How to Make a Simple Skeleton Paper Garland for Halloween 2025

Looking for a low-cost, high-fun Halloween activity? 🎨 The Simple Skeleton Paper Garland is one of those magical DIYs that kids love making—and you’ll love displaying! It’s the kind of craft that turns an afternoon of cutting and coloring into a spooky-chic decoration. Did you know that DIY Halloween décor is rising in popularity by over 30% each year? That’s a lot of glue sticks and giggles! Let’s dive into how you can create a memorable craft moment while also adding a personal touch to your seasonal décor.

What You’ll Need for Your Simple Skeleton Paper Garland

Okay, before you dive into skeleton-cutting madness, let’s talk supplies. I used to overthink craft lists—like, do I need ten shades of glitter glue? Nope. For this one, you can keep it super simple.

🛠️ My Tried-and-True Supply List:

• 1 sheet of white cardstock – I’ve tried regular printer paper before, but honestly? It just flops. Cardstock gives your skeletons some backbone—literally.
• Black markers or washable markers – Sharpies are great, but if your kids are anything like mine, go with washable. We’ve had too many black-marker-mustache moments.
• Scissors – I highly recommend using kids’ safety scissors if little hands are involved. Also… keep a backup pair. Ours always go missing at the worst time.
• Black string or twine – I used leftover kitchen twine last year, and it totally worked. Don’t overcomplicate it.
• Hole puncher – You can try poking holes with a pencil (been there), but a hole punch makes life easier.
• Pencil for sketching – Go light with your lines, so they’re easy to erase or cut around.
• Tray or newspaper – TRUST ME. I skipped this once and had marker ink on my dining table for months. Don’t be me.

🔎 A Few Things I Learned the Hard Way:

• Don’t use glossy paper. The markers smudge and your skeleton ends up looking like it just crawled out of a swamp.
• If you’re working with a group of kids (classroom, party, whatever), pre-cutting the cardstock into smaller squares speeds everything up.
• Keep wet wipes nearby. Crafting plus snacks equals sticky hands and stained skeletons.
• Set everything up like an assembly line. I used to just throw it all on the table and let chaos reign… bad idea. One tray for markers, one for paper, scissors in the middle. Boom—organized chaos.

😅 Quick Anecdote:

One Halloween, my niece tried to make her skeleton a ballerina. She asked if she could use cotton balls for a tutu. We hot glued them on. It was a puffy disaster—but the kind you smile about later. So yeah, get creative. Even if your skeleton ends up looking like a disco ghost, it’s part of the fun.

💬 Final Thought:

Gathering supplies isn’t just prep—it sets the tone. You get the kids hyped, you get yourself mentally ready, and most importantly—you avoid that “ugh, we’re missing string” meltdown mid-craft. Print the list or screenshot it. You’ll thank yourself later.

Sketching Your Skeletons – Keep It Fun & Simple

So, here’s the deal—don’t stress about drawing the “perfect” skeleton. You’re not auditioning for art school. I used to obsess over proportions and bone accuracy (what was I thinking?), but kids just want to draw goofy skulls and spaghetti-leg skeletons. And honestly? Those end up being the cutest.

🦴 Keep It Cartoony

I always start with a big ol’ circle for the head and stick limbs. The body’s just an oval. Boom—done. Add two dots for eyes and a bunch of vertical lines for ribs, and suddenly it looks like something out of a haunted stick-figure comedy show.

You want a tip? Use light pencil strokes. My daughter went in with a pen once and had a meltdown when she messed up the eyes. Lesson learned. Pencil first, then outline with marker after cutting.

👶 Templates Save the Day (Especially With Littles)

If your kids are tiny or not into freehand drawing, print out a few basic skeleton outlines online. I did this for a Halloween party at my nephew’s daycare. We printed like 20 skeletons, and they went wild decorating them—one even had a mohawk.

Templates = sanity saver.

🎩 Add Personality!

We started giving each skeleton a “job” last year. My son made a “pirate skeleton” with an eye patch. I drew a “chef skeleton” holding a spoon. Totally ridiculous, but it made them laugh for like 15 minutes straight.

