Carved Sugar Skulls

With it being a day filled with all things rich in carved goodness here are a pair of lanterns to light your way to our door.

First up is Janelle in Chandler, AZ who carved this Funkin (foam pumpkin) using a Dremel.

Randall Ensley also sent us a sugar skull inspired design in the traditional format that rots away in a few days.

All Hallowed C says:

Thank you both for your submissions it is always exciting to see how the tradition of pumpkin carving continues to evolve and get more technical with specialized tools to make intricate designs. Have a safe and happy holiday everyone! Those of our readers affected by this week's extreme weather on the East Coast our thoughts are with you.

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Happy Halloween

For Halloween this year I've dressed up as one of my favorite artists, Frida Kahlo.

Hope everyone is having a spectacular time and that all my readers over by the East Coast are faring well given the circumstances.

Are you dressing up? Doing any yoga in costume? Let me know.

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win an Akumu Ink 'Mad Hatter' Skull Shirt

This contest has ended. Thanks to everyone who participated and for the excellent comments.

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 TONIGHT to enter our latest giveaway contest for the party going Mad Hatter skull shirt from Akumu Ink.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+]

As you can see, they have men and women's styles available so you can find the right fit for you no matter who you are.  Even if you don't win you can still feel like a winner by purchasing some gear in the Akumu Ink store.  Plus, you can still get a 20% discount on your purchase by entering the promo code "SKULL20" at checkout.  Thanks, Joey and Aldora!

Dog Rib (Necklace) Skull

Today's bonehead comes from Darien and was accompanied by this message, "Here's a skull that just showed up on my desk. These are dog ribs forming the outline, and I was using the other pieces to gauge which one I would create a pendant for the ribs necklace from. I own Custom Cranium, and create dolls and jewelry from roadkill, shelter kills and other ethically sourced bones and skulls, a new life for the forgotten dead. Someone turned me onto your site years ago and I've been following faithfully since!"

I don't think I could have written this post any better. Plus the last line is truly appreciated. Thanks for the kind words and killer submission, Darien!


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1 more day and counting...

[BONUS] Pumpkin Anatomy II: Update 5

Kevin Kinney "Master of Ceremonies – Vegetable Evisceration" in Greencastle, Indiana shared this glowing image of his interpretation of my jack-o-lantern with a brain...

That is just one of 30+ pumpkins he made this year! Here's another skull-y one he made...

And hey, if you want to make your own anatomical pumpkin, you can use my step-by-step instructions HERE. Of course please send in a picture if you do!

Halloween Skull Cake

Christie Medaglia from upstate New York, "made this skull cake for my son's Halloween party in school." She explained, "My son loves everything skulls. I found a copy of your book in his art teacher's class room tonight at open house, and had to go to your website."

I have fond memories of my mom making all sorts of awesome cakes for different events. However, she never made a skull cake...well I don't recall any skull cakes. I hope Christie's son's class enjoyed her deliciously spooky skull cake. Also, we love knowing how people find Skull-A-Day. I also found Skull-A-Day through one of Noah's books, "Skulls".

[BONUS] Pumpkin Anatomy II: Update 4

My friend Lori in LA did a fantastic job creating her own interpretation of my jack-o-lantern with a brain...

My original one finally experienced brain collapse after too many summer-like days in October!...

You can get step-by-step instructions how to make your own HERE. And of course I hope you'll send in a picture of the results!

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win an Akumu Ink 'Mad Hatter' Skull Shirt

This contest has ended. Thanks to everyone who participated and for the excellent comments.

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 on Wednesday October 31st to enter our newest giveaway contest for the party going Mad Hatter skull shirt from Akumu Ink.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+]

As you can see, they have men and women's styles available so you can find the right fit for you no matter who you are.  Even if you don't win you can still feel like a winner by purchasing some gear in the Akumu Ink store.  Plus, you can still get a 20% discount on your purchase by entering the promo code "SKULL20" at checkout.  Thanks, Joey and Aldora!

Sunday Simulacra - Version 6.22

Today's skull were spotted by our own skull man, Noah Scalin.

Spotted this screaming skull on the bottom of my shoe today!

While in Washington, D.C., Noah "Spotted this guy looking in the window of my train as we sat in the station."


Keep sending those pictures in, we always love seeing what our skull hunters find. Anyone is welcomed to participate, it's fun and it's easy- if you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address with a little something about what it is really and maybe a little about you.


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Super Bold Skull Saturday

Ryan Land of San Leandro, CA is making our day super with these bold and powerful skull illustrations. 

The simple yet bold black and whites are a great representation of the character required to be monarch.  I also like how the shaded regions are created with thinner and thicker lines.  No real shades of  grey, but the illusion is apparent. It's also making me think about how this style could be used in etching glass as well.  Thanks for the super submission, Ryan!

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Box Skull

Philadelphia, PA artist Josean Rivera sent us “Boxxy”- done in spray paint and acrylic on canvas

Apollo C says:

What a wonderful portrait of the Skullmaster's own 72. Papercraft Skull attempted in a brand new way.  Thank you for sharing this piece with us and reminding me that with a Skull-tastic holiday right around the corner, maybe our loyal readers might want to try their hand at some of the FREE activities from the Skull-A-Day archives HERE.

