More than 65 ideas for all ages! Pre-K thru School-Age! More art/crafts and poems and songs on  Page 2 !

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MAKE TISSUE PAPER JACK-O-LANTERNS

1. For each project, bend a wire coat hanger into a circular shape. You could also have each child bring a pre-shaped hanger from home.

2. Lay the hangers on a large sheet of orange tissue paper. Trace the hanger with glue--so that the glue runs onto the tissue paper.

3. Top each hanger with a second sheet of tissue paper. Allow the glue to dry and then use scissor to remove the excess paper--creating an orange circle.
Have children use paper scraps, markers, scissors and glue to add facial features to their Jack-o-lanterns.

4. Last, wrap the hooks of the hangers with green crepe paper streamers, securing the paper with tape to create a stem.

You can make smaller jack-o-lanterns by shaping a smaller circle and hook out of sturdy wire.

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HALLOWEEN TEA LIGHTS/Votive Candles #1

Material:
Tissue paper or streamers in Halloween colors
Scissors
Liquid starch
Small galss jar
Paintbrushes

Tear the tissue paper/streamers into tiny pieces.
Paint the liquid starch onto the jar; arrange pieces of paper so they completely cover the jar.
Add another coat of liquid starch on top.
Place the jar on something such as aluminum foil to dry.
Drop in a votive candle and let the mood-lighting begin!

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  VOTIVE CANDLES #2

 

Materials:
Baby food jars or jam jars, Scraps of tissue paper, Diluted paste or glue, Votive candles

Clean the jars well and let dry. You can use small jars...but check the size of the votive candle to make sure it will fit. Have the children  brush glue onto the jar and place different colors of tissue paper over the glue, overlapping so the entire jar is covered on the outside. When brushing the tissue with glue be sure to do so gently so it doesn't tear. If it tear, remove or leave wrinkled. The glue will appear to be white but will dry clear and when a candle is lit inside will give off a pretty color and design.

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TEA LIGHTS #3

Materials:
Canning jar, baby food jar or drinking glass
Orange and Black Paint (acrylic enamel or glass paint)
Sea Sponge, Votive or tea light candle, Paint Brush

1. Using the sea sponge, paint the jar by patting orange paint over the entire outside surface. A regular sponge will work but the effect will not be the same as the sea sponge.
2. Allow paint to dry; be sure to follow paint the manufacturer's instructions- if heat setting the paint is required.
3. Practice drawing a few faces on paper until you create a design you like and then  paint a face on the jar with black paint 4. Insert a tea light or votive candle into the glass jar or glass.

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  SCARY WITCHES HANDS/FINGERS

POPCORN GHOSTS
Material: cardboard ghost shapes, popped popcorn, glue with small container from which to dip popcorn, hole punch, string or thread, black construction paper eyes and mouth shapes

1. Cut shapes of ghosts from cardboard. Cereal box cardboard works well.
2. Make a hole at the top of the ghost. Put string or yarn in the hole for hanging.
3. have kids dip each piece of popped corn in glue and stick onto one of the ghost-shape sides. Completely cover the cardboard.
4. When the glue is dry, cover the other side of the cardboard.
5. Cut eye and mouth shapes from the black paper and glue on ghost.

Either hang the ghosts from the ceiling or bring in a small branch from outside. These would make great ornaments for a Halloween tree!

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MAKE BONEY KNOCKER HANGINGS

First make Play Clay (Recipes from Play Dough Category)

3/4 cp salt (175ml)
3/3 cup water (175 ml)
1 tsp. (ml) vegetable oil
2 cups (500 ml) flour
Large mixing bowl
1. Mix the salt, water, and vegetable oil in bowl.
2. Add the flour a little at a time--amd mix until it forms a ball.
3. Knead the ball of dough for about 10 minutes,
4. Store the clay in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

TO MAKE...

 

Materials: Play clay, drinking straws, pencils, paintbrushes, black and white acrylic paint, black shoe laces or elasticized thread

1. Work on a flour-dusted work surface a handful of clay for each child.
2. Knead the clay until it is warm and pliable.
3. Roll the clay into 3/4" (2cm) thick tubes--and then divide them into small bone sized pieces.
4. Shape the pieces to look like bones by rolling the middle to be thinned than the ends of the piece.
5. Press a pencil into each end of the roll to form indentations (see image)
6. Use a spatula to place the bones on a cookie sheet for drying.
7. Push a straw top into one end of the bone and pull it out to make a hole for threading the string through.
8. Allow 48 hours to dry--and then paint the dry bones with a light coat of white-gray acrylic paint.
9. Thread black string through the bones.. Tie each bone in place to form a string of bones to hang from a door or ceiling. (Image -but not project-from Todaysparent)

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MAKE A SHRUNKEN APPLE HEAD

 • Choose the largest, firmest apples you can find. The apples shrink a lot when they dry so you want to be sure that they are big enough to begin with. Firm apples will be easier to carve and will dry out much better.

 

• The first step in making your shrunken apple heads is to peel the apples. You can core them if you would like, although it is not necessary. Next, brush a mixture of lemon juice and salt onto the peeled apple. The lemon juice and salt mixture will help to keeping the apples from turning as brown as usually when they dry.

