Tag Archives: Halloween decorations

Skeleton Dungeon DIY Halloween Decoration 💀

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I really enjoy setting up Halloween decorations. I have been thinking I should do one of these “skeletons escaping a dungeon” pallet things for years. Finally did it.

Halloween decoration featuring skeletons appearing to escape from a wooden dungeon, complete with chains and hands reaching out.
A Halloween decoration featuring a wooden pallet with skulls and skeleton hands appearing to escape, secured by chains.
A spooky Halloween decoration featuring skeletons appearing to escape from a wooden crate illuminated by purple lights.
A spooky Halloween decoration featuring skeletons trapped under a wooden pallet with purple lights and chains.

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It really didn’t take long, and I neglected to look at any instructions online. Some other ones have a definite “burning pit of hell” vibe. I just went pretty spooky/chill. I have seen some people using Saran Wrap and heat guns or hair dryers to make sinewy gross zombie-ish skeletons, or people painting or staining the bones. I may get to that later, but these looked pretty neat as is for now.

The wood came from a recently town-down old swing set. I didn’t like the two pallets I had on hand for this. I had an old rattle can of black paint that I used to just barely darken it up & kind of make it look more aged.

I got the one skull & forearms/hands from Giant Eagle. I got the other skull, hands, chains, lights, & netting for the back at Dollar Tree. All-in, I think I have around $20 to $25 in this? I swapped the hands for the skulls because the sizes made more sense to me.

After letting the pallet dry, I stapled the lights into the bottom, then I stapled a weird grey ratty cloth under that. Then, I just picked a spot, positioned the skulls, arms/hands, & chains, then plugged it in. OH yeah, I put a weird motion-sensor screamy thing in the one corner too, because it was super-annoying everywhere else.

Do you like to put a DIY spin on Halloween or other holiday decorations? Show me what ya got!

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The Family Decorating Game

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For years, I have teased my wife about a habit I have noticed when we are setting out seasonal decorations. It happened at the apartment where we first cohabitated, it happens at our house now. It happened long before our children were in the picture. She cannot leave anything that I put in place stay where I put it. I put it on the left of a shelf, she moves it to the right. I put it on the wall-shelf, she puts it on the Victrola.

I had to go out for work in the afternoon today, but I set the kids on a path of chaos this morning before I left. My daughter was excited to put out fall decorations. I told her to watch because Mommy moves every decoration that I set out. Then a light bulb went off in my head.

I told her to get a white board for herself, and a white board for her brother, and mark down a point every time they set out a decoration and mommy moves it.

The winner gets to move one of the decorations that Mommy places!

Apparently shenanigans ensued while I was at work. I think it will be a new holiday/seasonal event.

Do you have someone in the house that moves decorations?

Do you have any fun decorating traditions?

Let us know in the comments.