Spooky Party Crafts

I have selected these Spooky Party Crafts for their simplicity. They require everyday items and materials that are easy to buy.

If you plan to add these art and craft projects as an activity for your child's next birthday party, make sure you have a large table (or a couple of small ones) covered with

• newspaper
• old sheets or
• plastic garbage bags

(If you are having the spooky craft party inside, you might want to put these on the floor too!).

Make sure children wear an apron or an old shirt to protect their clothing. But hey, don't forget that getting a little messy is part of being creative!

Go through the supplies needed before the party, and have more than one of each product like glue, tape, glitter containers, etc.

As some of these projects require drying time, have the children start them as soon as they arrive at the party. The children can then return to finish their little creations after some games or food.

Depending on the age of the children attending, some activities can be prepared before the party, such as cutting out cardboard strips and circles.

Supplies: 2 black balloons Black thread Black construction paper White paint

Directions: Blow up the balloons. Make one smaller than the other – this will be the spider’s head. Using the thread, tie the two balloons together at the knots, leaving a long end to hang the spider.

Cut eight strips out of the construction paper (1” wide). Fold the strips back and forth accordion style and glue one end of each strip to the spider (four on each side). Use the paint to create the spider’s face. Let dry and hang.

Note: Hang your spider balloons around the spider’s web with plastic spiders to create the spider’s ‘den’. Make a lot of the balloon spiders and give them as party favors to your guests as they leave, or make a spider queen to reign among the hanging spiders and webs.

Supplies: Round helium balloons White sheets White string

Directions: Place balloon in the center of a sheet and tie with the string. Create a face on the ghost with the black magic marker and let the ghost float in the corner. Make several and place them throughout the party area.

Supplies: Cardboard Tape Scissors Crayons or textas Very thick craft yarn Double-sided tape

Directions: Cut out a circle of cardboard about 3 cm in diameter. Draw a face on the cardboard with crayons or textas. Cut a length of wool about 15 cm or so long. Tape the yarn onto the back of the cardboard circle. Children might like to wear their woolly worms. Put a small square of double-sided tape onto the back of the worm face and then the worm onto the child.

Supplies: Kleenex Lollipop White yarn Scissors Black marker

Directions: Cut a small length of yarn. Center the Kleenex over the top of the sucker. Tie the yarn in a bow right under the sucker. Draw on eyes and mouth with black marker. Give as a party favor. Tips: Quick and easy is the key to this favorite classroom favor. These make up so fast you can create them for all your trick-or-treaters.

Supplies: Paper Stamp pad Materials for decorating

Directions: Let children make little fingerprint bugs or critters by stamping their inked fingers on paper. You can draw or decorate legs and tails on the critters after. Encourage kids to try thumbs, palms and even their whole hand prints. You can do this project using a shallow dish of paint, covered with a thin sponge, but a stamp pad seems to give sharper, more interesting fingerprints. This activity can also be used as wrapping paper.

Supplies: Orange helium balloons Black magic marker or paint

Directions: Create a Jack-O-Lantern face on the balloon with the magic marker or paint and let dry. Make many different types of faces and group the Jack-O-Balloons with your other party balloons (orange and black).

Supplies: Clear plastic gloves Candy corn or Hot Tamales candy Popcorn Orange and black ribbon Plastic spider rings

Directions: Stuff a piece of candy corn in each finger of the clear plastic glove to resemble fingernails. If you wish, you can use the Hot Tamales candy instead to resemble painted fingernails. Fill it with popcorn. Tie it at the wrist with orange and black ribbon. Place a plastic spider ring on one of the fingers.

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