• Next, you will want to take a paring knife and carve out the basic features of a face from one side of the apple. Don't go into too much detail since when the apple dries any small details will be lost. Focus on creating large features like the eye sockets, a nose and a mouth. Example: To make a shrunken apple for a witch's head you would most likely carve a large nose, two deep holes for the eye sockets and a sneering hole for the mouth. Keep the shapes that you carve simple and larger than you think you need them to be since they will shrink as they dry.

  • Place the carved apples somewhere dry and out of the way. Turn them every couple of days in within about 2 weeks they will have shriveled up into ghoulish little faces. You can speed up the drying time if you would like by setting them on a cookie sheet in the oven on the lowest setting or by using a food dehydrator, although it will still take some time for them to dry and shrivel.

• YOU CAN MAKE A BODY by putting the heads on small bottles (shampoo, dish soap etc.) Make a dress out of a piece of fabric. You can even use a small paper clip to make glasses.

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EGG CARTON SPIDERS
Materials:
Cardboard egg carton
Pipe cleaners
Poster paint
Elastic thread
Something to poke small holes

1. Cut the egg cups out of a cardboard egg carton.
2. Cut pipe cleaners into 3 inch sections.
3. To make each spider, poke four pipe cleaners through each cup sideways. Bend the ends to look like eight spider legs.
4. Paint the spiders black or in any  creative way you want!
5. After the paint has dried, attach a length of elastic thread to the middle of each spider.
6. Hold the thread and bounce the spider up and down as you take it for a walk!

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COFFEE FILTER PUMPKINS
 
Using white coffee filters and a eye dropper...take red and yellow food coloring. Drop on the two colors to make orange.
For jack-o-lantern features, older children can cut and paste construction paper eyes, nose, mouth.
For young children, add features using permanent marker before they begin.

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BLOW ART MONSTERS
Sqirt of paint on a plain piece of black (optional) paper.
Cut a fat straw in half and have kids blow the paint. It will cause the paint to spread. Most will be roundish formations with pointy and squiggled edges.
After the paint dries, glue or paint on eyes and facial features.
Add other decoration of choice.

MONSTER BLOW ART will be similar to this image taken from the Art Category. (Contributed by Mona Kawra at Display Photos)-- however, add details to look more 'monsterish'... 

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WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE... by Maurice Sendak
Good for Halloween Time! Read the book...discuss it...and then challenge  children to come up with their own "Wild Things" Magical Monsters.

Put put a variety of paper plates, strips of paper, construction paper, markers, paints, yarn, Easter grass, Egg Carton bumps, etc. Let the fun begin!

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GHOST POPS

All you need is tootsie or blow pops, Kleenex, orange or purple colored yarn and a black marker.
Take your sucker and put a Kleenex over it.
Next tie the yarn on the sucker and make a face using the black marker. You're done.

This craft has been made by most every child at one time or another. You can take it up a notch by making it A GHOST TREAT NECKLACE! Just cut the yarn longer and wear..

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TINY PUMPKINS
Supplies: Acorns, orange paint and green paint
 
Lay acorns on a sheet of newspaper.
Paint the bottom of the acorns with orange paint.
Let orange paint dry. To make pumpkin stems, paint the top of the acorns green.
Allow to dry thoroughly.
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CONDENSED MILK FINGER PAINT PUMPKINS
Materials:
Fingerpaint paper, orange food coloring, condensed milk

Draw a pumpkin shape on fingerpaint paper.
Mix the orange food coloring with the condensed milk.
Have children get creative and finger paint the pumpkin on their paper.
The finished results of this is great. The condensed mild gies the paint a shiny texture.
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SPOOKY SPIDERS
Supplies: black construction paper, cotton balls or cotton stuffing, black pipe cleaners, small bowl or saucer, stapler
Directions:
Using black construction paper, trace around a small bowl or saucer. (Cut out two circles per spider.)
Place stuffing or cotton balls on first circle.
Lay second circle on top of cotton stuffing and staple half-way around.
Insert 3-4" pipe cleaners on each side, then staple the second half of the circles together.
Bend pipe cleaners to make the "legs" of the spider.

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PLASTIC BAG GHOSTS

Materials:
White plastic trash bags
Black marker
Balloons
String
Scissors
Masking tape
Directions:
Blow up/inflate the balloons and cover each one with a trash bag. With the string, gather and tie each bag under the balloon to make a head. Using  markers, draw a spooky face on the trash bag. Be  creative and make your face scary or funny! 

Attach a piece of string to the top of your ghosts and display them  around your program room, yard or house. You can also use helium to have them 'float'.

 

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GLOWING GHOSTS
Materials:
Round, white balloons, cheesecloth cut to lengths of about a yard, and glow sticks. This sample used green, 4-inch glow sticks, found in party supply stores or on-line.

1. Activate a glow stick and insert it into a balloon.

2. Position the knot at the top of the balloon, and use an indelible black marker to draw the eyes and a mouth.

3. Drape the cheesecloth over the balloon, cut a small hole and push the knot through the fabric. Secure with string and hang in the breeze. Source: Readers Digest

YOU COULD ALSO... tie small glow sticks to string attached to helium balloons and let them sail over your house for spooky lights in the sky. Make sure to tie off the strings to something solid so they don 't get away!

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MAKE A PUMPKIN PAPER CHAIN
Take a strip of orange construction paper about 3 inches wide
fold into an accordion about 3 inches square.
When all folded-- cut the shape of a pumpkin leaving the side with the fold NOT cut.
When you open you will have a chain of pumpkins.

