4. Lifelike Crawling Skeleton Ribcage
If you want to add a macabre, skeletal element to your yard haunt without spending a fortune on plastic skeletons, pool noodles are your saving grace. With their natural curvature, they can be easily manipulated to form a highly realistic, life-sized human ribcage. This prop is perfect for emerging from a pile of autumn leaves or a makeshift grave in your front lawn.
Begin with a central spine made from a wooden dowel or a PVC pipe. Cut white or grey pool noodles into curved segments of graduating sizes to represent the ribs. Secure each rib to the central spine using zip ties, spacing them evenly. To create the sternum in the front, connect the rib ends to a central vertical noodle strip. For a weathered, decayed look, lightly spray the finished ribcage with brown and black spray paint, focusing on the crevices and joints to create depth. You can also wrap sections in cheesecloth soaked in tea to simulate decaying flesh, making it a truly gruesome centerpiece for your outdoor decorations.