Need to find some ways to entertain your favorite little ghouls this Halloween season? Then look no further! Since one of my favorite things to do when I’m not working is to lose track of time for hours on Pinterest, I come across a lot of fantastic craft ideas for kids that should get them into the Halloween spirit this October, and I picked my favorite ten to share with you here on Daily Dead.
Also, if you missed it last year, here is the first ten Halloween crafting ideas for kids list that I put together to keep those pint-sized hellions happy in the haunting season.
Candy Corn Pots:
Want your kids to create something fun that can also be useful? Then why not make these cute Candy Corn Pots, which can act as a planter for your indoor plants or flowers, or, for those of you without a green thumb, they can also hold your assorted candies and goodies this October.
Materials:
Yellow, White and Orange Acrylic Paint
Clear Top Coat Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
Pencil
Small Terra Cotta Pots
Directions:
First, draw out three candy corn layers on your terra cotta pots using your pencil.
Next, paint your bottom layer with the yellow acrylic paint, using several coats to make sure the color comes through evenly. Then, paint the rim of your pot with the white paint, also using several coats to ensure a consistent color.
To finish off your candy corn pot, paint the middle layer using the orange paint, and once again, make sure you use several coats of paint. Once that is dry, finish off your pot with the top-coat paint, which will seal everything in.
Allow them to dry 4–6 hours before using them (to ensure no messes).
Ghost Lollipop Bouquet
Need a fun and spooky treat idea for your kids' classes and want to let them be a part of the process? This Ghost Lollipop Bouquet works great on both fronts; it’s super easy, so even the littlest of hands can craft these supernatural snacks, and it’s the perfect treat to bring to any Halloween class party.
Materials:
Mason Jar
Black Acrylic Paint
Clear Top Coat Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
White Fabric (a cut-up pillowcase will work, or you can purchase a similar fabric at any retailer like Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts)
Twine
Floral Foam
Black Sharpie
Directions:
First, cover the entire outside of your mason jar with several coats of the black paint. Once it dries, use two coats of the clear acrylic paint to seal everything in. Set it aside and let it dry for at least 30 minutes.
Next, you’ll want to cut a piece of the floral foam so that it fits inside your mason jar.
Then, cut your white fabric into 4 x 4 squares, draping them over each of the lollipops (Blow Pops or Tootsie Pops work best). Tie each of the ghosts off at the base of the pop using a piece of the twine and then draw a ghostly face on each of your pops.
Once your ghosts are ready, you can jab each pointed end of the lollipops into the floral foam, making a ghost bouquet that all ages will love.
Glow Stick Broomsticks
Another easy creation that’s also functional, these whimsical Glow Stick Broomsticks only take minutes to prepare, and they can also provide kids with a bit of a nightlight once they crack.
Materials:
Glow Sticks (the bracelet type)
Twine
Kraft Paper
Double-Sided Tape
Scissors
Directions:
First, cut your craft paper into 7.5 x 5-inch squares (they don't have to be super precise cuts, either). Leaving about one inch at one end of your paper uncut, start cutting your paper into small, thin strips (think: tiny hula skirt), going completely from one to the other.
Add a long strip of the double-sided tape towards the top of your uncut end of the kraft paper, and then begin rolling the paper over and over again at one end of your glow stick.
Cut a piece of twine and tie it around the top of the bushy part of your broom to top off the design. Crack your glow stick whenever you’re ready to show off your creation.
Yarn Spider
Looking for a fun activity to keep kids busy in school or at a Halloween party this October? Then this Yarn Spider is certain to be a perfect activity that kids of all ages will enjoy, and it can make for a festive decoration, too.
Materials:
Foam Craft Ball (2-inch diameter works best)
Black Yarn
Black Chenille Pipe Cleaners
Googly Eyes
Red Beads
Craft Glue or Hot Glue
Scissors
Pencil
Directions:
First, completely wrap your foam craft ball with a continuous piece of the black yarn. Once it is covered, cut your piece of yarn and secure the end of the strand using either craft glue or hot glue via a hot glue gun. (Warning: if you choose to use hot glue, an adult should be on hand to help younger crafters.)