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MAKING 'TREAT BAGS' for a party goodies...
Supplies: Small brown paper bags, Halloween stickers, markers, treats (candy, pencils, erasers, bubble gum, etc.)
 
Decorate paper bags in Halloween theme using  art supplies.
Put treats inside bags.
Fold the top of the bag down and tape shut with a Halloween sticker.

#2 Idea...TRICK OR TREAT BAG

All you'll need is 1 white gift bag that is big enough to fit all the collected Halloween goodies. (Check out a dollar store; they usually have them)
Put out an assortment of decorations such as: shapes cut out from orange and black construction paper, markers, stickers, yarn, etc.

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MACARONI SKELETON

• Need: Black construction paper (approximately 6" x 11.5")
• Glue that will dry clear
• Lima beans (head, thorax, hips)
• Short, small macaroni in a tube (spine)
• Thin twisted macaroni (arms, legs)
• Elbow noodles (ribs)
• Small shells (joints)
• Spaghetti (fingers, toes)
• Black permanent marker

Directions:
1. Build a sample skeleton for the children to copy from. Review the key features with them.
2. Guide children to  build their skeleton working from the head down (i.e., head, neck/trunk, ribs, etc.), gluing the macaroni and beans to the paper as they go.
3. When they glue and macaroni has set, have them draw a smile and eyes on the "head".
TIPS:
As preparation for this project, study the human skeleton. Talk about symmetry between the two sides of the body, and how many ribs, fingers and toes we have. (Also good at Halloween!)
Source: Kaboose.com

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Q-TIP SKELETONS
Basic Directions
Materials for each basic project:1 sheet black construction paper, 5 full length Q-tips, 6 Q-tips cut in half, white glue
 
Make a skeleton head
Glue and place Q-tips in the following order...
•Place one whole swab vertically from the neck down (forms spine)
•Five half swabs on either side of the spine make the ribs...
•Two more whole swabs then make the legs, with the other half swabs for the feet.
•Add the other two whole swabs for the arms.

Challenge kids to design their own creative skeletons!
Having the skeletons engaged in movement (As the two images show) make a fun project! Cut off cotton tips and various lengths and create! Images Sources: crafts-for-all-seasons and busybeekids

 

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CHEESE CLOTH GHOST
Material:
Cheese cloth
Liqid starch... or... 2 cups white glue (I personally prefer the starch-Barb)
16 oz plastic cups
 
1. If using glue, dilute the white glue with 1/2 to 3/4 cups of water. (You should use about 3 parts glue to one part water) If using liquid starch-just use as is and dip. 
2. Have children dip a piece of cheese cloth into the liquid starch or diluted glue-- and then drape the wet cheese cloth over the 16 oz cups. 
3. The "ghosts" should dry for about two days.
4. Carefully remove the cup from the hardened cheese cloth. Children can decorate their ghosts. 
5. Hang the completed ghosts from the ceiling.

You can also make larger versions by draping cheesse cloth over a blown-up balloon. When dry--carefully pull cloth of off balloon and glue on eyes. Slip a string through the top and float from the ceiling!
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PUFFY PAINT COBWEBS

Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water in a large bowl. 

Pour the mixture into squeeze bottles.

Give each child a black paper plate or a piece of black construction paper. 

Have children squeeze the white puffy paint onto the black paper. 

There are also three other puffy paint recipes in the Painting Recipes Category!

When the paint dries, it will look like glittery cobwebs. You can add a plastic or black pom-pom spider to the art.

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SPOOKY SPIDERWEB MARBLE PAINTING...Nice to hang and display...
 
1.  Give children BLACK construction paper and WHITE thick tempera paint in shallow dishes.
2.  Put paper in a box with sides at least 2" high.
3. Either put a small puddle of paint in the center and corners of the paper and drop a marble or two in the box...OR dip a marble in the the dish of white paint and use a spoon to scoop it out and onto the paper.
3. Hold the box tilting it gently back and forth as the marble moves across. If using the 'dipping the marble method' and there is no more paint, dip the marble again.
4. Continue until children see a white spider web!

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HALLOWEEN/AUTUMN CANDLE HOLDERS...

 Anchor pillar candles in a bed of candy corn or black and orange jelly beans for seasonal touches. Mix in with fall follage, ghourds and pumpkins! This can also be done on a smaller level using baby food jar and tea lights. Set the tea lights on a bed of candy corn.

You can also place small votive candle holders in larger holders. Next  fill the outer votives with freshly squeezed BLOOD (2 teaspoons corn syrup mixed with 3 teaspoons water and several drops red food coloring). Center smaller votives in this...

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HALLOWEEN OPEN ART TABLE
Just set out Halloween themed materials, and see what the kids come up with!

Choose from:
Black, orange, and yellow construction paper, cardboard pumpkin-pattern templates, pieces of foam/felt, markers, glitter, seasonal stickers, yarn, large and small paper plates, crafts sticks, thick orange, black, and white tempera paint in shallow dishes, shallow boxes and lids, orange and black pom-poms, pasta shapes, scissors, and glue, etc. Nature treasures from outdoors could also be provided--such as straw, twigs, and seeds.

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HAUNTED GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Who says gingerbread houses are only for Christmas?
 
Ingredients: Graham crackers, store bought or homemade frosting (try to find orange and black or pre-dye), Halloween candy and sprinkles (candy corn, black licorice, orange, purple and black variety) Make bats, ghosts, tombstones, and other ghouls out of icing, fondant, or gum paste.

