Create a spooktacular DIY Pirate Skeleton to display in your home or on your porch this Halloween. A full-sized skeleton gets the full seafaring treatment, complete with an eye patch and hook. This tutorial also includes instructions on how to seat and style your pirate skeleton into a fearsome display, complete with nets, skulls and a little treasure! Be sure to check-out the full Haunted Island Drive-Thru Haunted House!
Paint the inner portions of a full sized skeleton with Brushed Metal paint in charcoal.
Before you begin, affix a Pirate Backdrop to a large piece of cardboard, to stand behind your display. Dampen the skeleton, then brush on a dash of acrylic paint in Yellow Ochre. Use a paintbrush to work the paint into the surface of the skeleton to achieve an aged, yellowed look. Following this, dry brush a bit of the Brushed Metal paint over sections of the bones, to achieve the look of being dirty. Special attention can be focused on the teeth, because as everyone knows, pirates are notoriously terrible at keeping dental appointments.
Add a Pirate Hat and a Eye Patch. The eye patch comes with a fierce looking cutlass, which will also be used in this display.
It's time to add the hook for this dapper pirate's hand. Squeeze the hand of the skeleton, to compress the fingers together as tightly as possible, then wrap tightly with creepy cloth. The hand should now just fit inside the Pirate's Hook. Use the remaining length of creepy cloth to conceal any portion of the hand that is visible. This gives the pirate's hand the look of being bandaged, and also saves you from having to break your skeleton.
Place the cutlass into the skeleton's hand. You may wish to wire or hot glue this to secure it if you'll be keeping your pirate skeleton display outside.
To create a seat for your completed pirate skeleton, place a heavy bag of sand into a spare bucket, and add a support pole that your skeleton can lean on. Conceal this seat with a heavy black net, then prop your skeleton against it, using the skeleton's legs to counterbalance the weight. Add a goblet, some skulls and a healthy ship rat to your display. I've also created a small sign that says "Shiver Me Timbers", using wood look paper over cardboard. Leave your Halloween treats outside with this haunted rogue for a contactless way to deliver treats to all hands on deck!