Halloween isn’t just about candy, candy and more candy. It’s also a great time for the whole family to have fun together—watching movies, decorating the house, and even making Halloween crafts.
Halloween crafts are great ways for parents and kids to bond (and can even teach important life tips!). Plus, they can serve as cheap Halloween party decorations. Why buy them when you can make them? Long after the store-bought Halloween decorations have long been thrown in the trash, these Halloween crafts will be treasured keepsakes. Here are some tips on how to make fun and easy Halloween crafts, one of the fresh recipes for life served by o5.com.
Jack in the Pot
Jack o’Lanterns are fun, but these pumpkin pots are non-perishable and can even serve as pretty garden dcorations. Plus, they don’t need any carving (so it’s a great Halloween craft for young kids) and the materials are cheap.
All you need to make this Halloween craft is a terra cotta pot, some yellow craft paper, decoupage glue (we used Mod Podge Outdoor, which will hold up well even when exposed to the elements), and a few sticks.
Just turn each terra cotta pot upside down. Then, trace eyes, nose and a grin from yellow craft paper. Cut them out. Apply the decoupage glue to the pot surface and then position the paper cut-outs Insert the sticks into the hole for “stems.”
The last step is to apply a protective coat of decoupage glue. (Use a large paintbrush for faster and even application.) Once its dry, show off your Jack in a Pots in a pretty row on your porch. Fill them with candy, or use soil or Styrofoam and add fat sticks that have been painted green for a stem.
Tip: Don’t feel like cutting paper? Use glow-in-the-dark paint to draw in the facial features. Looks cool! You can even draw the features to symbolize members of the family, and have your child write everyone’s names. Now you have your ‘family of pots’ to welcome your Halloween guests. Or, paint the pot to look like candy corn (see photo above).
Money saving tip: Use an old pot! Just paint it a bright, neon orange.
Mummy jars
These mummy jars are great ways to store all the Halloween candy. They’re also a very cheap Halloween decoration: just place a tea light or a glow stick inside and dim the lights for a fun, spooky effect.
All you need is a large, clean and empty jar, some plaster wrap, a plastic disposable bowl, vinyl tape, wiggle eyes, and a glue gun.
Even young kids will be able to make this easy Halloween craft. Just glue the wiggle eyes to the jar (only adults should handle the glue gun) and cut the plaster wrap into strips (about 1 inch thick and 4 inches long). Now everyone starts dipping the strips into the bowl and wrapping around the jar. Just build up the layers, smoothing down each strip. Remember to wet your fingers in the bowl as you go. Cover the jar completely, but leave enough space so the eyes peek out. Use the vinyl tape to seal the top edges/lip of the jar.
Tip: If you want to use this jar as a candle holder, apply just one layer of plaster wrap so that the light can shine through.
Money saving tip: Reuse old jars of mayonnaise, pickles, etc.
Mummy eggs
Group these Mummy eggs with the Mummy Jar in the previous step-by-step for a simple and adorable Halloween table centerpiece!
You just need Styrofoam eggs, wiggle eyes, one roll of rigid wrap (this will be enough for 12 eggs) and a fake nest, available at craft stores. You also need a disposable bowl.
Cut the Rigid Wrap into 12 strips measuring about 4 inches by ¾ inches. Then, dip these into a disposable plastic bowl filled with water. Just fill the bowl with water. Wrap these around each Styrofoam egg, until it’s completely covered. Press on the wiggle eyes and then secure with rigid wrap (place one piece each on the top and bottom edge of each eye). Allow to dry naturally (this will take about 20 minutes) or use a blow dryer to quicken the process.
Money saving tip: You can also use eggs that have been drained of yolk. Save the ones from breakfast! Just remember that these need to be handled more carefully! You can also make a makeshift nest with strips of paper nestled in a small box, wrapped in Halloween-print scrapbook paper or scrapbook embellishment.
Itsy Bitsy Spider
You need 3 lollipop sticks, white yarn, a fake spider (the toy stores are full of these during Halloween) and a glue gun.
Glue 2 of the lollipop sticks in the shape of a letter x, then add the third in the middle (it will look like an asterisk). Then, secure this with white yarn, wrapping at the middle where all the sticks meet. Glue it down, adding dabs of glue as you twist the yarn around the stick.
All you have to do next is to make the web. Just wrap the yarn several times around the sticks, also adding glue to keep it in place. (Tip: you can also knot it.) Glue on the spider.
Make several of these spider webs, hanging them from different lengths of strings on doorways, rafters, window sills or from a ceiling fan.
Money saving tip: You can also use thin twigs from your own yard. Just paint them white and secure with wire.
Photo from rd.com