 

Build your gingerbread house cute or spooky. Anything that's a little off-kilter or asymmetrical works great!

PUTTING THE HOUSE TOGETHER...
Help kids assemble their house using frosting to glue the graham crackers together into a house. Do this by placing one graham cracker flat on the table, squeeze a little frosting around all edges. (You may need an extra pair of hands.)
Place one cracker on each side standing up. It now looks like a box without a top.

Carefully squeeze more frosting on all outside corners from top to bottom and around the bottom of the box. Let it stand for a short while to let frosting harden a little. This will make working with the roof a little easier.
 
Now squeeze frosting on two of the top edges of the box and place the last two graham crackers in a V shape on as the roof. It looks like a triangle on a box now from the side. It may overhang if you can get the frosting to hold for you.
Squeeze frosting along the top of the roof where crackers join. Let stand again until frosting hardens a little.

Squeeze/put small amounts or frosting on candy. Place candy on the house to decorate. You can use the frosting to add things like doors and windows. Just use your imagination.
Embellish with Halloween craft items.
Image by "EdibleArt" on Flickr.com

AN EASIER GINGERBREAD HOUSE...

Need: Single serving milk cartons, empty and washed
White frosting/icing store bought or recipe
Graham Cracker Squares
Decorations, candies, sprinkles or other Halloween treats
 
Prepare white icing/frosting if you are not using store bought.
Each person should have their own single serving milk carton.
Place your carton on a sheet of waxed paper on top of heavy cardboard or a paper plate.
Attach graham cracker squares to sides of carton by spreading icing/frosting on carton and pressing cracker firmly onto carton.

Do the same for the roof using two graham cracker squares. For area between sides and roof - cut a graham cracker in half on diagonal to form a triangle and attach the same way.

Once you have your sides and roof attached use icing/frosting to attach decorations and candies to your house. You can pipe icing/frosting into the cracks with a cake decorator or with a plastic bag filled with icing/frosting.

Use your imagination to create windows and doors with different shaped and colored candies. Add other elements as you wish.

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GHOST DECORATIONS
Materials:
White paper napkins or tissues
Yarn or string
Black paper or a black felt-tip pen
Glue

1. Start with the ghost's head, by making a ball with one napkin or tissue.
2. Place the ball in the center of an opened-out napkin tissue, and then close your hand tightly around the "head".
3. Tie a piece of yarn around the napkin / tissue under the "head". Be sure that the length of yarn is long enough to hang the ghost.
4) To make the eyes, cut out 2 small triangles of black paper and glue them on the ghosts head or  draw them with the felt-tip pen) to make the eyes. You can also add a mouth and a nose...
5. Hang the small ghosts around the room.

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FOOTPRINT GHOST (Feet in Paint)
Materials: black construction paper,  black marker, white poster paint, a large ice cream bucket lid or flat container, sponge paintbrush, and  bare FEET!

1. To make the footprint ghost, put a piece of dark paper down on the floor. Spread white paint in a thin layer on the ice cream lid or flat container.
2. Have children put their foot in it. Make sure the entire bottom of their foot is covered in paint.

3. Use the sponge paintbrush to spread more paint on the child's foot if you need to.
Have  child step on the dark paper. Again, make sure that the entire foot makes a mark on the paper.
4. After paint dries, have kids put two eyes and a mouth on the ghost with a black marker.

If you fold the construction paper in half beforehand, you can make wonderful
Halloween cards...

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FOOTPRINT BATS
 Material:
Construction paper in Halloween 'bat' colors

Trace child's foot on three pieces of paper the same color.
Cut them out.
With one footprint, cut off the toes in a curved shape.
Next glue the other two footprints on each side of the footprint with no toes.
When dry--glue two googly eyes or white paper circles (eyes) on the bats head.
To hang bats up, either use clothespins or glue magnets on the back and display them on a refrigerator.

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FOOTPRINT WITCHES

Trace and cut feet out of black paper. The toes are the bottom of the witches dress and the heel is the head. Glue this to a sheet of construction paper for the background.
Glue on Q-tips for arm and legs.
Draw a face... and add a pointed witch's hat.

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HALLOWEEN PAINTED HANDPRINTS
Create Halloween art projects that parents can keep to remember their child's little hands!

HANDPRINT GHOSTS
Paint child's hand with white tempera paint.
Have
child place their hand (with fingers close together and pointing down) on a sheet of black paper. Do this once or several times to have scary ghosts floating through the air. When  paint dries, add eyes and a mouth using black permanent marker, google eyes or bits of black paper.

HANDPRINT BAT
Paint both hands black with washable paint.  Have child put their thumbs together with the fingers spread out. Carefully place them on the paper. (For a younger child you may want to do one hand at a time.)

HANDPRINT SPIDER
1. Have children make a fist. Paint the palm side of the fist paint black and have child stamp their painted fist onto a piece of white paper.
2. Open the fist up. Paint all the fingers black but NOT the thumbs!
3. To make the legs--have child put their finger prints on either side of the fist print.

Variation: Paint the spiders individually; laminate them or make them using fun foam. Cut out the spiders--tape a string to the back-- and hang them from the string.
Idea and image: cereschildcare...

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HANDPRINT SPIDER AND GHOST TOGETHER...

 

Use a full sheet of orange paper.
Paint one white, upside-down handprint for a ghost. When dry-using a black marker-add two black eyes and mouth.