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[BONUS] Pumpkin Anatomy II: Update 4

Kate Makai in Cambridge, Massachusetts was inspired by my jack-o-lantern with a brain to make this great version...

And Speddie in Wilmington, Delaware did a excellent job followed my directions to make this one...

Also thanks to This Isn't Happiness for the shout out about mine...

And here's how the original Pumpkin Anatomy II is holding up...



Want to make your own? The directions are HERE. And of course be sure to send in an image for us to share!

Flow Inspiration

Hooping is a movement art very much like yoga, and I can't get enough of it. This week I made a new Hooping board on Pinterest, so to celebrate - here's some inspiring pics and a Rumi quote sure to get you into the flow.

"We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars, the 

stars form a circle … and in the center, we dance." – Rumi

https://www.facebook.com/shawna.nelles.photography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabbi4/6004430240/in/pool-hoopers/

via (left) http://webbery.com/wp/ and (right) unknown atm

Skull Snow Fort

Jennifer Ferrell's husband Chad built this skull snow fort for their son Parker, a couple years ago.

I have fond childhood memories of making snow forts. We rarely get heavy snow anymore, so my daughter might not get to experience a snow fort while she's a child. However, my favorite snow fort is ICEHOTEL in Sweden. That amazing hotel is built every year. It's the ultimate snow and ice fort. However, it's doubtful many of us will ever get there. If we are lucky enough, we'll get snow were we normally live, and get to sit in our own awesome skull snow fort instead.

[BONUS] Pumpkin Anatomy II: Update 3

Jon Lang did an excellent job following my directions to make his own jack-o-lantern with a brain!...

Plus thanks to Laughing Squid and Design You Trust for the shout outs about my original Pumpkin Anatomy II...

Here's the current state of mine, which is definitely looking grumpier thanks to the 80+ degree weather we've had this week!

Want to make your own? The directions are HERE.

[CONTEST] Win an Akumu Ink 'Mad Hatter' Skull Shirt

This contest has ended. Thanks to everyone who participated and for the excellent comments.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" If you don't know either then it doesn't matter. You don't have to have the right answer to enter our newest giveaway for this skullified Mad Hatter t-shirt from Akumu Ink.  All you need to know is that 'Akumu' is the Japanese word for 'nightmare' and most everything they offer is nightmare inspired and perfect for our particular audience.  These shirts are soft and comfy with badass designs that you will want to "Wear To Death".  Let's all enjoy this tea party as we roll into this last week of counting down to Halloween.

PRIZE INFO: One (1) tea party lovin' Mad Hatter designed shirt in your choice of size.  Don't worry, ladies, they also offer a woman's cut tee for our female readers.  You can see that version here.

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment below telling us the craziest person you would have a tea party with.  And no, you cannot answer the Mad Hatter, that's too obvious.

CONTACT INFO: If you win, we need to contact you. With your comment, please include your email, or make sure your Blogger profile has a working email link for you on it. Entries are only valid with this information.

WHERE TO ENTER: All entries must be made on this blog post, on Skull-A-Day.com. You can NOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

CONTEST CLOSES: 11:59:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time Wednesday, October 31st.

NUMBER OF WINNERS: One

PRIZE SHIPS: This contest is open to all skull lovers around the world.  Be the first one in your neighborhood to own this sweet shirt no matter where you live.

IF YOU DON'T WIN: You can always make yourself feel like a winner by purchasing your own Mad Hatter tee or any of the other awesome designs in the Akumu Ink store.  Right now you can receive 20% off of your order by using the promo code "SKULL20".  Thanks again for the killer giveaway and discount to our readers, Aldora and Joey!

Business Card Skull

Web Designer Craig Edmond from Norwich, CT, USA wrote: "I think your site is great and thought I would send along one of my skull illustrations. This is kind of a digital composite of different sketches I did on the backs of business cards."

Suit Up C says:

This is an awesome composite you put together. There is something wonderfully old about this and when I first saw it I thought New England for some odd reason.  It was interesting to later see where you are from.  This would make an incredible Ex Libris plate, kind of works as we start to see the end of books as we know them. Thank you for submitting your work for us to share.

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7 more days and counting...

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win an "undeadWe" item from Chop Shop

This contest has ended. Thanks again to everyone for all of the comments and good luck in our future giveaways.

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time TONIGHT to be entered in our current contest giveaway for an undeadWe item courtesy of  Chop Shop and The Chopping Block. Follow the link to the original post HERE, or click on the ad in the sidebar.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+]

Of course you don't have to wait until the contest is over to get your own undeadWe item or other products from the Chop Shop store. Right now you will also receive 15% off any purchases by using the promo code “agentskully”.

Drop Backs for Beginners

If you want to work on improving your backbends and working towards drop backs - this video from Kino MacGregor is for you. I've been sorta stalled out on the 3rd option with straight arms for a long time. Mostly 'cause I'm a slacker and I don't work on it very often, but I do the first two versions all the time for fun.

Readers via Email - Click Here for the Video

[BONUS] Pumpkin Anatomy II: Update 2

Patrick Koonts did a fantastic job using my directions to create his own Jack-O-Lantern with a brain!

Here's the current state of  my original Pumpkin Anatomy II....
I think he's holding up pretty well despite the 70 degree October weather!

I hope you'll give this a try with your own pumpkin, just follow the step-by-step instructions HERE. And of course send in a pic when you're done!