R.I.P. Skeleton in Coffin

Monday, October 12, 2009

R.I.P. Skeleton in Coffin
designed by Suzie Shinseki

Guarantee a spooktacular Halloween Party with a skeleton in a coffin treat filled centerpiece!

Materials List

–Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint
65038 Black
65130 True Red
65407 Silver Metallics

–Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue®

– Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™
BI15784 Glacier White
BI15799 Holiday Green
BI15800 Chocolate
BI15801 Ebony
BI15825 Royal Blue
BI15827 Golden Tan

Miscellaneous
– Spanish Moss
– Styrofoam (to hold eyeballs in place)
– White chalk or chalk pencil
– D-Rings
– White tissue paper - CELEBRATE IT™
– Toothpicks
– Styrofoam balls - 1½”
– Foil
– Paintbrush No. 6 Round, 1” Flat
– Black fabric
– Sandpaper
– Plastic container
– Felt, 3” x 3” piece
– Painter’s tape
– Chenille Stems - white, black
– Traders Trunk
– Sheet of stiff felt - 1 sheet black
– Styrofoam Egg - oval - 3½” x 4-7/8”
– Styrofoam Egg - oval - 2-13/16 x 3-7/8”
– Pencil with eraser or pen

Instructions

1. COFFIN: Lightly run sandpaper over and inside trunk to remove any loose wood shavings.

2. Pour a puddle of Ebony Soft Fabric Paint™ onto foil. Using 1” Flat paintbrush, paint inside lid and sides of trunk. Let dry.

3. Cut piece of stiff black felt to fit on bottom of trunk and glue with Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue®.

4. Pour some glue into empty container. Add water and stir until mixture reaches a milky consistency.

5. Tear pieces of white tissue paper. Working in small sections at a time, brush glue onto areas of trunk, then place pieces of tissue paper onto adhesive on trunk. As you lay the papers down, manipulate with fingers to create wrinkles and interesting textures. Continue covering the trunk sides and top in the same manner. Let dry.

6. Pour puddles of Ebony and Glacier White onto foil. Using 1” Flat paintbrush, lightly brush over the wrinkled tissue paper on trunk with a mixture of grays to give an old, worn appearance. Let dry.

7. Cut a small piece of felt, fold over a D-ring on the flat end and glue to sides of trunk. Refer to photo. Tape down until dry.

8.
Trace or freehand “R.I.P.” in center of the D-rings and paint with Glacier White. Dry and outline with Dimensional Black. To trace, chalk back of pattern on reverse side, turn right side up, lay on surface and pencil over.

9.
EYEBALLS: Insert toothpicks into balls and into Styrofoam base to hold upright.

10.
Paint a pair of eyes with Royal Blue; mix a little Glacier White into the blue and paint the inner area. Make a dot in center with Ebony for pupil and a tiny white dot for highlight.

11.
For the brown eyes, paint iris with Chocolate. Mix a little Golden Tan to paint inside leaving the chocolate rim. Add the Black pupil and dot with highlight.

12.
For the green eyes, paint with Holiday Green, mix a little Golden Tan for center area and add black pupil and white highlight.

13. Make blood veins with the 3-D True Red.

14. SKELETON HEAD: Using the smaller oval shape, push two holes for eyes using the back of a pen or pencil eraser; a smaller arrow shape for the nose and lines going down for teeth.

15.
SKELETON BODY: Using the larger egg shape, push tip of pencil or pen across to simulate ribs. Paint all pushed in areas with some diluted Ebony to highlight.

16. Fold a chenille stem in half, trim an inch or so on ends. Punch hole in bottom of head and top of body and insert folded pipe cleaner. Add dab of glue to where they join to secure. Let dry.

17.
SKELETON ARMS AND LEGS: Use two chenille stems. Twist the two together at top; twist together a third of the way down and another third to leave ends to create fingers or toes. With remaining stems bend each a third way up and leave remainder (refer to pattern illustration). One end will wrap around to secure and the other will become the fifth toe or finger. Cut the looped ends. Insert the ends of the limbs into the body and dab glue to secure. Let dry.
18. RUNNER: Press fabric. Lightly freehand spider web with chalk (see picture). Go over lines with Tulip Dimensional Metallic Silver. Dry and wipe off chalk marks. The edges of runner can be frayed if desired.

Miscellaneous Notes

To paint eyeballs, insert toothpick in Styrofoam ball and the other end into a flat styrofoam piece to hold in place while painting.