Make two black handprints palm to palm (no thumbs) to make a spider. When the spider is dry-- paint two white dots for eyes. When eys are dry- make two black dots inside the white dots for eyeballs.

Make a black line up to the top of the paper to form a web coming down to the spider.
Optional: Write 'Trick or Treat!'

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COOKIE MONSTERPIECE...

A craft and snack in one!
Have a table set up with plenty of sugar cookies cut out in different Halloween shapes. Put out a variety of frosting, candy corn, chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc. Great for pre-school through grade school. Photo Source: pinchmyself

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Lots more on Page 2 of Art & Crafts!

• Also...be sure to check out Halloween Snacks-many are artsy/crafty!
• Easy Costumes and Make Up
• Halloween Decorating (Check here for fun home craft ideas)
• Decorating a Mad Science Lab
• Purple People Eater Theme
• Halloween Games (More than 60!)
• Autumn/Fall Pumpkin Theme

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 Poems and Songs are towards the bottom of page...

GHOST WIND SOCKS

Materials:
White card stock or poster board
Black permanent marker
Stapler
Glue
White crepe paper streamers, String, yarn, or twine

1. Draw a ghost face on the white poster board using the black marker.
2. Roll the poster board into a tube shape and staple the overlapping ends together securely.
3. Cut long strips out of the crepe streamers. Glue or staple them all around the bottom of the wind sock.
4. Cut a piece of string about 2 1/2 feet long and staple the ends to opposite sides of the top of the wind sock to hang.

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HALLOWEEN NOISE SHAKER (Also makes a great DOORKNOB HANGER)
Materials: For each shaker need two paper plates, dry beans, orange paint, paper scraps, yarn, scissors, glue

1. Paint the back of each plate orange.
2. When paint is dry--create facial features out of paper scraps (black or brown would be good) and glue onto the plate.
3. Around the outer edge of plates, staple them together--leaving an opening at the top. Drop in a handful of beans (enough to make a sound).
4. If desired, insert a green rectangle stem into the top opening and staple the pumpkin closed.
5. With a hold punch. punch a hole on each side or the STEM. Thread and tie the yarn.
6. The jack-o-lantern can be hung from a doorknob or used to shake as a musical instrument.

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PAPER PLATE GHOSTS
Materials:
White Paper Plates
White Streamers
Black Marker
Hole Punch
String

•Draw a 'ghost face' on the paper plate. Tape white streamers to the back of the paper plate. Make them long enough so  they look like a ghost. 
•Punch a hole in the top of the plate; tie on string.
•Hang the ghosts from the ceiling, windows or outdoor trees (if not raining).

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BULLETIN BOARD IDEA...

Cut out ghost shapes of different kinds and have children decorate them with scraps of white material, cotton balls, tissue paper, etc.
Paste a picture of each child's face on the ghost and hang them on a bulletin board with the heading: What A "BOOtiful" Class!

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OPEN ART PUMPKIN TABLE...

 Provide each child with a pumpkin. Put out a variety or paints and decorating supplies. Instruct children to be their most creative and personalize their pumpkin! If this is an activity for a party-it can also double as a party favor!

The pumpkins on the chair are  a small portion of pumpkins created by Notre Dame Prep Academy in Pontiac, Mi. They were done as a service project and given to an Assisted Living Home to brighten up the residents' dining room.

The second was created by Bria-age 5-- at an Autumn Birthday party. The last (two pumpkins) was an activity at a school-age program in Conway, S.C. (First two images by KidActivities.net)

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SPAGHETTI COBWEBS 
Materials:
Cold Cooked Spaghetti noodles 
White glue
Wax paper
 
Have children dip spaghetti into the glue and arrange the pieces onto wax paper.
When the spaghetti dries, carefully peel the "cobweb" off of the wax paper. 
Hang from the ceiling or on a window.

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CREATE A MONSTER... Materials: Glue, construction paper, scissors, old magazines (and anything with pictures in it), crayons/markers

Cut out facial features, hair, arms and legs from old magazines, newspapers and/or junk mail. (Have body parts cut out before the project begins. You can do this yourself-or have a 'group-cut' previous to this)

Once all random parts are assembled -- put them out and challenge kids to create their own original Frankenstein.
There should be some pretty interesting creatures with mismatched eyes, three or four legs, or who knows what!
When complete, have children tell you all about the monster they've created! (i've done this with kids--and they really are a fun project to do!)

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PAPER BAG PUMPKIN

 

Directions most often seen...
1. Starting with a lunch size paper bag-- crumble-up some paper and stuff the lunch bag.
2. Tie the top with string leaving about 2 inches of space at top.
3. Paint the bottom portion with orange tempera paint and the top brown (for the stem).
Copy a leaf pattern on green paper, felt or foam -- cut it out--glue or staple it to base of stem.

Optional but nice: Wrap green or brown pipe cleaners around the pumpkin stem for vines. (Give the pipe cleaner vine a curly look by spiraling it around a pencil and then twisting it onto the stem. You can make a jack-o-lantern by painting or drawing a face on your orange paper bag.

