How to Maintain Your 12-Foot Skeleton and Other Giant Halloween Decorations

At 12 feet high and around 6 1/2 feet wide, this giant skeleton is head and shoulders above ordinary Halloween decorations. Very strong and weather-resistant, the skeleton's bones are made of high-density polyethylene, a lightweight plastic.

Whether you decide to keep the skeleton outdoors to greet the neighbors or you set it up inside your home, be sure to clear plenty of space for set up. The skeleton should be placed on a flat, level spot. When you’re setting up the skeleton in your yard, it doesn’t need to be close to an outlet or within reach of an extension cord. The spooky LED eye display runs on batteries.

Tip: If you get a giant skeleton somewhere other than The Home Depot, its height, weight, materials and other specifications may vary.

Before you put the 12-foot skeleton together, allow one to two hours to set the Halloween decoration up. Make sure to line up a minimum of two other people to help you assemble the skeleton.

• Review the instructions in the box for specific directions.
• Take all the parts out of the box. As you take the pieces out of the box, match them to the parts list to make sure they are all there.
• Organize the bones so you know which ones go on the skeleton’s right side and which ones go on the left.
• The skeleton comes with a base. Attach the feet to the base.
• Add the shin connectors, then the shin bones.
• The upper leg supports will be next. Slide the femur bones onto the support poles.

• When it’s time to connect the pelvis to the femurs, using a ladder is recommended.
• Use the box the skeleton came in to make the assembly a little easier. Lean the skeleton, back side up, against the box so that the pelvis is supported.
• Connect the spinal support to the skeleton, then add the rib cage. During this part of the assembly, begin putting together the wires that connect the on/off switch in the pelvis to the LED eyes in the skull.
• There is a loop that needs to be placed in an area inside of the spine, near the top. Run a cable through this loop after attaching the arms. This cable will allow two people to hold the skeleton at an angle during the rest of the assembly.
• Add the humerus bones of the arms to the shoulder sockets of the rib cage.
• Connect the forearms, which include the hands.
• You can adjust the skeleton’s arms to different positions. Pose the arms before you place the skeleton in your yard. Add a prop or two for the skeleton to hold. If you want to adjust the arms after you set the skeleton up, you’ll probably need a ladder to reach them.
• A total of at least three people should set the skeleton. One person should stand at the base of skeleton and hold both ends of the cable that goes through the loop in the spine. One end of the base should touch the ground.
  
• Have two people hold either side of the skeleton’s rib cage. They should push the skeleton up as the person at the base continues to hold and guide the skeleton with the cable.
• Once Skelly is upright, attach the base stabilizers. These pieces will extend from the base.
• Place the provided stakes into the ground to secure the skeleton.

Safety Tip: Keep kids, pets and adults from leaning on the skeleton while it’s standing.

Once your skeleton is assembled, it's time to decide on your theme. Due to its size, making Skelly the star of the scene is quite easy. If your skeleton display plans include lights, a smoke machine or a troop of inflatable friends, you may need to consider a power source when planning your outdoor Halloween decorations. Here are a few ideas:

• Set the skeleton up alone with blood-red landscape lighting for over-the-top spookiness.
• Make it the leader of a skeleton army by setting up smaller skeletons around it.
• Create a haunted house in your yard with Skelly as the main attraction.

Even 12-foot skeletons could use a scary friend or two. If your yard is large enough, think about setting up an entire Halloween scene in your front yard. Think: a village of graves and bones to spook trick-or-treaters or a haunted pirate theme complete with the creepy ship.

For a larger than life vignette, bring out other oversized decorations like an oversized animatronic reaper, werewolf or witch. Items like fog machines and additions like Halloween-inspired music will complete the scene.

Who says humans should have all the fun on Halloween night? Get creative and let your 12-foot skeleton in on the fun with a costume or lighting kit. Whether you get a ready-made lighting kit for your skeleton, or you make your own, updating Skelly is a creative way to put a fresh spin on this Halloween superstar. It also makes Skelly more playful and his bright light really draws trick-or-treaters in.

If you aren’t ready to store your 12-foot skeleton, consider leaving it standing in your yard. You can easily repurpose it for other holidays.

• Add an inflatable turkey or cornucopia to your yard to make a Thanksgiving scene.
• In December, try dressing it as Santa or an elf, or add a festive bow.
• For New Year’s, get a top hat and a “Happy New Year” banner.
• A Valentine message from a 12-foot skeleton takes the holiday to new heights.
• Add some colorful blossoms or an Easter basket for a spring scene.
• For summer, get the skeleton beach ready with a sun hat, shades and swim trunks.
• If there’s a graduate in your house, add a cap and gown.
• The skeleton can sport the colors for any team you follow, no matter what time of year it is.

Before leaving your giant Halloween decorations up past October 31st, check local zoning laws and homeowners associations’ guidelines. Some HOAs, for example, specify that decorations be taken down as soon as a holiday is over.

Make sure your 12-foot skeleton is always ready to get the frights on.

• Skelly is weather resistant. However, if you’re expecting windy weather, take him down so that he won’t blow away.
• If your skeleton gets dirty, it can be cleaned with mild soap and water. You can apply the soap with a non-abrasive brush, then hose off the skeleton.
• Don’t use bleach on your 12-foot skeleton.
• Don’t pressure wash your skeleton. Getting pressure washer spray too close to the bones could damage them.
• Don’t put your 12-foot skeleton near a fire pit or other heat source. If it gets very hot, it can melt.
• While you’re putting it together or taking it apart, avoid putting hot materials directly onto the skeleton.
  

To store your 12-foot skeleton, it needs to be taken apart. Get the help of at least three people to take down the skeleton and take it apart.

• Lay the skeleton down before you begin disassembling it.
• Take all the pieces apart in the opposite order of assembly.
• Carefully place each part in the original box. If you don’t still have the box, you can use plastic storage totes. Look for boxes big enough to fit the longest bones, the pelvis and the ribcage.
• As you prepare to store the 12-foot skeleton, remove the batteries that power the LED eyes.
• Store the skeleton where it won't be exposed to heat or moisture. If you live in a place that gets hot and humid, storing Skelly in a climate-controlled space might be best.