Sculpting strings of bones is super easy, and helps to set the mood for spooky decorations. Make the bones from homemade play dough, or, for an edible version, make them from cookie dough. Real cookies will be more likely to break than the play dough version. Use the opportunity to teach young children about the bones in their bodies while having fun. These are less macabre than the bone sculptures at the Sedlec Ossuary.
Kids can lose interest in sculpting without encouragement. This kids Halloween craft is a fun way to keep their interest and show that their creations don't have to be perfect. It's impossible put a price on the creativity and artistic growth of kids when they are encouraged to create their own 3D decorations for Halloween.
How to Make Play Dough Bones That Look Human
- Make the dough following this recipe, but instead of unsweetened Kool Aid, steep a teabag in the water for a minute to give the bones a brownish old look. Since it will be baked dry, a little extra flour can be worked in to stiffen it and shorten the drying time.
- A dog bone cookie cutter is helpful, but not necessary to shape the bones, it will help keep the bones the same size. Roll the dough to about 1/4" thickness, and use a dog bone cutter to cut out.
- Stretch the bones and roll them slightly to look more like human bones than dog biscuits.
- Place on an ungreased baking tray, and use a coffee stirrer or a skewer to make a hole in each end of the bones for stringing.
- Bake at 250° for several hours or overnight until they are dried. The drying time will vary depending on the humidity. They can be strung before they are completely dry, and will finish drying where they are hung. The salt prevents mold and bugs from being a problem.
String the Bones On a Garland
Wrap a small piece of scotch tape around the end of a length of kitchen string. This helps get the string through the holes. Tie a knot at each end of the bones when tying them end to end. They can also be tied to dangle from the string, just tie a knot on each side of one end of the bones so they stay in place.
Challenge older kids to form other human bones from the dough referring to a diagram. Just be ready to have your very own Halloween graveyard to treat kids who come for trick or treating. Hang stings of bones like a gruesome bead curtain in the doorway, and see who's willing to stick their hand through to reach the bowl of candy. Or put them in the bowl with the candy. Have a creative, fun, and safe Halloween. Only you will know the bones you make aren't real.
Corinne Shibley - Corinne Shibley studied sculpture in art history and created her own sculpture on the way to a B.A. in Studio Art. "There's something ...
Join the Conversation