Sugar Skull Dollar Store Craft

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These easy sugar skulls are an awesome dollar store craft that will really make your Halloween decor pop this year. And even better, you don’t have to be an amazing artist for painting sugar skulls. Simple patterns including swirls, dots, and flowers are all that is needed to create this eye-catching design!

It is officially September and that means I can share fun Halloween crafts without feeling like it is too early.  I would share them year-round if I didn’t think I’d get strange looks writing about them in the winter. Too soon, right?

Sugar Skull Meaning

The Mexican sugar skull tradition is a fascinating one. The skulls represent a departed soul. On the Day of the Dead, children spirits are able to visit with their families for 24 hours beginning at midnight on October 31st while adult souls visit on November 2nd. A lot of money and time is invested in this celebration, including altars in the home which are overflowing with food, trinkets and decorations for the weary souls. With these offerings, indigenous families believe the spirits will bless their families with protection and wisdom.  I believe it is a beautiful way to remember and honor the dead. Have you seen the Disney Pixar animated film, Coco? If not, I highly recommend it as a way to better understand this tradition. (Be sure to have some tissues handy.)

Sugar Skull Craft Supplies

• plastic skull (one featured is from a dollar store)
• black chalkboard paint
• chalkboard markers (purple and white is shown here)
• rhinestone stickers
• aerosol hairspray (optional)
• paintbrush
• wax paper (to protect your table)

How to Make Sugar Skulls

To make this eye-catching sugar skull, you’ll need to start by protecting your work surface. Wax paper works great for protecting your table. You’ll then need to paint the plastic skull with a black chalkboard paint and allow it to fully dry.

One dry, it is now a great time to add some pretty adhesive rhinestones on the teeth to make this sugar skull really sparkle.

Now it is time to start drawing your unique design with chalkboard markers. For this specific design, a white chalkboard marker was used to create a swirl pattern throughout. Small purple dots were added for more visual interest.

This same swirl design was continued into the eye sockets with white dots before white and purple flowers were incorporated on the chin, cheeks, temple, and side of the skull. Outline the eye sockets, nose and teeth with white marker.

Once the chalkboard marker has a chance to dry, seal the chalkboard marker in place by spraying evenly with hairspray about 6-inches from the skull surface. You can also add an additional rhinestone into the center of each eye socket if desired.

This sugar skull craft can be customized to match your personal decor and style. It would look great on any mantle, table or shelf.

Looking for more crafts using materials from the dollar store? I’ve got you covered with some more great projects below.

Halloween Dollar Store Crafts:

• Dollar Store Halloween Candles 
• Halloween Skeleton Bird Cage
• Halloween Skull Wreath
• Dollar Store Halloween Village
• X-ray Halloween Candles
• Wicked Witch Poison Apple

For a great Halloween activity, try this cool slime I posted last year that looks a lot like a beating heart!

Thanks to Chantal from Nerdy Mamma for this great dollar store craft idea. Be sure to check out her blog for more easy crafts.