Jack the Skeleton and Dr. Franklestein Costume

Hi, so my son is 9 years old wanted to win a Halloween Contest at school. We started researching what we could make. He decided he wanted to be Jack the Skeleton because is skinny like Jack and his brother be Dr. Franklestein from the movie Nightmare before Christmas. So we began our project in September.

First we needed to make the Jack the skeleton head and Dr. Franklestein head. We got two balloons and blew them up and started paper mache several layers over each balloon. After we added approximately five layers of paper mache, we then added a layer of plastcraft Pacon Plastr Craft Modeling Plaster to each head. Then the real challenge was making the face.

Lets start with Jack first. We used modeling clay to shape the eyes and nose after it dried we added a layer of Plastr craft and joint compound. It took days of sanding and adding joint compound until we had the look we wanted. Then we went on to the teeth which was the same process we had added layers of joint compound let it dry and sand and over and over for about three weeks. Then we started to paint his face and sprayed a sealant. The trick was how was it going to sit on his head. I got the airplane neck rest and put it inside and it worked like a charm.

Dr. Franklestein head was bit challenging as well. Went to the dollar store and bought a brain mold and duck mouth. I taped the duck mouth to the head and painted the brain mold red. We cut a piece of his head out and inserted the brain mold. Then we began to add modeling clay and joint compound to the duck mouth. That took several weeks as well because you would add joint compound then sand and so forth. The we painted lips red and made some teeth out of modeling clay. Bought some goggles at the good will store and spray painted them black. Put it all together and we had Dr. Franklestein head. The trick was how was it going to sit on his head. I got the airplane neck rest and put it inside and it worked like a charm.

Moving on to outfits and shoes Jack needed to be up high but my son is only 9. Originally plan was stilts but then he breaks his arm two weeks before. So that was out of the question. I went to good will and bought a black suit with white stripes mens. I began to make a template of Jack suit and the began to cut and sew the suit. Regarding the height he couldn’t be on stilts due to his broken hand. So I went to good will bought some old boots and ordered some two inch eva foam. I cut four pieces of two inch eva foam and attached it to the shoes lifting him up four inches of the ground. We made a platform shoe. Much safer. Finished sewing the suit.

Dr. Franklestein I went to good will bought karate white pants, black shoes and lab coat. Went to Joan fabric and bought black buttons. I hot glued the buttons to the labcoat. Went to home depot and bought some black garden gloves. His costume was done.

Borrowed a wheel chair.
I bought a mop stick painted it black and bought some electrical foam painted it black put a wire hanger in it and shape the top of jack stick. I got some spider webs and pumpkin lights. Walking stick as done.
Zero the dog ghost: Got a yogurt, sprite bottle, brown paper, white sock, 18 gauge, white cloth, black felt, led lights, pumpkin and began to build. Zero nose lights up orange as well.

The costumes were a hit and he won at school. Happy BROTHERS!!