Halloween Craft Ideas for kids that you can do for free (or very cheap)!

Recycled Bag Luminaries

(Thanks to the folks at www.iparty.com <http://www.iparty.com>  for contributing this idea)

This easy and affordable craft is perfect for last minute decorating. It’s also a great way to reuse paper grocery bags.

Materials:

• Paper grocery bags
• Light Sticks (available at most craft and hardware stores).

Directions:

• Use a black marker to draw a face onto the middle of each bag (I recommend using the side that has no writing).
• Use sharp scissors to cut out each face (this should be done by an adult).
• Place light stick inside the bag.
• Place luminary in a dark area and enjoy.

 

Helpful Hint: This craft also works well with plain brown paper lunch bags.

Glue Ghosts

This craft is perfect for young children who love to pour glue all over everything.  Be sure to make these ghosts a day in advance, as they need roughly 10-12 hours to dry.

Materials

• Glue
• String, yarn or pipe cleaner
• Waxed paper
• Craft stick or plastic spoon
• Googly eyes
• Construction paper (for the mouth)

Directions:

• For each ghost, lay a piece of string in the shape of a ghost onto a piece of waxed paper. Be sure to leave the bottom part open.
• Have your kids pour glue to cover the entire ghost area.  Use a plastic spoon or craft stick to make sure the glue is spread evenly.  Note: the thicker the glue, the longer it takes for the ghost to dry.
• Add personality by placing googly eyes and a construction paper mouth onto each ghost.  Let dry for about 10-12 hours.
• Once dry, peel each ghost off the waxed paper.  Trim rough edges if necessary.
• Poke a hole at the top of each ghost with a pushpin and thread a piece of string through the hole for hanging.   Bootiful!!!!!!!!!
  
  

Boo-Berry Pops

You will need:

6 whole fresh strawberries

½ cup white chocolate chips or vanilla candy chips (melted)

Chocolate sprinkles or mini chocolate chips

6 lollipop sticks (available at most craft stores)

Wax Paper

Directions:

• Dip entire strawberry (except for the stem) into the melted white chocolate.
• Place berry on a plate covered with wax paper. Make sure the pointy end of the strawberry, which will be the top of the ghost, is facing up.
• Add eyes and a mouth with chocolate chips or sprinkles.
• Repeat with remaining strawberries.
• Place “ghosts” in freezer for 8-10 minutes, or until coating is solid. Use a table knife to cut off the stem and place a lollipop stick in the bottom of each strawberry.

There is nothing “tricky” about these treats that come courtesy of Bean Sprouts Café in Madison,Wisconsin.  Be sure to visit their website for more information! (www.beansproutscafe.com <http://www.beansproutscafe.com> ).  

Luminaries (out of recycled jars):

This project comes courtesy of expert Amanda Formaro.  For more information about Amanda and to see more crafts visit www.CraftsbyAmanda.com <http://CraftsbyAmanda.com/> .
 
Materials

Recycled glass Jars
Non-toxic Acrylic Paint
Felt tip pen or marker
Glow sticks
Spray Glaze
 
Directions

• Paint each jar with 1 coat of paint.
• Paint lid black and wait several hour for lid and jar to dry.
• Use a felt tip pen to draw the outline of a Jack-o-lantern face.
• Fill in face with black paint and once again, wait several hours to dry.
• Spray lid and jar with clear glaze (to protect jar against the elements).
• Add a glow stick to illuminate before displaying!  Boo-tiful!!

Bowl Full of Eyeballs (out of old wiffle balls):

 
This project comes courtesy of craft expert Beverly whose website, <http://www.flamingotoes.com>  is chock full of great ideas!  
 
Materials

Plastic Wiffle balls
2 yards of white fabric
Freezer paper (available at most grocery stores)
Fabric glue
 
 
Directions

Print eyeballs on fabric by first adhering freezer paper to fabric by placing the wax side down on the wrong side of the fabric.  Then use a medium iron to adhere paper to the fabric.

Download the eyeball PDF by visiting THIS LINK and print out the eyeballs onto your fabric.

Peel off your freezer paper and cut out your eyes leaving enough fabric on both sides for wrapping.

Wrap each ball with strips of fabric.

Lay eyes on balls and tuck the end of the fabric under one of the wrapped pieces, adding fabric glue where necessary.

Trick or Treat Baskets (made from recycled bottles)

Courtesy of the folks from www.celebrations.com
You will need:

Materials

• Empty orange juice or milk jug
• Duct tape
• Non-toxic acrylic paint
• Felt
• Tacky Glue
• Googly eyes
• Mod Podge or PVA glue
• Pipe cleaner
• Beads

Directions

• Use sharp scissors to cut off the top of the jug.
• Tape the rough edges with duct tape or clear packing tape.
• Paint jug with acrylic paint.
• When paint is dry, use felt, construction paper and googly eyes to give the carrier a personality.
• Add a handle with pipe cleaner and beads.

Candy Wrapper Picture Frame

 Materials

Unfinished wood frame (available at craft stores)
Mod Podge or PVA glue
Candy wrappers

Directions

• Trim wrappers as desired.
• Use Mod Podge to affix wrappers to frame.
• Add a topcoat of glue to seal.
• Allow to dry and then add picture.

Mystery Matching Game

You will need:

• 2 identical illustrated children books (I suggest checking your library’s used books section!  Often you can buy 2 identical books for less than 50 cents!)
• Foam Board or Chipboard
• Circle Cutter or Circle Stencil and Scissors
• White Glue and Brush
• Colorful or Decorative Paper

Instructions:

• Using a circle cutter or stencil and scissors, cut 32 circles out of chipboard or thin foam board.
• Use the same circle cutter (or stencil and scissors) to cut 16 pairs of identical illustrations from the illustrated books.
• Use glue and brush to affix the images to the circles.
• Cut 32 decorative circles that you can glue to the back of the game piece.
• Use game pieces to play a traditional game of “Memory” or play the more challenging “What’s Missing?” game.

To play What’s Missing?  

• Place 5 (or more) game pieces on a table.  Have the kids study the images for a minute or two.
• Take the pieces away for one minute before putting them back on the table…only this time, leave one image out.  The goal is to be the first one to discover…What’s missing!

This project was inspired by Jason Thompson’s creative book, aptly entitled, Playing with Books (Quarry Books, 2010).  For more information about this book or Mr. Thompson, visit: http://www.ragandbonebindery.com> or <http://www.quarrybooks.com> .

Design your Own HALLOWEEN Puzzles

You will need:

Materials

• 6 or More Popsicle Sticks (the more you have, the more challenging the puzzle)
• Paint Pens or Markers
• Masking Tape

Instructions:

• Tape the tops of the Popsicle sticks side by side with masking tape.
• Use paint pens or markers to draw a favorite Halloween image.
• Allow time for paint to dry.
• Carefully remove the tape and mix up the sticks.  The puzzle is now ready to be put back together!

*For an added challenge:  Once the paint is dry, draw another picture on the backside of the Popsicle sticks, so you have 2 puzzles in one!  Twice as fun and twice as hard!