Tip:
I prefer to make these by first painting the paper bag orange. Have the kids open the bag  and place it on their hand (like a puppet) They will be able to then paint all sides. 
Leave the top 1- to 2-inches of the bag brown.
While you are waiting for the paint to dry, cut a couple of leaf shapes out of green felt, craft foam, or construction paper...and proceed from there. (Barb)
Images: Thanks to About.com  (image with pipe cleaner vines) and Kaboose

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JACK-O-LANTERN ORANGES
Materials:
Oranges
Whole Cloves
Toothpicks-or something to poke holes in the oranges

After poking a hole with a needle, fork, or tooth pick, insert cloves into oranges in a decorative jack-o-lantern face pattern.

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A NOT TOO SCARY HALLOWEEN YARN GHOST 

 

This guy is from the Craft Category of Yarn Dolls. Directions for making the "head" is there....After you've made the head--stop! Just trim the bottom loops and add google eyes and a spooky plastic spider!

 

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STYROFOAM SPIDERS
Materials:
1 Styrofoam Ball
1 Large Black Pom-pom
4 to 8 Black Pipe Cleaners
2 Googley Eyes
Black Acrylic Paint
Paintbrush
Glue or glue gun
Scissors

1. Paint the Styrofoam ball black. 
2. Once dry, glue on the black pom-pom to one side of the ball. This is the head of the spider.
3. Glue the googley eyes to the black pom-pom.
4. To make legs--insert the black pipe cleaners into the Styrofoam ball.
5. For long legs use 8 full-length pipe cleaners and bend into shape. For shorter legs, take 4 pipe cleaners and cut in half; use these half sized pieces to form the legs. (Image by KidActivities.net)

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TISSUE TUBE SPIDER STAMPING
Take an empty toilet or paper cardboard roll.
For the spider's legs, cut eight parts, Make them even in width. Go up high enough to bend the legs up.
Holding the top, dip it in black paint and make a spider.
Use google eyes to finish.

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REAL PUMPKIN STAMPING!
Buy several small, real pumpkins. 
Cut them in half. 
Have children dip the pumpkin halves into paint to make prints.

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HALLOWEEN COOKIE CUTTER PRINTS
Buy an assortment of halloween cookie cutters. 
Dip cookie cutters into paint and press them onto paper. 
This makes really cool prints!

Also remember to pull out the Halloween cookie cutters when playing with play dough this month! See 'Pumpkin Theme' for directions on making 'Pumpkin Pie Scented' play dough. (Recipe in middle of page)

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GHOST PENCIL TOPPER
Materials: Pencils-preferable black, Halloween themed, orange or white black
White tissue
Fine tip black marker
rubber bands

Crumple two or more tissues to form a ball.
Place the ball (the ghost head) on top of the pencil. Use a double layer of flat tissue to put over the ball (the body) and the pencil.
Wrap a rubber band around the base of the ball and the flat tissue.
Draw a face on the tissue with black marker.

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HALLOWEEN JAR
Materials:
Clean baby food or small jam jar with leak proof screw top lid; corn syrup
Small Halloween craft items such as: plastic spiders, insects, witches, ghosts, etc.; Halloween confetti with bat, spider and pumpkin shapes
Marbles, glass stones or small pebbles
Optional: Silicone caulking

1. Add a layer of marbles to the bottom of the jar.

2. Add a large Halloween figure to the jar. Although it is not necessary, you may want to glue this to the center of the upside down jar lid so that it remains stationary while the other objects float around it. If so, use waterproof silicone caulking (the kind used for fish tanks is excellent) to cement the base of the figure in place. Let dry.

3. Add a selection of Halloween confetti pieces.

4. Pour in clear corn syrup to fill the jar. If you are adding a figure glued to the lid, remember to allow space for this so the syrup doesn't overflow.(Clear Dippity Do Hair gel also gives an interesting effect. It's thick-- so items and gels would be alternately placed in the jar.)

5. Screw on the lid. If desired, you can run a bead of silicone caulking around the lid to secure it permanently. Activate your Halloween scene by shaking or inverting the jar so you can see the confetti and marbles floating slowly around.

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POP BOTTLE GHOST

1. Put white tempera paint inside empty 2-liter soda bottles.
2. Have children roll bottle around until inside is covered in white.
3. Paint on face with black acrylic paint. Let dry completely.
4. Remove cap and let inside dry. Once dry, replace cap.
5. At this point yarn/string can be tied around top of bottle to hang... or left to sit.

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HALLOWEEN BOTTLE

1. Take an empty, clear 20 oz. bottle add orange colored water or have children add red and yellow food coloring if you want to demonstrate how the color orange is made.
2. Add Halloween confetti of bats, moons, witches, ghosts, glitter

If you would like items to move more slowly in the bottle--use a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 corn syrup--instead of all water.

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PAPER PLATE MASKS (Half-face Style)
Spooky or Pretty...whichever kids wish!
 
1. Cut a sturdy paper plate in half.
2. Staple a tongue depressor to the bottom right hand corner.
3. Cut a slot in the middle of the half plate to look through.
Put out a variety of materials for  children to glue onto their mask.
Markers, paint, feathers, yarn, shiny papers, egg carton bumps, buttons, Styrofoam, pieces, etc.

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CONTACT PAPER JACK-O-LANTERN
Cut a pumpkin shape out of contact paper and lay it-sticky side up- on a table.
Have children cover the contact paper with orange tissue paper squares and black paper features.

