Easy Skeleton Craft {with FREE template}

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You are going to absolutely love this easy skeleton craft. Stick around to the end, and I will tell you how I make this moveable paper skeleton craft into a dancing skeleton.

The Occupational Therapist in me really came out on this craft. I just can’t help it sometimes. When I see clothespins, I always think of developing fine motor skills. And, for some reason, I also thought…”Hey, those clothespins would make great ribs!” I cannot explain why my mind works likes this (believe me, people have been trying to figure me out for years), but this time my strange thoughts lead to a really fun and interactive Halloween craft for kids! I know that your kiddo will love it (and maybe even learn a little something along the way…just don’t tell them that).

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Save this Easy Halloween Craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…

SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG

9 paper plates (9 inch coated)
Scissors
Hole punch
Metal brads (15)
Pencil
Black sharpie marker
Newspaper
9 clothespins
White paint
Medium or small pompom
Skeleton craft template

I truly believe that crafting together as a family has so many benefits…from helping your kids develop needed life skills to simply creating memories together. Have you ever noticed that kids get much chattier when their hands are busy (especially boys)? But I know that you are busy, and getting out a bunch of supplies just leaves a mess to clean up later. So, in an effort to make crafting with your kids more do-able, every project on this blog is made from the same list of craft supplies that can fit into one bag. Make up your craft kit using our free printable list (or Amazon links), and you will be good to go! (And did I mention that this a glitter-free zone? You’re welcome!)

Easy Skeleton Craft Instructions

Step 1: Paint the Ribs

Lay out 8 of the clothespins on the newspaper
Pinch the pompom with the remaining clothespin to form a “paint brush”
Squeeze out some white paint onto the newspaper and paint one side of each of the clothespins
Allow the paint to dry while you move on to step 2

Clothespins are such a great way to practice fine motor coordination. Given their size and design, they almost force the user to use a mature pinch grasp to manipulate them. Plus they take a little bit of strength. The ribs can be placed and removed in repetition for lots of fine motor practice and finger strengthening.

Step 2: Use the Skeleton Craft Template

Print the pages below to get the skeleton pieces
Cut out each skeleton pattern piece
Trace the pieces onto the paper plates, making the number of pieces stated and arranging them on the plates to get the most pieces out of each plate as you can. For example, trace the sternum and neck on a single plate. Only use the flat part of the plate, not the edges.
Punch the holes where indicated.

Step 3: Give Your Skeleton Paper Craft Some Details

Now it’s time to add some details. My recommendation is to first draw with a pencil and then go over it with your black Sharpie marker.

*Pay attention to which side you are drawing on. There is a matte and a glossy side to the paper plates. Choose which side you want for the front of your skeleton craft. I choose the glossy side, and liked how it turned out.

Step 4: Put Together Your Skeleton Puppet Craft

Now it’s time to connect the pieces with brads at each joint
Start at the top and work your way down the skeleton body, placing one brass fastener at a time. If you have white fasteners, use those so that they blend into the bones a little better.

*Be sure to make both sides exactly the same for the best look. For example, if you put the hand on top of the arm bone on the right, also put it on top on the left.

SKELETON HALLOWEEN CRAFT STEP 4 — STEP 4

Step 5: Add the Ribcage

Now that the paint has dried on your clothespins, it’s time to put them in place.
These are the ribcage. Attach 4 to each side of the breast bone as pictured.

Now that you know how to make a skeleton craft, it’s time to have some fun with him. Since all of his parts move, you can use him like a puppet. Or you can try this fun video activity…

How to Make This a Dancing Skeleton Craft

Find a flat neutral background somewhere in your house (or outside) where the lighting is good.
Place your skeleton there and position your skeleton however you want for a starting position.

Now put your camera over the skeleton craft pointing down at it. The camera and skeleton should be in the same place for every single picture that you take. If you have a tripod, use it. But if not, just figure out a way to prop your camera in a place where it is stable. One time, I taped my phone to the edge of a chair for this project.
Take a picture, move the skeleton a little, take another picture, move the skeleton a little, take another picture…and so on…until you have at least 20 pictures, if not more.

Then upload you photos into a video editor. There are lots of apps. I use Videoshop, and there is a free version in the app store. Once you have all of your photos in, reduce the time of each pic to about 30 seconds (or less if you want the skeleton to move faster).
Add some music or whatever other effects you want and download.