How to Make a Frida Kahlo Nicho

Let’s create a stunning, colorful 3D Frida Kahlo nicho perfect for your home or Day of the Dead celebrations.

As many of you might know, July is Frida Kahlo’s birthday month. To celebrate, we honored her with a pair of decoupage earrings featuring one of our favorite portraits of the iconic Mexican artist.

This fall, I've come across countless pins, products, and illustrations paying tribute to Frida, which sparked my inspiration to create something original and colorful for my workspace.

One of the best thing about this idea is the fact that I can use this nicho in my Day of the Dead decorations as well, because it resemble the traditional nichos that are so popular during this celebration.

We’ll bring a black-and-white portrait of Frida Kahlo to life by framing it in a shadow box designed to mimic a traditional nicho.

Inspired by Frida's vibrant artwork and her distinctive clothing and accessories, I set out to recreate her iconic style using colored pencils, fabric scraps, buttons, fabric flowers, and other eclectic materials I found around the house.

This DIY project will let your creativity soar, and you'll end up with a unique and colorful Frida Kahlo nicho to brighten up your space. Follow the steps below to make your own!

MATERIALS:

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• Wood Shadow Box (Similar to a this one here)

• A black and white portrait of Frida Kahlo

• Acrylic paint (All the colors you want to add to your art piece!)

• Brushes

• Small fabric or paper flowers, like these ones here.

• Glue for crafts. Our favorite is this one.

• Scissors

• Color pencils or markers

• A pair of earrings or buttons.

• Fabric scraps or other kind of appliques

How to Make a Frida Kahlo Nicho:

1. Print a High-Quality Portrait:

• Begin by selecting a high-resolution black-and-white portrait of Frida Kahlo. Print it on quality matte paper, which is ideal for coloring with pencils and markers.

  Note: You can find royalty-free portraits online—just ensure they are high quality for the best results.

  2. Paint the Frame:

• Choose a paint color for your frame that complements your home decor. I opted for a vibrant purple that I love, but feel free to get creative with your choice. Apply the paint evenly to the frame and let it dry completely before the next step.

  3. Decorate Frida’s Portrait:

• Add color to Frida’s black-and-white portrait to bring it to life. Use colored pencils and markers to enhance details such as her face, clothing, and iconic features. Focus on adding vibrant color to her lips and attire, but feel free to get creative and add color wherever you feel like it.

  4. Cut Out Frida’s Silhouette:

• Carefully cut out the silhouette of Frida’s face and clothing from the black and white printed portrait. This will allow you to position her picture in the center of the nicho. Make precise cuts to ensure the silhouette fits neatly into the shadow box.

  5. Glue the Portrait into the Nicho:

• Secure Frida Kahlo’s portrait inside the shadow box or nicho frame. Apply a thin layer of craft glue to the back of the portrait and press it firmly into place. Make sure it’s centered and smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles.

  6. Add Decorative Details:

• This is where you can let your creativity shine! Glue colorful fabric flowers around Frida’s head to recreate her iconic flower crown. Enhance the nicho with additional fabric scraps, appliqués, or other embellishments along the sides of the portrait. For an extra touch, use buttons as earrings to add a unique, three-dimensional effect.

Your Frida Kahlo Nicho is Ready!

Where will you display yours? I’ve placed mine in my workspace to decorate it for Dia de Muertos, and it adds a vibrant and inspiring touch to the room.

For more DIY projects and crafts inspired by Dia de los Muertos, explore our additional ideas here.