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COOL WHIP LID AND GROCEY SACK GHOST
Materials:
2 sheer white plastic grocery sacks
2 white pipe cleaners
Cool whip Lid or similar round lid
Scotch Tape
Glue Stick
Black yarn
scissors
Hole Punch

Glue eye and mouth on front of lid.
Cut off any writing, graphics, and handles from the sacks.
Lay sacks down flat. With scissors, shred 2" strips of sacks-- leaving at least 1" area intact next to the seam.

Turn the lid over on a flat surface. Bend and insert the pipe cleaner/seam into the ridge around the bottom 1/2 of the lid. Tape to secure in place.

Repeat with the second sack and stem and insert it in the ridge around the upper 1/2 of the lid.

Punch a hole through the top of the lid.
Thread a length of yarn through the hole appropriate for hanging.

A loop can also be made on the end of a 11/2 ' length, so children can hold and run with them. They 'fly' nicely and kids appear to being chased by a little ghost.

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HAPPY FACE-SCARY FACE STICK PUPPET (Or Stick-Mask)

On orange paper, have children draw a medium size pumpkin-- or trace a pumpkin-face template. Cut-out the shape. On one side design a happy jack-o-lantern face---and on the other side, design a scary or sad-faced jack-o-lantern. Tape the pumpkin face to a large size craft stick.

Talk about what makes the jack-o-lantern happy; what makes the jack-o-lantern sad or scary? If children are young-discuss the pumpkin faces being 'pretend'.

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HALLOWEEN COFFEE CAN BANKS (Use those recycled cans!)

To cover a 10-13 oz. coffee can--cut orange paper rectangles about 5" by 14". Remove the coffee can plastic lids; using tape, wrap the cans with the paper.

Have kids design and cut out jack-o-lantern facial features and stems from scrap paper. Glue the facial features and stem to the can. Using a knife or scissors, cut a coin slot in the lid of the banks.

You can also make smaller banks using frosting/icing containers.

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DANCING GHOSTS
Materials:
White cloth material cut into approximatly 18" x 18" squares
Ping pong or Styrofoam balls
White pipe cleaners or twist ties
Long straws (non-bendable)
Hot glue gun
Black permanent marker

With caution, hot glue a ping pong ball onto the top of a straw.
After glue dries, center the white cloth over the ping pong ball.
Make the ghost's head by twisting a pipe cleaner/tie between the ball and straw. 
Finish off with black marker eyes and mouth.

Hold the straw to make the ghost dance/walk/fly/play.

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A COUPLE IDEAS FROM cereschildcare (SPIDER & WITCH)

PAPER PLATE SPIDERS

(With the letter 'S' or not)

 

Paint a paper plate all black.
Cut 8 strips of black construction paper
Fold the legs accordian style. Younger children fold randomly.
Glue to the back of the plate and add wiggle eyes.
Hang from a black string.
Add A splotch of red to make it look like a black widow. The sample image sponge painted letter "S" for Spider as part of the day's lesson plan.

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PAPER PLATE WITCH

 

Paint a paper plate green.
Trace and cut childs hands on orange construction paper. Glue to the plate for the witch hair.
Add a black witch hat.
Draw on a face.

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SPOOKY GHOST HANDPRINT TREE
On large white paper, draw a black or brown, gnarly tree.
Have each child paint their hand with white paint.
Put the painted hand with fingers pointed down on/from the gnarled branches.
After the 'ghosts' have dried-- have each child to draw a face on their handprint. Makes a great Halloween display!

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MISCELLANEOUS HALLOWEEN FUN!

DOES YOUR SCHOOL FROWN ON COSTUMES AT HALLOWEEN TIME ? CONSIDER FACE PAINTING!
If your school doesn't allow students to wear costumes to school...Consider holding a 'Creative Hat parade" complete with colorful face paint!

Extension: A GREAT HALLOWEEN TIME (OR ANY-TIME IDEA!)
Have children make instruments (See Making Instruments Category)  When complete... start a musical Halloween parade through your neighborhood! This is actually an activity that can take place over a couple days.

1. Make instruments.
2. Practice
3. Have a parade (with costumes if possible) If costumes are not possible, then make funny hats and face paint!

This is a wonderful idea for younger children. The kids love it and the neighbors will, too!

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Make a 'BUBBLING CAULDRON'
Materials: Cauldron, Water, Baking soda, Vinegar, Tablespoon, Cup, Pan or Tray

Place a cauldron on a pan or tray (cauldrons are abundant around Halloween; you can buy them at dollar stores.) Place 2 tbsp. of water in the cauldron and stir in 1 tbsp. of baking soda. In a separate cup, measure 2 tbsp. of vinegar. Pour it in and watch potion bubble!

Science explanation: Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. When they combine, it forms carbon dioxide.

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MAKE WITCH'S BREW SLIME

6 spoons glue
6 spoons water
2 spoons Borax
Green food coloring.

Mix to make 'WITCH'S SLIME'...

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HALLOWEEN SONGS and POEMS (See Halloween jokes here...)

PUMPKIN BELLS…
To the tune of Jingle Bells

Dashing through the streets
In our costumes bright and gay...
to each house we go
Laughing all the way.

Halloween is here,
Making spirits bright...
What fun it is to trick-or-treat
And sing Pumpkins carol tonight!

O, Pumpkin bells! Pumpkin bells:
Ringing loud and clear.
Oh what fun Great Pumpkin brings
When Halloween is here!

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IF YOU'RE A MONSTER...
To tune: If you're happy and you know it

If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms.
If you're a monster and you know then your arms will surely show it.
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms. 

