As you may know, I lived many years in Mexico and I am very happy to have adopted some of their traditions and today I would like to share a small aspect of this huge celebration with all of you through card making...
I did this "Triple Twisted Easel" card depicting a mini altar for "Día de los Muertos"...which is celebrated throughout Mexico and Central America on November 1st and 2nd...
Altars are part of the decorations and traditions for this day, people build elaborate altars in their homes and in cemeteries to honor the deceased, in my case I decided to honor my beloved past pets...
Besides photos of your beloved deceased ones you can decorate as much or as little as you wish with "papel picado" (cut outs of rice paper), marigolds (flowers symbolizing death), candles, sugar skulls, etc... left view...
You can include “Ofrendas” (offerings) of gifts, food, sweets and alcohol that are left for the spirit of the deceased... right view...
The stamps that I used here are from "Lost Coast Designs" who specializes in reproductions of vintage paintings. In this case the skulls or "calacas" are from the famous Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada, who illustrated the original “Calavera/ La Catrina” in 1910 ( the stamp on the center is "La Catrina") and were perfect for my altar.
Would you like to know how to make this type of card?
To illustrate some more this special celebration and to show you how it is being celebrated here in the USA here are some photos that I took last week-end at a festival that I attended at the "Hispanic University in San José California"...
It’s a bright, colorful and flavorful celebration...with some pre-hispanic dances...
Activities for the children ...
Face painting for the adults...
Art exhibits...of the "Calacas/Skulls"
and here are some altars that inspired me to make my card of today...
Food, like fruits, bread and drinks are present in this altar...
Some are very original like this one...this car used to belong to the deceased person..so the family decided to make the altar on the trunk...
In this one they included a pet skeleton!!...see the bottom of the photo...and placed a photo of a famous Mexican actor Pedro Infante...
A last one... with all the elements to make a complete Altar: flowers, crosses, photos, food, die cut papers, candles etc ...
For the people that do not know how or why this is celebrated I hope that now through these photos I was able to show you a little bit of this festivity and understand Why I was inspired to make a mini altar for the day of the dead using this type of card...that I thought was perfect to display some of the elements required to place in an altar...
Hope you will find this shape interesting and fun to make...
I would love to see your creations using this "Triple Twisted Easel" card...
Happy Day of the Dead!
Day to celebrate and honor life and death! do not mourn or cry! it is the celebration of the cycle of life and the possibility to remember on this day with happiness our beloved departed ones!!!
SUPPLIES:
Oh what a Lovely Alter you created for you beloved Cats.... I had heard of this Celabration but though it took a more scary view, did not realise it was to celabrate your belove ones that had passed... Such a beautiful Fun thing!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBravo Bibiana, cette carte reproduit bien l'ambiance de cette célébration, les couleurs, les fleurs, les squelettes ! Cela pourrait être triste mais il semble que c'est aussi la fête en l'honneur des disparus, qui restent dans le cœur des gens ! C'est une belle fête ! Bises
ReplyDeleteWHOOT, WHOOT, I had to FB this right away, you have done it again, what a superb creation you have made, you are THE BOMB ******, I'm going over to watch the video.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful photos, hope you have a wonderful weekend, (((( BIG HUGS ))))..
Oh I just left msg on You Tube! Out of this world again and I love it, love it! Watched the video and it is superb, but goes so fast for me. Have to make and watch repeat, repeat & repeat. Lol.....any possible way for a print out? ? ? Thanks for sharing this beautiful celebration and one I love too for my many, many animals. Blessings to you, dear Bibiana!
ReplyDeleteHello Diana: sorry but it will take so much time for me to do a print out too, maybe when I will have more free time!! thanks for the input!
Deletebibiana
Hi Bibianna,
ReplyDeletesuper card. I love this idea. Such a lovely way to honer your dead pets.
What a super video tutorial. I do so love watching your videos they are soooooooo! informative.
I Loved the flower making part especially.
Lots of love. Jenny L.
Bravo elle est superbe, tout est magnifique!
ReplyDeleteBisous
Bonjour Bibiana,
ReplyDeleteTon autel est magnifique!!!!
Je vais allé voir ta vidéo. Merci pour les explications de l'origine de cette coutume.
Bonne et belle journée.
Bises.
Chantal
Wow fantastic, also thanks for sharing some facts about the traditions xx
ReplyDeleteHoly Macaroni Bibiana-this is spectacular. You ROCKED this triple easel card. It's amazing. I love your work. This looks like a fun Holiday. So colorful and decorative. Is it derived from "All Saints Day" per chance. You know I am going to have to try this one out too....lol I'll be looking for your video.
ReplyDeleteBear Hugs,
Carol
the holiday is from Aztec times, so before the arrival of the Spanish in America. When they Christianized this part of the world, they combined both traditions and now it is a mix of a pre-hispanic tradition with a catholic one...it is what is called "synchretism"...
Deletebibiana
your altar looks fabulous, Bibiana and I didn't know you lived in Mexico! thanks for sharing those lovely pictures!
ReplyDeleteabout my colouring, I only use Prisma and Derwent pencils, I don't own any Copics! for the roof I used Derwent Coloursoft Mid Terracotta C620 and a paper stump and odourless solvent! for the dark shadows on the edges I used a little bit black, this time a Prisma pencil PC 935!
Wow, Bibiana your Triple Twisted Easel card is a labor of love. Great colors and love all the embellishments.
ReplyDeleteHugs diane
Hi Bibiana, what an amazing creation, fabulous design, colours and stunning embellishments.
ReplyDeletewill watch the video tonight.. thank you for the inspiration.
pam
What a fantastic post. First of all that altar is one amazing creation. Those flowers - wow. And thanks for sharing all the photos - I don't know enough about this day and the Mexican celebration. Thank you for enlightening me.
ReplyDeleteI love learning more about this special day, my friend. Amazing history and culture. Love this card dedicated to your special pals.....you have such a dear heart!
ReplyDeleteCoucou Bibiana çà marche!!!! ton triptique est magnifique tu me donnes une idée
ReplyDeletetu nous montre la un beau message et un beau reportage pour nos chers disparus (es) ou animaux familiers - merci pour le tuto vidéo c'est super!!!!!
bises linedefrance
This is my first time at your blog. Your mini altar is fabulous. I watched the video and fell in love with it.
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL!!! I have so much to learn from you. love this!!!
ReplyDelete