Let's talk about the largest generation in history: Gen-Alpha. If you have kids or are kid-adjacent (I'm looking at you, aunties and uncles!) then you know that they spend A LOT of time in front of their computer and smartphone screens. While this helps kids connect with their peers, it creates a disconnect between Gen Alpha and their parents. My favorite way to bridge this gap is crafting with your family, especially during the holidays. Crafting with your kids not only gives everyone a break from their screens, it also strengthens bonds within the family. The following 6 Halloween crafts are kid-tested and approved by my niece and me!
Awesome Features of These Crafts
Low-cost: I used low-cost materials that I found at the 99-cent store, Michael's, or ordered online through Amazon. You also probably have some of these materials lying around your house like scissors, glue, crayons, etc.
Recycled materials- I found a couple of crafts that use recycled materials. In general, I like to save materials like glass jars, egg cartons, and cardboard because they can be repurposed for a variety of crafts.
Multipurpose materials- I selected crafts with materials that make multiple appearances throughout this post because that equals less stuff that you have to buy!
Something for everyone- You'll find something to appeal to any age level. At 33 years old, I personally found all these crafts fun and engaging!
Now let's get started!
Paper Mache Jack-O-Lanterns
Materials
Orange and yellow tissue paper
Cups or mason jars for drying jack-o-lanterns and paste mixture
White glue and water
Paintbrush
Scissors
Balloons
Black construction paper
White crayon
Battery-operated tea light*
*This 24-pack of tea lights is only $9.99 on Amazon!
Instructions
1. Cut tissue paper into strips roughly 1 inch wide.
2. Blow up the balloon to the size you wish your jack-o-lantern to be and tie it off. I find it easier to work with a balloon around the size of a medium-sized pumpkin.
3. Pour equal parts glue and water into a cup and stir to combine.
4. Brush the mixture onto a section of the balloon and stick a tissue strip on the area. Do this until the balloon is completely covered. Note: The bottom of the balloon should be left uncovered so you can remove the balloon when the jack-o-lantern is dry.
5. Repeat step 4 until the balloon is covered. Make 3 layers of tissue.
6. Place Jack-O-Lantern on a cup or mason jar to dry for 24 hours.
7. Pop the balloon and remove it from the bottom hole.
8. Using a white crayon, create a jack-o-lantern face, and cut and glue the pieces onto the jack-o-lantern. If you need guidance, find a stencil design online like these free stencils from Monday Mandala, trace it onto the paper, and cut it out!
9. Glue the face onto the jack-o-lantern.
9. Cut the bottom so that it can stand freely on a table.
10. Place a battery-operated tealight under the jack-o-lantern and watch it glow!
Inspired by Blissful Domestication: https://blissfuldomestication.com/paper-mache-jack-o-lanterns/
Spooky Luminaries
Materials
Colored tissue paper
Mason Jar
Scissors
White glue and water
Cup
Paintbrush
Mod Podge (optional)
Black construction paper
White crayon
Battery-operated tea light
Instructions
1. Cut colored tissue paper into strips roughly 1 inch. wide and the height of your mason jar.
2. Combine equal parts glue and water in a cup and mix.
3. Brush the mixture onto a small section of the mason jar and place a tissue strip on top.
4. Complete step 3 until the jar is covered. Make 2-3 layers of tissue.
5. Using a white crayon create whatever face or picture you desire and cut and glue the pieces on the jar. I made a Dracula face on mine but I've seen Frankenstein, ghosts, bats, cats, etc. Get creative and use a stencil if you'd like!
6. Optional- Paint glossy Mod Podge over the jar for a finished look.
7. Place a battery-operated tea light in the jar to illuminate your jar!
Inspired by Prudent Penny Pincher: https://www.prudentpennypincher.com/halloween-mason-jars/
Painted Pumpkins
Materials
Small to medium pumpkins
Acrylic paint in assorted colors*
Paper plate or paint palette (or whatever you have lying around)
Paintbrushes
Mod Podge (optional)
* I found this pack of acrylic paints in 16 colors for 16.99 on Amazon. A great bang for your buck that you can use for multiple projects.