So yeah, don’t stop at bones—give your skeletons some flair:

• Witch hats
• Capes
• Glasses
• Bow ties
• Mustaches (huge hit)

🤯 One Time, I Overcomplicated It…

I tried to get “realistic” one Halloween. Like, I actually looked up a human skeleton diagram. Took forever and nobody could tell the difference. My husband legit thought I drew a lizard.

Now? I keep it playful, silly, and fast. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s fun.

✅ Quick Tips:

• Use index cards or square up your paper—keeps the size consistent.
• Make one “example skeleton” to help guide the younger kids.
• Let them name their skeletons! Ours had names like “Mr. Bonetastic” and “Skelly Smalls.”

💬 Final Thought:

Sketching is where the magic begins. This is the part where kids really get into it. Let ’em be weird. Let ’em be silly. You’ll be amazed how proud they are of a skeleton with three arms and a party hat.

Assembling the Garland – Punch, Thread, & Tie

Alright, you’ve got your gang of skeletons—some spooky, some sassy, one probably wearing a cowboy hat. Now comes the oddly satisfying part: stringing them all together like spooky pearls on a Halloween necklace.

🔘 Punch First, Thread Later

I used to think you could just eyeball where to punch the holes. Mistake #1. Punch too close to the edge, and your skeleton’s head might pop right off mid-hang. Not a great look.

Do this instead:

• Punch a small hole in the top center of the head (or near the hat if they’ve got one).
• If you’re using thicker string, test that it fits before punching all the others.
• Don’t punch the arms or legs—it’ll just dangle funny. Trust me, I’ve tried it.

Pro tip: Stack 2-3 skeletons and punch through them at once. Saves time, and keeps the hole placement consistent.

🧵 Threading Can Be Weirdly Tricky

Threading the string through all those holes sounds chill, right? Nope. The twine frays. The paper catches. The string tangles in the weirdest ways.

Here’s what’s worked for me:

• Tape the end of the string so it’s firm—like a shoelace tip.
• Thread from back to front so the string hides behind the skeletons.
• Space them evenly, unless you’re going for “skeleton traffic jam” vibes.

Add a knot on each side of the hole to keep ’em from sliding around. Otherwise, you hang it up and suddenly all the skeletons are huddled together like they’re in a group hug.

😅 That One Time I Didn’t Use Knots…

I made this gorgeous garland with six personalized skeletons, each carefully named and decorated. Hung it on the mantle, stepped back to admire—and every single one slid to the middle like a bony conga line. So yeah, tie those knots.

🧡 Bonus Flair

Feeling fancy? Toss in some:

• Mini pom poms
• Tiny paper bats
• Beads or buttons between each skeleton

It’s your garland. Make it extra you.

🛠 Quick Assembly Tips:

• Use a safety pin to help guide the string through tight holes
• Measure your string after laying out your skeletons—better too long than too short
• Keep it loose enough to drape but tight enough to hang without drooping

💬 Final Thought:

Stringing your skeletons is like the ribbon on the gift. It pulls everything together and turns a pile of decorated bones into a spooky little masterpiece. And once it’s up on your wall or across a doorway? Instant Halloween joy. 🎃

Hanging Your Garland – Where to Display It

This is the moment when it all comes together—literally. After all the cutting, coloring, and threading, it’s finally time to show off your spooky masterpiece. But if you’re like me, you’ll spend 20 minutes walking around the house asking, “Does this look good here… or here?”

🎯 Best Spots to Show Off Your Skeleton Squad

I’ve tried just about every surface in my house. Some hits, some definite misses.

Here are my faves:

• Mantel: Classic. The garland drapes like it was born to be there.
• Doorways: Especially fun if the skeletons hang at just the right height to surprise people.
• Windows: If you’ve got front-facing windows, this is prime spooky real estate.
• Stair railings: Wrap it around with some faux spiderwebs for bonus points.
• Bookshelves or headboards: Weirdly charming—and perfect if you’re short on space.

