Paper Skeleton
By: Amanda Formaro
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 6 and up
Average User Rating:
Parental supervision is recommended
You’ve seen the paper skeletons at the store, but why buy one when you can make your own! Easy instructions and all the patterns you will need.
Be sure to visit our main Halloween index for more spooky fun including more crafts, boo-tiful costumes, ghoulish printables and creepy recipe treats!
What you'll need:
How to make it:
- Using a pencil, trace patterns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 onto white card stock or construction paper. You will need to double up on the hands, feet, arms and legs as there is one pattern for each.
Go over the pencil markings with the black marker. When cutting out patterns, be sure to cut around the black lines so that they are visible when you put your skeleton together. - Use the black marker to color in the eyes and nose on the skull. Also use the marker to draw in definition lines for the spine, neck, ribs, legs, and arms as indicated in the patterns.
- Use a glue stick to attach the skull to the neck, the neck to the shoulder blades, the ribcage to the spine and the spine to the hips.
- Use the toothpick to carefully poke a hole on each shoulder to connect the upper arm, and at each elbow to connect the forearm, at each wrist to connect the hands. You will also need to poke holes at the lower ends of the hips, the knees and the ankles.
- Use paper fasteners to connect all the body parts.
- Cut a simple hat from brown construction paper, a hat band from the blue and a bowtie from red. Glue hat and bowtie on with glue stick.
- To hang on your door simply roll a piece of masking or clear tape onto itself and stick. You may also use a thumbtack.
Tips:
- Because construction paper is lightweight, your limbs will not stay in place when lifted. To have a skeleton you can pose better, use cardstock or poster board.
- Add other fun accessories to your creation like a construction paper watch or even a pair of shoes!
- If you have a steady hand, skip outlining the skeleton with pencil and go straight for the marker.

