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Chalkola How-ToChalk Markers · Tutorial
Updated Sep 2026 · 7 min read · Beginner-friendly
How to Make a Spooky Halloween Skull Decoration
TL;DR
Diy halloween skull decorations: Start with a plain plastic toy skull and pencil a few spiders onto it. Fill the eye sockets, nose and mouth with red chalk marker and pull dripping-blood strokes downward, adding black or brown at the base of the drips for a rotten look. Trace the spiders in black, let the ink dry for a few minutes, then set a.
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30 Colors — One pack containing all our Bright and Earth Chalk Markers. Use these Liquid chalk pens to decorate any Non-Porous surface including mirrors, shop storefront, whiteboard
The Ultimate Freedom Of Expression — Chalkola’s liquid chalk markers erasable are widely used to decorate wedding signs, milestone boards, menus, LED boards, contact paper, car mirrors, wine glasses and coffee mug.
Made For Everyone — Whether you're a Teacher, Mom, Student, Artist, Kid, Business, Office or Restaurant Owner our markers make creating beautiful messages effortless.
Comes Off Easy — The chalkboard ink pen is washable and will work on almost any surface! Will erase off non-porous surfaces; such as blackboard (wet erase), glass & mirrors (dry erase) and Permanent on porous surfaces
Looking for the best and easiest DIY Halloween decoration? We got you covered, and we promise this is going to instantly transform your space into a horror house because nothing's scarier than a bloody skull.
Ready to give the scare of a lifetime? Watch the quick tutorial video below and create the most horrific decoration to ever haunt your house!
Buy a plain plastic toy skull. Draw spiders on it using pencil.
Add dripping blood using red chalk marker. Make sure you fill up the eyes and nose to make it more gory.
Fill the mouth part, too. You can add darker shades like black or brown to give it a rotten effect.
Trace the spider drawings with black chalk marker.
Add light inside the skull to illuminate the grisly details.
Just like that, you're all set for fright night! But, if you still don't have any idea what or who to dress up as yet, this should do the trick (and hopefully award you more treats), the best DIY tutorial on How to Make a Joker Mask for Halloween Using Chalk Markers. Happy Halloween!
Why Chalk Markers Work Best for Skull Decorations
Chalk markers outperform traditional paint and permanent markers for Halloween skull projects for three key reasons:
Opaque coverage: The pigment-rich formula covers dark plastic in a single coat, making red blood and white bone details pop without streaking.
No mess or setup: Unlike acrylic paint, chalk markers require no brushes, palettes, or water. Uncap and draw directly on the skull with precision tips.
Completely removable: After Halloween, wipe the skull clean with a damp cloth and store it for next year. You can create entirely new designs each season without buying new skulls.
A broad 6mm tip gives you fast coverage for filling eye sockets, and a 1mm fine tip handles spider legs and cracks. Placing a light inside the skull makes the eye sockets, nose and mouth glow behind the red drips, and metallic shades add a wet-looking shimmer to the blood.
Creative Variations for DIY Skull Decor
Once you've mastered the basic blood-and-spiders technique, try these variations to create a full graveyard scene:
Cracked bone effect: Use white and gray chalk markers to draw jagged fissure lines across the skull surface. Add black shading inside the cracks for depth.
Toxic waste skull: Replace red blood with neon green drips and add yellow highlights. Perfect for a radioactive laboratory theme.
Day of the Dead sugar skull: Cover the entire surface with colorful floral patterns, geometric designs, and decorative swirls using the full rainbow of chalk marker colors.
Zombie decay: Layer brown, green, and black markers to create rotting flesh patches. Leave some white plastic showing through for exposed bone contrast.
Each design uses the same basic dripping and filling techniques demonstrated in the video tutorial. Mix and match color palettes to coordinate with your overall Halloween decor theme.
Materials and Setup Tips
Choosing your skull: Dollar stores and craft shops sell plastic skulls in sizes ranging from 4 inches to life-size. For the light-up effect, verify the skull is hollow with openings large enough to insert a battery-operated LED light. Avoid skulls with heavy texturing, as chalk markers perform best on smooth surfaces.
Workspace prep: Cover your work surface with newspaper or a craft mat. Chalk markers can transfer to porous surfaces if spilled. Shake each marker vigorously for 30 seconds before first use and prime the tip by pressing on scrap paper until ink flows evenly.
Pencil sketching: Lightly sketch your design in pencil first. This lets you plan drip placement and spider positioning before committing with marker. Pencil marks will be covered by the opaque chalk ink or can be erased after the marker dries.
Lighting options: Use a battery-operated LED puck or tea light — it stays cool inside plastic. Never put an incandescent bulb, a mains-powered lamp or a candle inside a plastic skull: heat can melt or warp it. Red or orange LEDs amplify the spooky effect.
30 Colors — One pack containing all our Bright and Earth Chalk Markers. Use these Liquid chalk pens to decorate any Non-Porous surface including mirrors, shop storefront, whiteboard
Ultimate Freedom Of Expression — Chalkola’s liquid chalk markers are widely used for chalk lettering, to decorate wedding signs, milestone boards, menus, LED boards, contact paper, car mirrors, wine glasses and coffee mugs
Made for Everyone — Whether you're a Teacher, Mom, Student, Artist, Kid, Business, Office or Restaurant Owner our color markers make creating beautiful messages effortless.
Comes Off Easy — The chalkboard ink pen is washable and will work on almost any surface! Will erase off non-porous surfaces; such as blackboard (wet erase), glass (dry erase) and Permanent on porous surfaces
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Start with a plain plastic toy skull and pencil a few spiders onto it. Fill the eye sockets, nose and mouth with red chalk marker and pull dripping-blood strokes downward, adding black or brown at the base of the drips for a rotten look. Trace the spiders in black, let the ink dry for a few minutes, then set a battery-operated LED light inside so the cavities glow. Everything wipes off with a damp cloth after Halloween.
Plain plastic toy skulls work perfectly because chalk markers adhere to smooth, non-porous surfaces. Look for hollow skulls that can fit a battery-operated LED light inside to create the glowing effect shown in this tutorial. Avoid porous materials like unfinished ceramic or plaster.
Chalk markers are superior for this project because they create opaque, vibrant coverage on plastic and wipe clean after Halloween. Regular markers often streak on non-porous surfaces and permanent markers can't be removed. Chalk markers let you reuse the skull year after year with new designs.
Use red chalk marker to draw vertical drips from the eye sockets, nose cavity, and mouth. Fill these cavities completely first, then pull downward strokes in varying lengths. Layer darker shades like black or brown at the base of drips for a rotten, coagulated effect that adds depth.
We haven't tested Chalkola chalk markers under a UV black light, so don't plan a design around a glow. What the tutorial does instead is put a light inside the skull so the eye sockets, nose and mouth glow behind the red drips — neon shades read brightest in a dim room.
It's a one-sitting project: pencil the spiders, fill the eye sockets, nose and mouth with red, pull the drips down, then trace the spiders in black. Chalk marker ink dries in minutes, so the skull can go on display as soon as you're done.
Yes, chalk markers wipe clean from non-porous plastic surfaces with a damp cloth or glass cleaner. This makes your skull decoration reusable every year. For best removal, let the marker dry completely first, then wipe gently. Stubborn areas may need a second pass with rubbing alcohol.
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