In this project, you will learn how to create your own customized, realistic rotting corpse using a skeleton, a pair of panty hose, liquid latex, and a few other common items. Once completed, this prop can be stored and will last for years to come. And, the cost of the materials is relatively inexpensive.
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1.
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Please read all the instructions BEFORE you go out and buy anything.
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2.
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There is considerable drying time involved when using liquid latex. Don't attempt this project the weekend before Halloween. Give yourself plenty of time to ensure success.
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3.
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Make sure to work on this project in an area with proper ventilation.
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ALLERGY ALERT: If you are allergic to latex, this is probably a project you should avoid. It requires the use of liquid latex which has some pretty strong fumes. It's also a pretty messy material and can easily get on your skin, clothes, shoes, etc. |
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5.
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Ready your skeleton. Buckies and economy line skeletons often come packed with the legs and/or arms detached. Attach the legs, but not the arms — not yet anyway. For the purposes of these instructions, I am using an "Easy on the Pocket Paul" economy skeleton. But, I have used Buckies, Barts, and Barneys for our yard haunt.
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6.
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Find a nice sturdy place to hang your skeleton. Good ventilation is a must. Your corpse will smell and be tacky for several days (or even weeks depending on the type of latex you use) after corpsing. Make sure you have the proper time and space to complete your corpse in time for Halloween.
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 Pull the pantyhose up the corpse all the way to the neck.
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8.
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 Gather the waste behind the neck, pull it taught, and tie it off. If you've got enough excess, you can tie it in a knot. If not, you can use a wire tie or a small piece of wire or string to tie it off. Once complete, trim off any excess pantyhose material.
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Now, pull the legs of the pantyhose down past the feet until they are fairly taught across the legs of your skeleton.
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10.
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Tie it off at the bottom of the foot.
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11.
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 Clip off the excess.
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12.
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Now, pull the excess pantyhose we just cut from the feet over the arms. You want the fingers where the toes would normally be. Pull it tight. It's ok if the hand gets stuck in a bent position. We'll fix that in a couple steps.
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 Again, tie off the panty hose at the top of the arm and cut off the excess. Once that's done, you can re-attach the arms to the skeleton.
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With the two small pieces of excess pantyhose remaining, cover the skull. You'll need to tie it off at the top of the skull and again at the back of the neck. (Optional) If you don't have enough left over to cover the skull, just use a pair of knee highs or another pair of panty hose.
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Now that you've "skinned" your skeleton, it's time to distress it.
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Using a sharp pair of scissors, score the pantyhose by scraping the blade against the panty hose. Fill the skin with as many holes and wear as desired. Don't be afraid to move and stretch your nylons to get the desired look.
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Be careful when cutting the eye, nose, and mouth holes. These are the primary source of "character" for your corpse. Choose your cuts wisely to achieve your desired facial expression. If your eye, nose, or mouth holes don't look right, don't be afraid to put new nylons over the head. Now is the time to make that decision before you start applying the latex.
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18.
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Cut the panty hose at the tips of the fingers and toes and push them down between the fingers and toes. This should now give you enough slack to straighten out the hands and feet.
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19.
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It's time to start adding your layer(s) of latex skin.
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