How to make a Dia De Los Muertos Marionnette Style Hanging Eskeleto

Eskeletos - Dia De Los Muertos Marionette style decorations

This is still in progress, will be updated (with pics) as I finish it....
Update: I posted this in an easier to read format here:

Time required

1. About 12 days 3-4+ hours per day.
   
1. I made two at a time so this is based on that. However at most you will save is 20-30% of this time by only making one marionette.
   

• Two days for papier mache
• Usually 2-3 hours for creating the frames.
• At least 4 hours to do the actual papier mache.
• Plus 24 hours for curing of the pieces.
  
• Two days for priming
• About 1 - 2 hours per priming coat + 8 hours to dry between coats.
• Two days for painting/decorating papier mache.
  
• About 4 hours for painting plus 8 hours of drying between coats.
• Another 3-4 hours for decorating with glitter, spangles, stickers, allow to dry for 3-4 hours.
  
• At least three days for sealing
• Three layers requires about 2-3 hours plus the overnight drying time for each layer of sealer.
• At least three days for sewing the costumes
• Pattern making requires 2-3 hours.
• Sewing requires 2-3 hours.
• Decorating costumes with rick-rack, etc requires 4-5 hours.

Items required
Papier Mache body, head, legs, arms:

• Drill bit 7/64" (used after dried and base gesso coats applied)
  
• Newspapers - about a weeks worth.
• Precut some pages into 1" strips
• This is easiest if done on one-three full sheets at a time, folded in half horizontally, then torn from the creased side down.
• Store the strips in a plastic see-through bin, Sterilite 15qt #1906 (DVD size) is great for this.
  
• 1" Masking tape, 1 roll
• 12 yards of drapery cord or 3mm (from sewing store)
• Water balloons (small for head)
• Large balloons (for body)
• Corrugated cardboard scrap - about 8" x 6"
• Large trash bag(s) - for covering your papier mache/paint work surface.
• I actually used several layers of newspaper and just turned my work frequently while wet to prevent sticking.

Hangar/Paper Clip contraption:

• 3 Tubular plastic hangars - for drying arm and leg pieces.
• Masking or duct tape.
  
• 30 large paper clips - for taping onto hangars to hold drying arm & leg pieces.

Papier Mache Paste recipe (two to three batches):

Single batch of papier mache paste - recipe is from: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~tekvov/id2.html
In a Rubbermaid or similar throw-away container with lid (669ml/2.9 cups).

• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 oz cup glue (1 school sized bottle)

Papier mache decoration:

• White Gesso (8 oz).
  
• Art acrylic paint (ASTM) 4oz bottles: white, black and various other BRIGHT colors you like.
• Don't use drab or pastel colors as that is not in the spirit of Dia De Los Muertos.
• The intent of Dia De Los Muertos is to celebrate your ancestor's lives, like a party, so think fun party colors.
  
• Glitter.
• Hot glue gun & sticks - or carpenter's glue.
  
• Shiny (metallic) confetti or small shaped "spangles.
• Mod podge or clear acrylic sealer.
• Bristle paint brushes, various sizes.
• Don't use foam brushes as they will disintegrate due to the rough surface of the papier mache.
• A 1" bristle brush is good for priming the work with gesso and large swaths of paint.
• Small detail brushes are good for 'drawing' the circles and other borders.
  

Costumes:

• 2 yards of Black see-through fabric (glittery is best).
• 2 yards of Glittery fabric multi colored.
• 5-6 packages of bright ric-rack.

Hanging frames:

• 3 dowels or square wooden rods, 12" long.
• 2 yards of cord (included in drapery cord estimate).
• 4-5 small hook eyes.
• Duct tape - for taping the frame together.
  

Frame Construction
Head frame:

1. Blow up a small balloon to about 3-4" tall and tie off.
2. Cut a 8" (pencil length) 1" wide strip from a scrap piece of cardboard.

1. If you don't have cardboard roll use half of a full page of a newspaper.
2. Folded that down to half (like at a newsstand).
3. From the open (uncreased edge) begin 'folding' up a 3/4" section until the entire thing is folded up to become a 1" wide strip by 15" long.
4. Wrap masking tape around each end.
5. Tape the vertical seam down as well.
   

