Mosaic Sugar Skull Workshop

Mosaic Sugar Skulls — A Cinco de Mayo Celebration Workshop Length: 3 Hours

Sugar skulls are one of the most joyful and visually stunning traditions of Día de los Muertos — a Mexican celebration honoring the lives of those who have gone before us. Rich with color, pattern, and meaning, the sugar skull is a symbol not of grief, but of remembrance, beauty, and the continuity of life. In this workshop, we come alongside that tradition with reverence and delight, honoring the mystical and artistic expressions of a culture that has long understood that beauty and mortality are deeply intertwined.

We will open our time together with a breath prayer — a simple, centering practice of inhaling and exhaling with intention — grounding ourselves before we pick up a single tile. Creating with our hands is a sacred act, and we want to begin from a place of quiet presence rather than hurry.

What You'll Make

Each student will choose their skull size at the start of class: a larger 8-inch sugar skull or a smaller 6-inch sugar skull. Students working on the smaller size may have the opportunity to begin a second skull if time allows. Both sizes offer plenty of room for stunning, detailed design work.

The Process

We begin by using Apoxie Sculpt — a professional two-part epoxy clay — to build a raised edge around the perimeter of your wood base, giving your finished mosaic a clean, framed appearance and helping to contain your Thinset as you work.

Next, you'll receive a printed template designed to give you the classic sugar skull structure while leaving generous room for your own creative choices. This is your piece — the template is simply a starting point. From there, you'll plan your tile layout, selecting colors and shapes that reflect your own artistic voice.

Once your design is ready, you'll spread Thinset mortar into your skull base and begin the most meditative part of the process: transferring your tiles one by one into the Thinset, pressing each piece into place with intention. There is something quietly contemplative about mosaic work — the rhythm of it, the way broken things become something whole and beautiful.

Finishing at Home

Your mosaic will go home with you at the end of class still in its curing stage. After 48 hours of drying time, you'll apply a glitter sealer in the color of your choice to seal and protect the surface — and add that final festive sparkle.

A Note on Our Approach

This class is designed from a Christian contemplative perspective that deeply values the sacred creativity found across cultures and traditions. We believe beauty is a gift, and that honoring the artistic and spiritual expressions of others is itself an act of love. You don't need any mosaic experience to be here — only a willingness to slow down, be present, and let something beautiful emerge from your hands.

All materials are included. No prior experience necessary. Prepare to be delighted.