by Renee "Kindrianna" Booke (with an assist by Derek "Hygar" Booke!)
Are you going for that wild barbarian or necromancer look but are continually frustrated with the cost of accessories/bones that you find online? Are you an Event Holder looking to up the creepy factor on your props without breaking the bank? Well, you’re in luck! With this handy-dandy guide, you may not have to look much further than your dinner plate! That’s right! You can turn your Friday night chicken wings, turkey dinners, and more into cool bone props with just a little work!
What You’ll Need
Chicken Wings or other dinners with bones
Water
1 Large Pot
Scrub Brush/Toothbrush
Hydrogen Peroxide (Amount depends on the volume of bones you’re
working with. You’ll need enough to submerge them in.)
Paper Towel/Absorbent Surface you don’t mind getting stinky.
Step One: Eat your dinner.
No, really! Enjoy those chicken wings, turkeys, or rotisserie chickens to your heart’s content. Get as much meat off them as you comfortably can. Mmm, meat.
Step Two: Boil off the remaining meat.
Submerge the wings in water and boil them for 1-2 hours. By the end of this step, all the meat should have fallen off of the bones into the water, (gross, I know,) or be at the point where it can be easily picked off.
Step Three: Clean the Bones
Next, you’ll want to find a scrub brush or a spare toothbrush. Something with bristles, preferably! Use it to scrub down the bone and make sure it is squeaky clean. Nothing should remain.
Step Four: Submerge in Hydrogen Peroxide.
Remember that pot of water you used in step two? Empty it and pour in your hydrogen peroxide. Your next step is to submerge the bones in this for at least 24 hours. This is to ensure that the meat or organic matter really is completely gone, and you just have the calcium/bone left. You will know you succeeded because the bones will look clean and white. Fair warning- this step is VERY smelly. So, if you have a sensitive nose, be prepared for that. You can put a lid on your pot, but do not make it airtight. As hydrogen peroxide breaks down the meat, it will release gases that will build up pressure in an airtight environment. This could cause your lid to blow off and flood the room with stink. I’m guessing you don’t want that.
Step Five: Dry the Bones.
Remove the bones from the pot and set them out to dry on some paper towels or whatever absorbent surface you have available that you don’t mind getting a little smelly. Leave them there until completely dry.
Step Six: Enjoy your new props.
Now you can turn your bones into whatever you want! Necklaces, jewelry, creepy props, or chimes, whatever your imagination can come up with!
I hope you found this useful! This is just one of our costuming “hacks” that we use to reduce costs and make garb a little more affordable. Everyone has to eat, after all! Might as well get some extra use out of your dinner!