Instructions
Get out your acrylic paints and palette and paint whatever you'd like on your pumpkin.
Let your creation dry.
Paint glossy Mod Podge over your pumpkin for a finished look.
Egg Carton Bats
Materials
1 Paper egg carton
Glue
Black acrylic paint
Paper plate or paint palette
Paintbrush
Pen or pencil
Clear string or ribbon
Googly eyes
White paper
Black and pink crayons or black and pink paper
Instructions
1. Cut the egg carton in half length-wise. Cut into pieces that are 3 cups long.
2. Cut zig-zags onto the two outer cups to create bat wings.
3. Paint the outside and inside of the bats black.
Using a pen or pencil, poke 2 holes into the top of the middle cup.
Cut a string about 18-24 inches long. Place the ends into both holes and tie off both ends together.
Cut out 2 small triangles from the white paper for the bat fangs.
Cut 2 triangles from the black paper and 2 smaller triangles from the pink paper for the bat ears. If you don't have construction paper, cut 2 triangles from white paper and color a small triangle in the middle pink, filling in the outside of the pink triangle with black (just like the picture below).
Glue the googly eyes in the center, the fangs at the bottom, and the ears on top of the middle cup.
Use the attached string to hang your boo-tiful bats around the house!
Inspired by Its Always Autumn: https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/easy-egg-carton-bat-craft-for-kids.html
TP Roll Spiders
Materials
TP or paper towel roll
Scissors
White Glue
Colored construction paper
Black marker
Hole punch
Googly eyes
Pipe cleaners
Instructions
1. Cut the TP or paper towel roll into pieces about 2 inches wide.
2. Place the tube on its side on the construction paper and cut a strip of paper the same width as the tube.
3. Apply glue to the strip of paper and roll it around the tube.
4. Glue 2 googly eyes on the roll and draw a mouth with a marker below them (as shown in the picture below). Let everything dry before step 5.
5. Hole punch 4 holes on both sides of the googly eyes. Try to make the holes even on each side.
6. Thread a pipe cleaner from one hole to the opposite hole, looping the pipe cleaner over and through the hole once more. Repeat for the other holes.
7. Bend the pipe cleaner spider legs just like in the picture.
Inspired by Simple Everyday Mom: https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/easy-egg-carton-bat-craft-for-kids.html
Tissue Paper Ghosts
Materials
White tissue paper
Clear string
Scissors
Ribbon
Ping-pong ball or practice golf ball
Needle
Black marker
Black Construction paper
White crayon
Instructions
1. Take 2 sheets of tissue paper and cut them into squares roughly 9 x 9 inches.
2. Cut zig-zags or waves around the edges of the papers.
3. Take a ping pong ball and carefully poke two holes into the ball with a needle. An adult should do this step. You will not have to poke any holes if using a practice golf ball.
*If you don't want to buy ping pong balls, you can use a crumpled piece of tissue paper for the head!
4. If using a ping pong ball, mark where the holes are so that you can find the top when it's time to string the thread through.
5. Cut a piece of string around 18-24 inches long and a piece of ribbon around 12 inches long.
6. Stack the tissue papers in a crisis cross formation and place the ping pong ball in the center with the two holes facing down.
7. Gather the tissue around the ball and tie a ribbon under it to keep it in place.
8. Put a string through the needle eye, thread it through the holes at the top of the ping pong ball, and tie the two ends together.
9. Draw a ghost face with your white crayon on the black construction paper, cut it out, and glue it to your ghost. * We used a Sharpie to draw the face on a couple of ghosts but the color bled a bit. The cut-out face looks more neat but feel free to use a marker!
10. Hang your ghoulish ghosts around the house!
Inspired by Rhythms of Play: https://rhythmsofplay.com/tissue-paper-ghost-craft/
Pro Tip: These crafts can be saved for years to come by carefully wrapping them in newspaper and placing them in plastic bags for storage.
Enjoy crafting with your kids, share your pics, and follow for more holiday crafts!
Do you feel like you don't have time for hobbies? Do you think my tips will help you commit to a hobby? Have you tried any of these tips? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject!
Follow my blog for more helpful posts on how to find your perfect hobby and more.
-Julie C.
Comments