Decide how big you want your skull to be. Mine was aprox. 6' tall. Using the heavy gauge wire, bend it to the shape as shown, secure ends together. Criss-cross with bailing wire several times from side to side to keep frame from spreading.

Bend large wire to conture the shape of the skull, encircling eyes and nose.

Put screen wire into the eye sockets and nose. Cover frame with chicken wire. Roll a couple of pieces of chicken wire and put over eyes to build up brow area.

This is the side view of how your skull should look. Mine was only about a foot deep, just enough to give it a 3D look.

There are a couple of ways you can finish your skull. If you can afford it, use the spray foam insulation. First cover your skull with burlap (this is where hog rings really come in handy as they keep everything in place). Now apply the foam, spread it thin with a paint brush as you spray it on. After it sets up, paint with latex paint.

The second way you can finish your skull is with monster grit. Most of you have heard of "monster mud" which consists of paint and wall plaster. The problem with this is that if you ever plan to use your creation outside, you have to completly paint over it with polyurathan. That's a lot of time and trouble. I've figured out that you can get a rock hard, long-lasting-in-any-weather finish by mixing your paint with cement or tile grout. Mix half and half, adding enough water to get a thin gravy consistancy. If you have sensitive skin, you will need to put on rubber gloves now. Cut large pieces of burlap and dip into your paint mixture, completely coating it. Lightly squeeze out excess mix and spread over your skull until it is completly covered (except the eyes and nose). Hog ring around edges, around eyes and nose, and maybe a few in the recessed areas.

Cut the teeth out of the 1/2 inch foam, paint, and glue on with liquid nail.

Finish your skull by spray painting the eye sockets and nose black. Also shadow areas like under the cheeks, across the brow, and around the teeth. You might want to paint crack coming down from the top. That's it! You're done!

Tree's by Tracy

If I got you confused, or you have any comments or questions,
don't hesitate to concatact me at beasleys@brightok.net.