Halloween Crafts: Skeleton Hands (Curtasey WD)

Materials (for one hand): 

Wood beads: 1 large, 10 small

Electric drill and bits

C-clamps; wood spools: 6 large, 16 medium

Foam paintbrush

White acrylic paint

Small and medium wood spools

Hot-glue gun

Strong, thin twine

Scissors.

 

Directions:
1. Clamp large bead to work surface. Drill a hole straight through bead at a right angle to original hole, forming cross. Drill 2 more holes in bead, placing them to each side of new center hole and stopping when bit reaches original hole. This creates 5 holes for thumb and fingers over top of bead and one wrist hole at base.

2. Paint all beads and spools; let dry.

3. To make wrist section, glue 4 medium spools together end-to-end, keeping holes aligned. To make forearm section, glue 5 large spools together end-to-end, keeping holes aligned.

4. To make fingers and thumb, cut 5 pieces of twine, each 3 times as long as the wrist and forearm total length.

5. To make thumb, thread a small bead onto center of one piece of twine. Slip both ends through the remaining large spool, then through another small bead.

6. To make each finger, thread a small bead onto center of each remaining piece of twine. For pinky, slip both ends through 2 small spools, then through another small bead. For middle finger, slip both ends through 4 small spools, then through another small bead. For index and ring fingers, use 3 small spools and assemble in same manner.

7. Arrange fingers and thumb in correct order. Hold both twine ends together for each piece. Slip thumb twine through end hole in bead so ends extend through wrist hole. Slip index finger twine through second hole so ends extend through wrist hole. Slip twine from each remaining finger through holes in order so all ends extend through wrist hole.

8. Hold all twine ends together. Slip all ends through wrist section, then forearm section. Knot ends together, leaving an inch or two of slack in twine. Trim ends.

9. Pull twine knot to make the hand stretch out. Creepy!