My prototype is a small (2,5 x 5 cm) shield for the arduino, which just fits the mcp2515 and a can tranceiver (both can be sampled from TI afair). All is done with smd components and pinheaders through hole, as i think thats easiest. The shield's size makes all the analog and half of the digital i/o pins available when the shield is on.
I can upload the eagle files if you want