Its Halloween and Every year our office uses this opportunity to raise money for a local charity. This year have decided to celebrate Dia Dos Muertos – or the day of the dead.  This is a Mexican celebration which focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember those who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.

We have chosen an amazing local charity to support this year. RockingHorse.The charity is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and also supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. They raise money for life-saving and cutting-edge medical equipment, while ensuring that children are treated in an environment that is better suited to their needs.

Obviously for us this is about raising money and having fun so we have focused on face painting, decorating the office and having a Dia Dos Muertos themed pub crawl ending at a great pub which also houses our local Mexican cantina – what could go wrong.

Over the last month I have learned loads about this ceremony from the foods and offerings that are mad, to face painting to costumes. Ive also picked up a new craft – making Dia dos Muertos flowers – which are used to adorn everything from the shrines people have in their houses to the outfits everyone wears on the day.

As Dia Dos Muertos seems to be THE theme for Halloween this year I thought I’d share this easy to make decoration with you as I couldn’t believe how professional they look – even for an amateur like me.

I documented each stage with a really bad picture so thought that was the best way to show you what to do.

You will need…

• Large sheet of tissue paper per flower
• Pipe-cleaner if you are making stems
• stapler
• scissors

Then all you do is this… Once you get going these are so easy to make and look stunning en masse. Traditional colours are orange and black (we will be making loads) but I liked the pink and yellow colours too.

We have 300 to make for our office so wish us luck!!