As Halloween nears, young minds drift toward costumes and candy, and parents often find themselves at wit’s end in the attempt to calm those young enthusiasts into near-normalcy. Directing their attention and energy into Halloween arts and craft activities can help both young and old alike. This year, steer their imaginations and energies toward fun and creative pastimes that have a Halloween theme.
1. Ghostly Balloon Figures
For this activity, you need only a white balloon, some scissors, two white plastic bags, a black marker and tape.
First, cut off the plastic bags’ handles and any color printing on the bag. Next, from the opening of the bag, cut fringe strips. Leave the strips attached to the bag, so don’t cut all the way to the bottom.
Now blow up the white balloon and tie it closed.
Tape the plastic fringe onto the balloon a few inches up from the edge, creating a plastic fringe skirting. If you plan on hanging the balloon, leave the tied end up. Otherwise, tape the fringe with the tied end down to hide it. When the fringe fully envelopes the balloon, move on to the next step.
Now you’re ready to create your ghostly figure’s face with the black marker. Just above the plastic fringe, create a mouth, then above that, the eyes.
If you choose to make it more elaborate, try carefully taping yarn or heavy string atop the balloon for hair. Straws and pipe cleaners can create “legs” and “arms,” but take care to avoid puncturing the balloon. You can pad the ends with tape before you connect them to the balloon.
2. Paper Plate Masks
For this activity, all you need is a paper plate, some crayons, scissors and elastic string.
Color and decorate your paper plate into whatever face you’d like—a jack-o-lantern, an animal, a clever skull or something else that your imagination pictures.
Carefully cut out ample eye space, the nose and the mask’s mouth.
Next, carefully cut fastener holders near the side of the mask; each cut shouldn’t be large—perhaps only an inch at most; some use a hole punch instead, which is fine. It’s placement is important, not the method used.
Once the holes are in place, thread the elastic through from the front and pull through to tie the end to the string just beyond the mask. Next, hold the mask to your face and bring the string around without stretching until it reaches the edge of the mask. Mark the contact point and release the mask.
Bring the contact point through the front of the mask and tie it off carefully. If done correctly, the elastic band will stretch slightly to hold the mask in place. Cut off any excess elastic.
3. Egg Carton Bats
Perhaps the simplest of the three, egg carton bats are very easy and even those two years old and up can complete, once the initial cutting is finished.
All you need for this is a set of three egg carton cups, preferably of sturdy cardboard, some crayons, scissors, some glue and some string.
First, separate the three egg cups. On two of them, cut a curved V from the top of the cup to just above the bottom. On the opposite site, cut two small curves of equal depth that meet in a point on the open end. When finished, looking from the open-V side with the cup upside-down, it should appear as the bat’s wings.
Take the uncut cup and color eyes and a mouth. Then shade all three cups to a dark brown or a grey color.
Next, thread the string through the center cup and tie it in place. Then carefully glue the “wings” onto the sides of the “head” cup and hang the bat by its attached string.
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The author of this article is Holly Miller, who writes for CouponCroc.co.uk. Shopping for arts and crafts supplies? Visit us for a discount code to save when you buy online.
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