Halloween Crafts

Halloween isn’t just about getting truckloads of candy from nearby neighbors and dressing up as something spectacular: it’s also a reason to hang decorations on the outside of your house, some of which can be scary, some humorous, while others are Halloween-themed in such a way that they can be kept up until it is time to replace them with Thanksgiving decorations.

This is also a great time for those of us who are very crafty to show off our artistic streaks with some home-made decorations. These decorations can be simply a way to spruce up the front porch of an otherwise boring house, or as a way to set the right mood for an upcoming Halloween party or for those trick-or-treaters Halloween night.

For many people, Halloween crafts are usually related to hand made costumes and a variety of Halloween cookies, from orange-colored, pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies to little Sally’s custom-designed princess dress. But Halloween crafts are much more diverse and exciting than that, and can be the perfect way to spend an evening with the family.

Pumpkins are also popular, whether they are being carved to hold scary or absurd faces. In some cases, people will paint the outside of the pumpkin instead of dealing with the mess of pumpkin seeds and membranes found beneath a pumpkin’s thick skin.

Maybe consider making special Halloween candles. There are plenty of basic candle-making kits, and with the proper mould, one can have an army of ghosts lighting up a mantle, a window sill, or even any one of several tables most people have inside of their homes.

Many people are fond of purchasing decorations to hang up on the windows facing the front of their houses; but with some time and ingenuity, it is possible to make one-of-a-kind pictures to not only scare the pants off the neighbors, but to show off the artistic talents of any small children that may be living inside the house.

Those of us with large enough front lawns have been known to “spook” the place up with some decorations. This is often the best place to give into your crafty side, as this space is generally much larger than a window and can be seen by anyone walking by — in this case, trick-or-treaters. Design creepy tombstones, hovering Grim Reapers, or signs warning of potential disasters for anyone brave enough to march up to the front door.

Parties are also a good place to stretch one’s craft muscles. Create haunting scenes involving the dead — or undead — lying in coffins, find ways to turn a basement into a creepy dungeon filled with all sorts of torture devices, and the occasional device that is set up to play frightening noises at the command of a motion sensor set cleverly out of sight.

For something a little bit more tame — in the case of a party meant for small children who may be prone to wetting themselves when frightened — consider perhaps some face painting to turn Bobby and Molly into vampire princes and princesses. Or, with the use of markers, string, and some paper plates, let the children create their own Halloween masks.

Basically, anything that one can buy in a store can be made at home with some time, the right materials, and sometimes the help of friends and loved ones. Either pick up any one of several craft kits sold commonly both online and in stores, or find a good pair of scissors, sturdy string, some quality paint, markers, or crayons for some of the more simple crafts. Consider dried corn, straw or hay, and even perhaps some pieces of wood and nails.

Whatever the plan may be, Halloween is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, not just the trick-or-treaters. Take some time to sit down and make something for Halloween. No matter what your artistic and crafty skill level is, there are plenty of things that can be made by virtually anyone, regardless of age.

Posted in Halloween