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Creepy-Cute Skeleton Pumpkin Craft πŸ–€πŸ‘»

Creepy-Cute Skeleton Pumpkin Craft πŸ–€πŸ‘»

DIY Halloween Skeleton Pumpkin with Transfers & Stencils

Happy spooky season, friends! Melissa Bradshaw from Junk and Craft Treasures is back on the Essential Stencil page with a playful Halloween project. In this tutorial, she combines our Bones to Blossoms Transfers, Halloween 1” Words, and the Damask Pattern Stencil to create a whimsical skeleton popping out of a pumpkin.

This is such a fun way to use your stencils and transfers beyond signs β€” and Melissa shows you how to layer them for the perfect creepy-cute dΓ©cor piece.


Table of Contents


Materials Needed


Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep & Base Coat

Start with your wood skeleton cutout. Make sure it’s clean and ready to paint.

Paint the head white, including the sides.

Paint the skeleton’s body orange. For extra dimension, Melissa mixed in some white for highlights.


2. Paint Hands & Features

Paint both wooden hands white and set aside to dry.

Paint the nose and eyes black. You’ll add details later with paint pens.


3. Paint the Hat

Give the hat a whimsical look with lime green in the center, light purple at the top, and dark purple at the bottom. Let dry.

Cut pumpkin, flower, and butterfly designs from the Bones to Blossoms Transfer Pack. Burnish them onto the hat using the transfer tool.


4. Add Damask Stenciling

Lay the Damask Stencil over the orange body. Lightly stencil white paint for a subtle patterned background.

Lightly sand once dry to soften the effect.


5. Add Skeleton Transfer

Cut a skeleton design from the Bones to Blossoms Transfers. Burnish onto the wooden body piece with the transfer tool.

Attach the center piece with adhesive.


6. Assemble & Add Details

Use white and yellow paint pens to add details inside the eyes.

Assemble the head: attach the hat, eyes, and nose with adhesive. Draw the mouth with a black pen.


7. Add Word Stencil & Hands

Stencil the word CREEPY from the Halloween 1” Words Set using black paint.

Attach the painted hands with adhesive.


Final Reveal

Your whimsical skeleton pumpkin is ready to display for Halloween!


Helpful Tips

  • Mix shades of orange for depth and dimension on the pumpkin.
  • Always burnish transfers firmly for a smooth finish.
  • Stencil lightly β€” less paint on your brush means cleaner lines.
  • If you make a mistake with paint, remember: it’s just paint! Let dry and layer again.

Shop Melissa’s Favorite Supplies

Want more creative ideas? Explore our full Rub-On Transfer Collection for endless seasonal DIY inspiration!


Watch the Full Tutorial

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