Halloween Crafts

A few fun ideas for the spookiest of seasons

Everyone loves Halloween, and it's not just for the candy. This unique holiday offers us a chance to celebrate our spooky sides. Have some fun with the kids with these simple Halloween crafts using supplies you already have in your home.

Halloween ghost decorations

What you'll need:

White plastic shopping bags or trash bags

Old  newspapers

String

This simple craft is great for decorating the yard when the trick-or-treaters come to call. Take a white plastic bag of any size, and tear it open. Jagged tears are fine and will make the bottom of the ghost look spookier! Spread the plastic flat on the floor, and find the center of the piece. Crumple old newspapers and pile them in the middle, then gather the plastic around the newspaper and tie it tightly with string. Use your hands to crunch the newspaper into a circular shape, making the head of the ghost.

If you like, you can draw a face onto the ghost with black marker or fabric paint. Punch a hole in the top of the head and attach a piece of string. Hang the ghosts from your front yard trees to create a spooky display.

Trick or treat buckets

What you'll need:

Empty ice cream buckets (or similar-sized plastic containers)

Orange and black construction paper

Glue

Scissors

Optional decorations (try tin foil, finger paints, Halloween stickers, and yarn)

When the little ones just can't wait to go trick-or-treating, help them prepare (and burn off some energy) by creating their own trick-or-treat buckets. Wash and dry empty ice cream buckets or any plastic containers with handles. Sit down with the kids (little ones will need help with scissors and glue) and cut out Halloween shaped images from construction paper. Make bats by folding paper in half and cutting a symmetrical shape from both halves, then unfolding the paper. Cut out simple triangles for witches' hats and help your kids create jack-o-lantern faces.

White school glue will work best for attaching the artwork to the buckets. Help your kids decorate further by tying yarn bows around the handles or personalizing their buckets with their names in finger paint.

Halloween crafts are cheap, easy and a great way to get into the spirit of this unique holiday. Have fun!

More information on Halloween decorations