Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop


WooHoo! It's Abby's Second Annual Dia De Los Muertos Blog Hop. If you've come from Monica's Blog, you're on the right track, but if you've happened here by chance click HERE because I know you'd just hate to miss a thing. This is a big celebration at my house and my entire dining room becomes a giant ofrenda (altar) honoring those important people who are no longer with me. Remember, it is a celebration of life and a very festive and happy occasion. Traditionally in Mexico fiestas include brightly colored cut paper banners (papel picados)and this year I decided to create my own with the help of my Cricut.

I used the Autumn Celebrations cart for the base and added and subtracted elements using Design Studio. The flowers are from the Paper Lace cartridge. Traditional banners are usually cut from tissue paper, but these are quite delicate enough just using card stock.

Besides the sugar skull motif, skeletons are often depicted doing the things they loved to do in life such as dancing. Again, the design began with Autumn Celebrations with flowers from Paper Lace. The most difficult aspect here was that when flipping the image, the words were also flipped so I had to hide the letters on the flipped image and then hide all of the contours of an unflipped image BUT the lettering and move it into place to cut this banner correctly.

I have many keepsakes from my relatives that I cherish and include in my ofrenda. This shelf is honoring my maternal grandparents who both died before I was born. It includes their wedding picture and portraits. If you'll notice, in both pix my grandma is in profile. I have never seen a picture of her head on. Apparently, when she was a very young child, she had an eye infection and the Dr. put the wrong drops in her eye causing it to shrivel. I still think she's beautiful. The embroidered satin slippers are those Grandma wore on her wedding day. I have her wedding gown as well. The pocket watch is my Grandfather's and is engraved with his initials. I also include my little Novios (wedding couple) sculpture which signifies Amor Eterno (eternal love). My last year's post includes many more stories and pix of my family artifacts, so if you're interested, please click HERE. Many of you asked last year how I could possibly have so many family heirlooms. I am an only child with no living aunts or uncles on either side of my family and only have 3 living first cousins, one on my Mom's side (who is 16 years older than I) and two on my Dad's. My parents seemed to have been the caretakers of many treasures which have been passed down to me. I so enjoy reliving the stories that were told to me by my parents and I'm thrilled to be able to share them with you, because we have no children to pass them down to and Goliath and Jezzie pretty much couldn't care less. LOL

I try to add to my collection each year and would love to show you my recent acquisitons. First, a 12x12 original canvas by Megan Suarez inspired by Frida Kahlo. Megan is not only a fab painter, but she also sells her adorable Dilly Beans digi stamps.


Second, a gorgeous Mexican folk art piece that I had hoped to make a decorated shadow box for but time got away from me. (Maybe next year)


And finally (because you can never have too many skulls) 3 handpainted bottles of TEQUILA! Time to party!


But before you go, please be sure to leave a comment to be eligible for my blog candy. November is also a month to give thanks so I'm offering this Cuttlebug With Gratitude Card Making combo. Just leave a comment and stop back on Saturday, November 5th when I announce the winner. BTW, I'll also be announcing the winner of the BBTB2 Blog Hop that day, so if you haven't entered my giveaway there, please scroll down. Now you're off to Michelle's Blog. Happy hopping!

42 comments:

  1. My daughter, who is 12, is obsessed with this tradition this year. She wrote a beautiful poem for her Spanish class, and last night while trick or treating, actually got some dia de los muertos stickers. You are a lucky lady to have all this history in your head, and in tangible pieces. Love your post.

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  2. Wow Donna what a privilege to share your precious pics with us and for such a personal occasion. You have some wonderful heirlooms and family pics I have really enjoyed this post.
    xoxo

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  3. Donna...first of all your project is awesome!! I love all the details that you used to make this banner!
    Secondly your family collection is beautiful! What a great treasure you have. Thanks for sharing all this with us!
    jessica
    chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com

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  4. omg donna!!! that is just so cool!! i would keep it up all year round!!!!! you are so clever!! i live the skulls one!!
    huge hugs Lou xxx

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  5. Wow this is amazing. TFS. Smooches... Felicia - frankleecrafts [at] gmail [dot] com

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  6. WONDERFUL pics and fantastic job on all your creations. TFS

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  7. Hola, estoy fascinada con tu trabajo, es tan delicado y detallado me encantó !!!!

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  8. I don't celebrate this holiday but I really like your banner. It's nice you have so many things to remember your ancestors.

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  9. Thanks for sharing your fun collection. I NEED that 12x12! That is just SO amazing. I will have to go check Ms. Megan out :)

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  10. Your post is so pretty and your collection are super fab!!!!! Love all !!!!! Kisses from México, in my City this celebration is number one!

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  11. Oh wow, I LOVE this banner! I really wanted to do something like that...these are gorgeous, do you have the cut files for sale?! Amazing!
    Love all your decorations.