🛠 Pro Hanging Hacks

I once used duct tape. Big mistake. Peeled paint. Now I only use:

• Clear command hooks
• Removable washi tape
• Little binder clips on curtain rods

Don’t make my wall-peeling, paint-chipping mistake. 😬

And always hang it loosely. If you pull it too tight, it won’t drape naturally. Give it a bit of swag (not the TikTok kind—the fabric kind).

💡 Add Some Halloween Flair

Want to level it up? Try this:

• String in some orange fairy lights
• Add mini pumpkins or bats between the skeletons
• Layer it over some black cheesecloth or fake spiderwebs

Last year, I added orange twinkle lights behind the garland on our fireplace, and my neighbor literally asked if I bought it from a craft store. Nope. Just some DIY, a glue stick, and stubborn determination.

😂 True Story

One year, we hung the garland in the hallway. My toddler ran into it face-first, screamed “ZOMBIES!” and refused to walk that way for the rest of the day. Now we keep it above toddler height.

💬 Final Thought:

Wherever you hang it, the skeleton garland becomes part of the magic. It says, “Yep, Halloween lives here.” And honestly? Every time I walk past mine, I smile. It’s not just decoration—it’s a memory on a string.

Tips for Crafting With Kids

Let me tell ya—crafting with kids is part joy, part chaos, and all patience. If you’re going into this expecting a Pinterest-perfect moment, you’re setting yourself up for a glitter-filled breakdown. 😅 But if you’re cool with a little mess and a lot of laughs, it’s gonna be awesome.

🧤 Start with the Setup

Before any paper gets cut or markers come out, I prep the zone like a madwoman. Think of it like crafting armor.

Here’s what I lay down:

• A plastic tray for each kid (or old cookie sheets—lifesaver).
• Newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.
• Aprons or oversized T-shirts for paint/glue disasters.
• Wet wipes. SO MANY WIPES.

You’d be amazed how fast a clean table turns into a haunted art battlefield.

✂️ Keep the Tools Simple & Safe

I made the mistake once of giving my niece the “grown-up” scissors. She cut her skeleton and her sleeve. 😬 Lesson learned.

Here’s the go-to list now:

• Child-safe scissors (round tips!)
• Washable markers only
• Pre-punched holes for little fingers
• No sharp hole punchers—seriously, don’t risk it

If you have toddlers or younger kids, do the cutting ahead of time and let them go wild with decorating. Stickers, crayons, even foam shapes work great.

🧠 Manage Expectations (Yours, Not Theirs)

Kids don’t care if the garland looks symmetrical or if one skeleton has two left feet. That’s part of the fun. Let go of perfection and let them lead.

I used to correct every crooked arm or upside-down skull. Then I realized… my “help” was ruining their fun. Now I just let ‘em roll with it—even if the skeleton ends up with antlers and sunglasses.

🕐 Break It Into Chunks

If you’ve got multiple kids or short attention spans, split it up:

• Day 1: Sketching
• Day 2: Cutting and decorating
• Day 3: Stringing and hanging

Stretching it out keeps it fun and avoids meltdown territory. Bonus: You get more Halloween craft nights!

😂 My Favorite Kid Moment Ever…

One kid held up their skeleton and said, “This one’s a scientist. He studies ghost germs.” I still don’t know what that means, but it’s framed on my fridge.

💬 Final Thought:

Crafting with kids isn’t about making perfect decor—it’s about making memories. Be flexible. Laugh at the mess. And take a picture of that skeleton with five eyes and a crown, because one day they’ll be too cool to craft with you… and you’ll miss the chaos.

So there you have it—your full-blown, bone-shaking, giggle-inducing Simple Skeleton Paper Garland. What started as a sheet of cardstock has now turned into a handmade Halloween decoration packed with personality (and maybe a little too much glitter). 🎃

I’ve made this craft with nieces, nephews, neighbor kids, even a couple of grumpy preteens who pretended they were too cool—until they drew sunglasses on their skeleton and named it “Skellyoncé.”

Whether your garland ends up looking spooky, silly, or like it survived a skeleton rave, it’s yours. And that’s the best part.