3. Roll up to break cardboard/newspaper strip and form a ring about 2" - 2 1/2" in diameter.
4. Mark point to cut at, then cut strip.
5. Masking tape the two ends together to form a ring.

6. Attach the ring to the bottom of the balloon at the tied end with masking tape in a balanced fashion.

1. For ease in painting and papier macheing you want to make sure the ring is attached in a level fashion so the piece won't fall over while you papier mache, paint or dry it.
   

Body frame:

1. Blow up a large balloon to about 6"-8" tall, and tie off.
2. Cut two 8" (pencil length) 1" wide strip from a scrap piece of cardboard

1. If you don't have cardboard roll use half of a full page of a newspaper.
2. Folded that down to half (like at a newsstand).
3. From the open (uncreased edge) begin 'folding' up a 3/4" section until the entire thing is folded up to become a 1" wide strip by 15" long.
4. Wrap masking tape around each end.
5. Tape the vertical seam down as well.
   
3. Roll up each cardboard/newspaper strip and form a ring about 2" - 2 1/2" in diameter.
4. Mark point to cut at, then cut strip.
5. Masking tape the two ends together to form rings.
   

6. Attach one ring to the bottom of the balloon at the tied end with masking tape.
1. For ease in painting and papier macheing you want to make sure the ring is attached in a level fashion so the piece won't fall over while you papier mache, paint or dry it.
7. Attach the other ring to the top of the balloon with masking tape.
   

Arms & leg bone frames:

1. Cut a full newspaper in half vertically, so each section is one page wide.
2. Fold the page in half horizontally, as if it were at a newstand.
3. Arms:
   
1. Cut (6) 18" - 19" lengths of drapery cord for arms.
2. Cut the folded page in half vertically (6 1/2" wide) to create a strip.
4. Legs:
   
1. Cut (6) 20" - 21" lengths of drapery cord for legs.
2. For legs, cut the folded page to a 4 column strip (8 1/2" wide).

5. Roll up the bones:
1. Fold the string in half and place that at the halfway point of the bottom of the strip (uncreased side).
2. Tape it down with a 2-3" section of masking tape.

3. The string should be hanging out evenly from both sides of the strip.
4. Tightly roll up the newspaper around the string to form a tube.
5. Tape both ends of the tube and the vertical seam.
6. Make 6 of each type of bone per calavera, 6 arm bones, 6 leg bones.
   

Hands/feet:

1. TBD.

Papier macheing

Notes:

1. It requires at least 24 hours to cure/dry the pieces, so make sure you have someplace to leave the pieces out for that long.
2. When the head and body pieces have finished curing, pop the balloon and remove the pieces stuck to the inside of the frame. You will need to cut the tape that held the balloon to the ring.
   

For each strip:

1. Finger paint the paste you made onto one side of the strip.
2. Cover all of it.
3. Don't be stingy with the glue/paste, it should slightly drip.

Body:

1. Vertically papier mache the body overlapping the base and top rings and each strip.
2. Do at least two layers.
3. You may also want to wrap the ring part horizontally at least once, but make sure the final layer is vertical.
   

Head:

1. Starting at the top, center a piece on top and fold down over into the base.
   
2. Repeat again but at a 90 degree angle from that piece - starting at the top, to form a "x" as if looked down from the top.
3. Repeat again, but this time splitting the open area.
4. Continue until the entire head is covered, then repeat for one more layer.
5. You can also wrap strips around horizontally, but make sure the final layers on top are vertical.

Arms & Leg bones:

1. Tie a loop at one end of the arm so you can hang it onto your drying hangar/paper clip contraption.
1. Make sure you can remove the knots later!
2. Easiest way is to fold the string hanging out in half then knot it - I think it's called a slipknot.
   
2. Start at one end diagonally and wrap to the other end.
3. Repeat but this time wrap so the diagonal crosses the other in an "x" fashion.
4. Repeat both layers.
5. For each end, roll slightly diagonally, then reverse so that you stay within 1 1 1/2" of that end.
1. You are building up a bulge on each end.
2. Repeat one time - so that you have two layers of this on each end.
6. Hang it up on your hangar/paperclip contraption, make sure you have newspaper underneath to catch the drips.

