clever!!!
Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party!
So cute and clever!!!
Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party!
These are adorable! The hats are so cute and the colors <3
These are adorable! The hats are so cute and the colors <3
Thank you for sharing with us #pintorials Totally love it! So pretty!
Thank you for sharing with us #pintorials Totally love it! So pretty!
Love these! Stopping by from #pintorials, and so excited to try out this craft!
Love these! Stopping by from #pintorials, and so excited to try out this craft!
Oh, these are great!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday
Oh, these are great!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday
I am so in love with these!! Adorable and easy. Two very, very important qualities to have. 🙂
I am so in love with these!! Adorable and easy. Two very, very important qualities to have. 🙂
This is so cute! My granddaughter will love to try this. Thanks!
This is so cute! My granddaughter will love to try this. Thanks!
I enjoyed the sugar skull craft idea. Do people ever comment it is representing death to children. Some times, I have used skulls in creating sf characters from literature. Most children at the library laughed and wanted the work so I gave it all away.
I like this sugar skull idea because it is easier and kids may try to make them. Mexico and Frida Kahlo were my favorite bases for making dolls. Kahlo loved sugar skulls as a gift from her friends. thanks atk
Thank you. Nobody has commented about the dolls representing death to children … yet 🙂 My girls are quite interested in ‘Día de Muertos’ and the idea that it’s a day to remember loved ones and pets who have died and celebrate who they were and are. They don’t see the sugar skulls as something to be scared of as they understand the sentiment behind them.
I enjoyed the sugar skull craft idea. Do people ever comment it is representing death to children. Some times, I have used skulls in creating sf characters from literature. Most children at the library laughed and wanted the work so I gave it all away.
I like this sugar skull idea because it is easier and kids may try to make them. Mexico and Frida Kahlo were my favorite bases for making dolls. Kahlo loved sugar skulls as a gift from her friends. thanks atk
Thank you. Nobody has commented about the dolls representing death to children … yet 🙂 My girls are quite interested in ‘Día de Muertos’ and the idea that it’s a day to remember loved ones and pets who have died and celebrate who they were and are. They don’t see the sugar skulls as something to be scared of as they understand the sentiment behind them.
Beautiful doll design for the Day of the Dead altar! How do you make the mini felt flowers?
You cut a small rough circle and then cut into the circle to make a spiral snake. Starting from the middle of the spiral you roll it up into a flower and glue the end … I’ll do a blog post and link it in but if you google felt flowers you’ll easily find a ‘how to’
Beautiful doll design for the Day of the Dead altar! How do you make the mini felt flowers?
You cut a small rough circle and then cut into the circle to make a spiral snake. Starting from the middle of the spiral you roll it up into a flower and glue the end … I’ll do a blog post and link it in but if you google felt flowers you’ll easily find a ‘how to’
I love how easy this is and with such great results! I’ll be sharing this on The Crafty Crow soon 🙂
Aw, thank you. Glad you liked it 🙂
I love how easy this is and with such great results! I’ll be sharing this on The Crafty Crow soon 🙂
Aw, thank you. Glad you liked it 🙂
Excellent !!
What an amazing idea.
I will do it,
Excellent !!
What an amazing idea.
I will do it,
Cute! I am using this for a project! Thanks!!!
Day of the Day is not Halloween
It’s disrespectful culturally to mush them together
Do you research and stop appropriating Mexican culture for your cute purposes
I never said it was and haven’t mushed them together 🙂