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  12. nice projects. banner is really cute. tfs.

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  13. Donna, I enjoyed your post last year, and I relished every word of this post... Your stories are always wonderful... I love your treasures from your family and I love how you have honored them.
    Hugs
    Carole

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  14. wooow Donna those banners are just amazing!!! love all of them!! and your family collection is really nice too (:

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  15. Oh wow Donna, you post surprised me! Those banners are beautiful!! My mom would love to have those at her house, she is very traditionalist, she celebrates El dia de los muertos in Mexico, not me...... is great to keep traditions alive though.
    Those tequila bottles are great!! hehehe I will buy some in my next trip to Guadalajara!
    Thanks for sharing it!!

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  16. Muy lindo tu banner, gracias por mostrarnos tu colección.
    Saludines

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  17. One of my favorite posts. The banner is beautiful. Your ofrenda is amazing. And I love all of your art. Esp. the skulls. Thank you Donna, for sharing all of this. =)

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  18. Those banners are absolutely stunning!!

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  19. Hi Donna
    Absolutely Super Great and Fab Creation. Very Creative!
    -Sony

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  20. Very neat ideas :) Thanks for sharing them.
    s.futch12@gmail.com

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  21. the banner is so awesome!!!!, Thnaks for sharing.

    Big hugs!!!

    http://itzel-principiantescrap.blogspot.com

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  22. WOW I love it!! I love all your cool stuff. I a big fan of the art and the colors. Im a new follower.

    Veronica
    mommyscraftycreations.blogspot.com
    mommyscraftycreations at gmail dot com

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  23. That papel picado is amazing! I never have any luck with intricate cuts! Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win.

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  24. very cool !!! loved how you put them together and jumbled it together !! ♥ it!
    scrappinwithmybug.com

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  25. Super amazing job you did Donna.... I know, long time no visit!.... you outdid yourself from last year... I knew I had to come visit you to see what you had created for this event!

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  26. Me encantó tu banner. Bien por conservar las tradiciones.

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  27. Me encantaroon todas lascosas que tienes para celebrar estas fechas y el papel picado te quedo bien padre gracias por compartir un pokito de tu historia y tus recuerdos saludos desde aguascalientes...

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  28. Hi Donna...just dropping by because it's November 1...Dia de los Muertos :) I've enjoyed your posts, stories and pictures honoring the lives of your family who have passed on. It's a wonderful tribute.

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  29. cuantas cositas lindas tienes... tu trabajo incr4eible, me encanto!!!!! que vivan las tradiciones!!!!!

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  30. Donna que hermoso tu proyecto...me gusto mucho la mesa donde tenes las fotos junto a esas calaveras vestidas de novios tan simpaticas. Y el lienzo inspirado en Frida Kalho es maravilloso...
    Besotes...=)

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  31. What I love all of your cricut papel picado- wow. You're very creative! I love the antique photos you have (very well taken care of) and the skeleton couple. And wow the work by Megan Suarez is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing.
    -Katya
    Kattyxotica.blogspot.com

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  32. Gorgeous banner!!! Love the 12x12 canvas.

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  33. Oh my! What beautiful treasures you have! I have to say the profile pictue of your grandmother is beautiful!!

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  34. Gorgeous! Your banner is amazing and I love the Ofrenda and your fabulous collection!

    (-: Heidi

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  35. The banner is incredible. Living in San Diego, we love Dia De Los Muertos! Thanks for the giveaway!

    pcrusberg at aol dot com

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  36. Donna, OMG you have put so much work into these fabulous papel picados, you are so talented and thank you so much for sharing a little peek into your life with your precious keepsakes, so many wonderful heirlooms and family photos, I too I have really enjoyed your post. hugs Jodie from Oz :)

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  37. Oh boy, you really have fun with this November 1st thing! LOL!

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  38. Donna, your banner and alter are fantastic!! I am glad to see the cricut getting out of the cutesy stuff. :)
    those cuts are FABULOUS!

    I am amazed that you have the heirlooms you do, and I am a bit envious a lot of my family history is a mystery.

    Your cats are great kids, but it is never too late for the kind that might appreciate the history!
    Much love n light,
    Susan

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  39. Beautiful post! Love your altar and those banners! TFS :D

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  40. *squeal with excitement! This is my favourite post! I LOVED seeing the photos and your treasured items. I have photos so similar of my family. That painting by Megan is to die for! I have saved the link to make sure I go back and have a look at your stories and pix of artefacts from yesteryear. Even though I only have one bro and a step sis, the generations before me bred like rabbits... I have same interest in old treasured stories because everything handed down has been scattered all over this country. I can't wait to read it, but I am pushing my sleep limits! GAH! 11pm. x

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  41. I love your banners! I've been google image searching to try and find something like that to do with my cricut- sounds too complicated for me but I just LOVE what you came up with! wish they had a cartridge with these made up!

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Thanks for making my day!