Papier Mache Finishing & Assembly
Priming & prep:

1. Primer each piece with a thin coat of gesso and let dry for a few hours.
2. Repeat with a second coat, let dry overnight.
   
3. Mark/drill string holes
1. Once the pieces are fully dry.
2. On the body:
   
1. Draw a dot/circle on each side of the base ring for the arm string at least 1/4" away from the edge of the ring bottom.
2. Do the same on the bottom body ring, making sure the leg holes are lined up with the arm holes.
   
3. On the body and head: Mark two holes on the front and back spaced 1" apart for the strings that will hold the head to the body.
1. It is easiest to do this if you are holding the two pieces together to ensure that holes are lined up between the head and body piece.
4. On the head, at the top about 1/2 from the center, mark a hole, then 1" from that across from the center mark a second hole.
1. These two holes will be used to tie the head to the hangar.
   
5. Using a 7/64" drill bit, carefully and slowly drill each hole marked.
   

Decorating:

1. Draw the outlines of the eyes and patterns to paint onto the head.
2. You can also do the same on the body.
3. Paint the outline of each item you drew with black paint using a very fine bristle brush.
4. Color in the items with various paint colors as you like.
5. Glue on any sequins, spangles, glitter, stickers that you like to the various pieces.

6. Hang up the arm/leg pieces to dry on your hangar/paperclip contraption, covering the area underneath with newspaper to catch any drips.
7. Let dry overnight.
8. Using a throw away bristle brush, apply mod podge or other sealer in a thin single coat, let dry overnight.
9. Repeat for second coat of mod podge/sealer, again let dry overnight.
10. If required, repeat for the third coat.

Assembling:

1. Use black duct tape and tape together an I frame using your square dowels.
2. In the center of the I dowel attach a small eye hook.
3. Attach eye hooks at each end of the I bars.
   
4. Tie two arm bones to the end of one arm bone, so that each arm piece has one 'bone' on top and two 'bones' on the bottom.
5. Tie two arm bone to the end of one arm bone, so that each arm piece has one 'bone' on top and two 'bones' on the bottom.
6. Tie the hand piece to the double boned arm piece and repeat for the other arm.
7. Tie the foot to the double boned leg piece and repeat for the other leg.
   
8. Thread and tie the single bone part of the arm to the arm hole on the body. Repeat for the other arm and both legs.
   
9. On the head piece run a 20" piece length of drapery cord, thread it through the two holes on the top of the head and leave it hanging out the bottom of the head.
10. On the body piece run another piece of cord between the two arm holes on top and tie it off so that the knot sits in the body.
11. On the head piece, run a length of cord between the two holes in the front and run that same string through the two holes on the front of the body, but do not tie yet.
12. Repeat for the back holes on the head and body, do not tie yet.
13. Take the head and the thread hanging from the top, loop it around the piece of cord threaded through the arm holes so that head is tied to the body via the loop around the arm string. Do not do this snuggly as you want to leave a gap between the top of the head and that cord when it is used to hang the marionnette.
    
14. Tie the front head and body cord ends together snuggly being careful not to tear the papier mache.
    
15. Do the same for the back head and body cords.
16. Now run a piece of cord through the cord on the top of the head, and tie that around center I hook.
17. Tie a piece of cord to each hand and attach to the top of the I bar at an end, repeat for the other hand on the other side of that same I bar.
18. Do the same for the feet, only use the other I bar.
19. You can adjust the length of the cord used to tie the hands and feet to create different poses. Tie with a knot you can untie later.
    

Costume construction.
Create a tunic dress with the black fabric and use the multi colored fabric for the arms.
Make sure you have an opening in the back.
Use velcro to secure the openings.
Decorate the edges and other areas of the costume with rick rack, tassle tape, etc, sewing to attach the decorations.
Dress your marionette in the costume.

If the costume is damaged or needs laudering since it is not attached to the marionnette, it can be hand washed.

When packing away a marionette, add a package of silicone or other desicant to prevent the piece from becoming moldy or mildewed while in storage. That is also why it is very important you let the pieces dry completely, otherwise you will not have anything to display next year.