Once your glue sets (5–10 minutes), curl eight pipe cleaners around your pencil, and once they’re ready, stick four into each side of the foam craft ball, mimicking a spider’s legs.
To finish up your yarn spider, attach googly eyes on the center of the ball, and directly below the eyes, glue a red bead to create the spider’s nose.
Mummy Candy Cans
Here’s another great idea for party giveaways: Mummy Candy Cans! They’re super cute and it’s hard to imagine that any boils or ghouls this haunting season could possible resist taking home these charming little candy holders.
Materials:
Empty tin cans (any size you prefer is fine, but the easiest to use will be the standard vegetable can size)
Black Acrylic Paint
Cheesecloth
Googly Eyes
Scissors
Paintbrushes
Craft Glue or Hot Glue
Pliers
Directions:
Before you begin, an adult should go over each of the tin cans to push down all of the rough edges around the rim, using the pliers.
Once your cans are ready, paint the outside of each can completely with the black paint, allowing them time to dry before you decorate them.
While you wait for your cans to dry, cut a 5-foot length of cheesecloth and fold it over two times to get a multi-layered effect.
When the cans are dry, attach one end of the cheesecloth to the base of your can on its backside using either craft glue or hot glue (hot glue will set quicker, but an adult should help younger crafters with the glue gun to avoid potential burns). Then wrap the cloth around for one full layer, securing it with more glue on the back.
Before you start the next wrapping step, take some glue, tug the center of your layer of cheesecloth down, and fasten the pulled-down section on the front of your can, mimicking the presence of a mouth.
Then, continue wrapping your cheesecloth around the can, using dabs of glue on the backside to make sure your fabric stays in place until you’ve made your way to the top of the can. If your piece ends up being too long, be sure to cut off any additional material.
To make your mummy’s eyes, pull apart the section on the front of your can between the top layer of cheesecloth and the one below it, making space for your googly eyes. Attach them to the can using your glue.
Once everything has set on your mummies, fill them with tasty treats and you’re all set!
Pebble Monsters
I just thought these Pebble Monsters were really fun, and they are a great craft for really young kids who don’t use scissors yet. All you need is some paint, brushes, and googly eyes, and you’re all set to make some monsters of your own!
Materials:
Pebbles (if you can’t find any good ones around your yard, Michaels has decorative stones that can be purchased for a low price)
Acrylic Paints (Various Colors and White)
Paint Brushes (Make sure one is very small; it will be used to add the teeth details to your monsters)
Googly Eyes
Black Paint Pen or Ultra-Thin Sharpie
Directions:
First, paint each of your pebbles, using at least two coats of paint. Let them dry at least 20 minutes after the final coat of paint.
Next, attach your googly eyes onto each pebble. Feel free to use as many eyes as you want (I thought the one- and three-eyed monsters were super fun).
Then, using the white paint, paint white teeth onto your monster (one or two teeth work best) in the shape of triangles with the pointy side facing towards the eyes.
Once the white paint is dry, outline your teeth with the black paint pen (or Sharpie), then connect the teeth with a thin line. And, voila—you now have your very own monsters!
Tissue Paper Pumpkin Favors
If you’re looking for another Halloween party giveaway idea, these Tissue Paper Pumpkin Favors are a festive and fun treat perfect for all the little goblins this fall. Just cut out tissue paper circles, fill with candy, and they’re all set!
Materials:
Orange Tissue Paper
Green Tape (Floral, Electrical or Painter's Variety)
9-inch Cake Pan
Pencil
Scissors
Assorted Candy
Directions:
First, take two pieces of the orange tissue paper, stack them on top of each other, and draw the outline of a circle, using your 9-inch cake pan.
Then, cut out your circles and place a handful of candy in the center.
Pull up all the sides of your circle, bring them together at the top, and give it a pinch and a twist before sealing your pumpkin with a piece of green tape.
