How to Make a Poseable Skeleton

The skeleton is one of the most popular decorations for Halloween. This craft can be made using mostly recycled materials. The result is an attractive skeleton which is just scary enough to be amusing. Pose this Halloween skeleton craft in just about any posture you like. He looks particularly good displayed in a window. Older children who are able to cut neatly with scissors can help put this project together.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Skeleton template
• Chipboard
• Paper
• Craft glue
• Hot glue
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Brass fasteners
• Tape

1. 
    

   Print out the Halloween skeleton craft template shown or use it as a guide to create your own. Allow the ink to dry. Spread craft glue across the unfinished side of a cereal box or old gift box with a scraper or use a glue stick. Attach the parts of the skeleton to the chipboard and smooth the paper with your hands.

2. 
    

   Cut the parts of the skeleton out with scissors, noting which part it is on the back side. Place the skeleton's pieces on a clean, clear workspace. Use a hole punch to make a hole in each place where you see a black dot.

3. 
    

   Attach the head of the skeleton to the ribcage with a brass fastener. Place the round, flat end of the fastener on the front of the skeleton, and put the tabs on the back. Ensure that the fastener is loose enough to hold the pieces together, but not so tight that they can't move freely.

4. 
    

   Attach each upper arm bone to the shoulder joints. Attach the lower arms to the upper arm bones at the elbow, pointing the thumb bones inward. If they're pointing outward, switch the lower right arm bone with the left. Attach the top portion of the skeleton's pelvis to the lower part of the ribcage.

5. Secure the upper thigh bones to the holes in the lower part of the hip bone. Make sure that the top part of the hip bones are pointing inward. Attach the skeleton's lower leg bones to the upper bones at the knee joint, feet pointing out.

6. Attach the kneecaps over the brass fasteners at the joint between the upper and lower leg bones. Use hot glue for a more secure bond.

7. Tape the finished skeleton to a door, wall or window for display. Pose the skeleton by securing his bones in place with tape. Make a loop out of the tape and attach it to the back of the skeleton.

Tips & Warnings

• Find brass fasteners at office supply stores.
• Use a scrap piece of chipboard to scrape the glue.

[jenniferclaerr]

on 3/15/2009 If you're having difficulty printing out the Halloween skeleton patterns, click on the images, then right-click them and select "Save Picture As..." Save the craft patterns to your hard drive. Open them in your favorite image viewer or photo processing software and print them from there.