I’ll say it again, your gamut of teaching Mexico crafts to kids MUST include at least one tin project!
Tin has been used for traditional Mexican handicrafts and art forms for many centuries. Not to mention, kids LOVE working with it because it is new and provides an exciting element of uncertainty.
I have been buying the same type of tin for Mexico crafts for years.
36-gauge aluminum tooling foil (12 inches X 10 feet) from Amazon is the best and will allow for many future projects because after all, it’s TEN FEET!
So, to make our Day of the Dead tin skulls I simply found a skull template online, sized it using Microsoft Word, printed it, and cut it out to use as a template.
This tin is easy to cut with scissors BTW.
Once cut, my students could get right to the embossing, a process they told me was “extremely satisfying”. : )
Of course, I gave my students free reign to imprint their skulls exactly how they wanted, but drawing the mouth always seems to be the hardest part so I gave a small bit of instruction to help get them started.
It was nothing but fun and creativity galore from there!
To enable more noticeable line, it helps to place your tin on a piece of craft foam when working.
Each skull took on its own persona as the imprinting progressed.
Such fun to observe and compare in the end!
For another fun Mexico craft for kids using this same tin, check out our Mexican Tin Hearts project or our Mexican Nichos (Shadow Box) project.
And if you’re looking for a fun food idea to further your Mexico studies, be sure to read Easy Mexico Food Platters for Kids or Three Hot Drinks from Mexico to Make for Day of the Dead or Halloween This Year.
What Mexico crafts for kids have you taught using tin or something similar?
I invite you to leave your comments about this Mexico craft for kids below.
Love the project! What age do you do this project with? Do you have to worry about a sharp edge on the tin and getting cuts from it?
Hi Sarah,
So glad you love the project – it is one of my favorites and one I am getting ready to do again for Day of the Dead this year. In all my years doing tin art projects with my students (ages 8-14), I have not had one student cut themselves, BUT I am always worried about that so I make sure that any templates I cut are ones with rounded corners, just in case! If you have not yet used this tooling foil, you should definitely give it a try. I have used it for ornaments, Mexico projects, picture frames, etc. The end result is beautiful and my students always take such pride in their tin art work! Good luck!
Do you mount the skulls onto something for the children to take them home without bending them?
Hi Amber…thank you for the great question! I have never mounted them on anything (for protection) as the tin is 36 gauge, which is pretty sturdy. That said, bending can happen, so if you have concerns, you might give your students a manilla folder to take them home in, just for safekeeping. In one of my classes, we did glue them to a decorative 8.5 X 11 piece of cardstock that I printed on my computer. I found the pattern using Canva. You can also use Mexico or Day of the Dead themed scrapbook paper or colored cardstock for a festive background that will frame the skull beautifully. Please let me know if you have any more questions – and enjoy this project!