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How to Make Halloween Skeletons

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Fun handmade yard skeletons are perfect to decorate for Halloween. These are easy and budget-friendly DIY projects you can make with pallet wood, pressure, or pressure-treated lumber. My friend, Amy, from 1905 Farmhouse blog made one last year and I have been dreaming of making some too. See the night view here.

How to Make a Wooden Skeleton

How to Make a Wooden Skeleton

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How to Build a Wood Skeleton

What you need to make a wooden yard skeleton:

Lumber

  • 1 x 8 x 8 pine board
  • 2 x 2 x 8 pressure treated

Tools and Supplies

Cutting your lumber

Wood for Halloween Skeleton

Wood for Halloween Skeleton

Begin by cutting the head in a 1″ x 8″ x 10″ rectangle using a chop saw.

Cut a 1 x 5 x 18 for the hip bone using a chop saw.

Note the rest of the board will be ripped into strips using a table saw.

Next, cut 2 leg pieces at 1 x 2 x 28″ using a chop saw.

Cut a shoulder piece at 1 x 2 18″ with a chop saw.

For the arms cut 2 pieces at 1 x 1.5 x 22″ using a chop saw.

Using a chop saw cut three rib pieces at 1 x 1.5 x 14″.

The center pole (backbone) can be cut to your desired length we cut ours at 2 x 2 x 85″.

 

Head and Hip pattern

Head and Hip pattern

 

Skeleton head traced on wood

Skeleton head traced on the wood

Cutting out the hip pattern

Cutting out the hip pattern

Cutting the Halloween Skeleton arms

Cutting the Halloween Skeleton arms

Lumber cuts for skeleton

Lumber cuts for skeleton

Using a bandsaw to cut out the head

Using a bandsaw to cut out the head

Cutting the head with a band saw

Cutting the head with a band saw

Pre drill with countersink bit

Pre-drill with a countersink bit

Assembly guide

Assembly guide

Assembly guide

Assembly guide

Countersink the head

Countersink the head

Screw the should piece onto the backbone

Screw the should piece onto the backbone

Install the ribs

Install the ribs

Countersink hipbone

Countersink hipbone

Pre-drill countersink for both arms and attack to shoulder

Pre-drill countersink for both arms and attack to shoulder

Countersink the legs

Countersink the legs

Add a second screw to attach each leg

Add a second screw to attach each leg

Painting the Halloween Skeleton

Painting the Halloween Skeleton

Use the printout to trace on the face features. I made a little video on how to trace on the face.

 

Skeleton head

Skeleton head

 

This is the area where we will install one skeleton

This is the area where we will install one skeleton

The obelisks were made in an earlier DIY project read more about it HERE. 

You might also like these Halloween DIY ideas too:

This adorable Halloween Boo Bag was created by my sweet daughter, Olivia. She includes everything you need to make a cute bag and candy wrappers. We made a how-to video HERE.

Halloween Boo bag

Halloween Boo bag

I have been working on some easy gorgeous fall decorating projects you are going to love so if you don’t want to miss any inspiration join The Fall Inspiration Newsletter and get it delivered to your inbox.

See you soon,

Kippi

 

 

 

 

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Julie

Wednesday 21st of October 2020

These are very cool! I think halloween is going to be a pretty low key affair round here this year but I'm pinning for another year!

Chas Greener

Monday 19th of October 2020

These are super cute Kippi! Thanks for sharing

Kim | Shiplap and Shells

Monday 19th of October 2020

This is so cute Kippi! I definitely need to make one next year. Pinned for reference!

Kippi

Monday 19th of October 2020

Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you will make one too. Hugs, Kippi

Marie-Interior Frugalista

Wednesday 14th of October 2020

Your wooden Halloween skeletons are so cute! They have so much more character than store bought.

Kippi

Monday 19th of October 2020

Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you have a great week. Hugs, Kippi

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