Haunted Forest Centerpiece
I immediately fell in love with this idea, so much so that I’m even planning on making one of these myself, because I cannot resist how adorable these Haunted Forest Centerpieces are. Even better, you can either use them as fun tabletop decorations, or you can eat them whenever you want!
Materials:
Black Licorice
Crafting Wire (Black is preferable)
Graham Crackers
Chocolate Frosting
Candy Corn
Candy Pumpkins
Scissors or Wire Cutters
Directions:
First, take six pieces of black licorice and cut them down into varying degrees of length, but similar enough so that when they are bunched together, they will resemble a tree.
You’ll then want to thread each piece of licorice with a piece of crafting wire, making sure the wire is comfortably nestled within each licorice piece. Holding the pieces together in the middle, wrap another piece of the crafting wire around what is now the trunk of your tree, and cut off the end so that it easily camouflages into the licorice.
Next, break up your graham cracker sheets into four pieces (each piece now being two sections of cracker) and frost the top of the graham cracker pieces with chocolate frosting. You can now place your tree directly in the center, and for a little extra security, you can add a tiny bit of frosting to the bottom of your tree to help hold it in place.
Then, add a candy corn fence to the perimeter of your graham cracker, and to top off your forest, add some candy pumpkins in the center to give it another festive touch. If you’re planning on using this as a centerpiece, make sure to let each piece dry for several hours (where the frosting will harden) before setting it out.
Pumpkin Bats
Do your kids want to do something fun with pumpkins, but they aren’t really into carving? Then why not give these fun Pumpkin Bats a shot? They require minimal adult supervision and they would make for a fun addition to your Halloween décor.
Materials:
Several small pumpkins (ones that are short and squat in stature work best)
Black and White Acrylic Paint
Paintbrushes
Pencil
Scissors
A Sheet of Black Craft Foam Board (you can purchase this at any major craft retailer)
A Sharp Knife
Directions:
First, you’ll want to paint your pumpkins completely black (multiple coats may be needed to ensure they get entirely covered).
While you wait for the paint to dry, you can prepare your bat wings. Using your pencil, draw a bat wing shape on your black craft foam board, and once you’ve finished your wing, cut it out. Then, using that wing as a stencil, draw another wing and cut that wing out of the foam board, too.
When your black paint is fully dry and your wings are ready, you’ll need to cut a small slice out of each side of your pumpkin where the bat wings will slide in. Each cut should be about the same size as the base of the wings, so you might want to use your wing to determine how long your cut should be. And of course, adults should make this cut for younger crafters.
Slide your wings into each slot, and to put the finishing touches on your bat, use the white paint to give him eyes and a mouth. Allow the white paint to dry before displaying.
Marshmallow Monsters
For our last entry, I thought I’d end on a sweet note with these Marshmallow Monsters. Because the possibilities are endless with these confections (I am particularly fond of FrankenMallow myself), there aren’t really any directions; essentially, you need marshmallows, frosting, various candies and sprinkles, and a whole lot of imagination. They make for a great way to keep kids busy during a Halloween party, too, because we all know that busy hands are happy hands.
Here’s a look at some variations you can try for yourself this Halloween:
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In case you missed them, check out Heather's previous seasonal special features with great ideas to get you in the Halloween spirit:
Halloween 2016: A Collection of Spooky Holiday TV Specials You Can Stream Now on Netflix
Halloween 2016: 31 Great Horror Movies Available on Amazon Prime This October
*Updated* Daily Dead’s 2016 Halloween Horrors TV Calendar
Halloween 2016: 10 Unusual Ways to Decorate and Use Your Pumpkins This Fall
Halloween 2016: 10 Devilishly Fun Drinks to Raise Your Spirits this October
Halloween 2016: 31 Movies to Stream on Netflix this October to Get You into the Spirit of the Season
Halloween 2016: 10 Quick & Inexpensive DIY Decorating Ideas
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