If you're a monster and you know it show your claws  
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws.  
If you're a monster and you know then your claws will surely show it.
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws.

Continue with:
...Stomp your feet
...Gnash your teeth
...Growl out loud

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THE HALLOWEEN SURPRISE STORY
Dad and I shopped for a pumpkin
To carve for Halloween.
The one we bought was round and fat,
The best we'd ever seen.

We took it home, and carefully
My dad cut off  the top.
We scooped the gloppy seeds all out
Onto paper--plop, plop, plop!

Next, Dad cut out the eyes and mouth,
Then he cut out the nose.
He winked at me and then he said,
"He'll be bald, I suppose."

I laughed and said, "Oh, Daddy,
Jack-o-lanterns' heads are bare.
I've never seen a single one
That had a head of hair!"

Then we took our pumpkin outside
With a candle for its light.
Our jolly jack-o-lantern glowed
So brightly in the night.

Long after I had gone to bed,
Snowflakes began to fall.
They covered up the bushes
And the garden and the wall.

In the morning I ran out to see
If my pumpkin was still there.
I found him sitting on the porch -
But now he had white hair!
Author Unknown

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PUMPKIN SONG
To tune of Found a Peanut

Pick a pumpkin, pick a pumpkin,
Pick a pumpkin just now...
I just now picked a pumpkin
Picked a pumpkin just now.
 
Cut the top off, cut the top off
Cut the top off just now...
I just now cut the top off,
Cut the top off just now.

Scoop the seeds, out, scoop the seeds out,
Scoop the seeeeeds out just now...
I just now scooped the seeds out
Scooped the seeds out ju-ust now.
 
Carved a face in, carved a face in
Carved a face in  just now...
I just now carved a face in it
Carved a face in it just now.
 
Stick a candle in it, stick a candle in it
Stick a candle in it now...
I just now stuck a candle in it
Stuck a candle in it just now.
 
I made a jack-o-latern, I made a jack-o-latern
Made a jck-o-latern just now...
I just now made a jack-ol-lantern
Made a jack-o-latern just now!
(Use appropriate hand motions with each verse)

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THE EIGHT DAYS OF HALLOWEEN
Sing to the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
An Owl in a dead tree

On the second day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the third day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the fourth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the fifth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the sixth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the seventh day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
7 ghouls a groaning
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the eighth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
8 witches cackling
7 ghouls a groaning
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree...

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THE WITCH SONG
(Sung to tune of Ten Little Indians)

1 little, 2 little, 3 little witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches,
Slide down the moonbeams without any hitches,
Hi, Ho, Halloween's here!

THREE LITTLE WITCHES Version #2

One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over haystacks and fly over ditches
Fly over moonbeams without any hitches
Hey, it's Halloween night.
 
One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over barb wire and tore their britches
Had to go home and get some stitches
Hey, it's Halloween night.

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BATS ARE SLEEPING
Sung to Frere Jacques

Bats are sleeping
Bats are sleeping
Upside down
Upside down...

Waiting for night to come
Waiting for night to come
Then they fly around
Then they fly around.

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FIVE LITTLE GHOSTS FINGER PLAY

The first little ghost floated by the store.
The second little ghost stood outside the door.
 
The third little ghost tried her best to hide.
The fourth little ghost stood by my side.
 
The fifth little ghost near the window sill,
And gave everybody a great big thrill.
The five little ghosts were all my friends,
And that is the way that this story ends.

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THREE LITTLE GHOSTS

Three little ghosts on Halloween night
Saw a witch and freaked in fright.
The witch just laughed and shouted, "Boo!"
One ghost ran home and then there were two.

Two little ghosts who shiver and shook
With every single step they took.
When the door opened wide
A goblin said to the other...
I'm going home and stay with my mother.

One little ghost can't have much fun,
so he ran home, and then there were none.

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LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE (For school-age)
by James Whitcomb Riley

Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board an' keep;
An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
An' when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever' wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' help the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns'll git you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

NOTE: This is fun if said with a 'southern accent'. I can still remember memorizing this in the 5th grade--and reciting it at a Parents' Day! (Barb)

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There are also several 'Pumpkin Poems and Songs' in the Autumn Pumpkin Theme. (Great for October and November!)

Also be sure to check out HALLOWEEN DECORATING IDEAS! There are artsy/crafty ideas and great ideas for decorating that great Halloween Party!

 

Back to Page one... for Halloween Arts and Crafts

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CREATE A WONDERFUL ENTRANCE...

Make your front door season-appropriate, framing it with dried corn husks and a garland of oak leaves. Ghostly bottle-gourd scarecrows were painted white, with features added in black felt tip, and then speared on sticks and "planted" in Styrofoam blocks inside urns...Source: Country Living Magazine

Remove the white ghourds--and jack-o-lanterns and you're ready for Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

PUMPKIN ADDRESS!

•Select one pumpkin per house number and cut a hole in the top of each.

•Clean pumpkins out- saving the tops--wipe exteriors dry. Center paper stencil number (these are 5 inches tall) on the first pumpkin and adhere with painter's tape.

•With a marker, trace the stencil outline, then carefully carve just outside the line with a small handsaw or heavy-duty craft knife. Repeat for each number.

•Arrange a few tea lights inside each pumpkin, then line up or stack in proper order. Replace top on the highest pumpkin. Illuminate tea lights using a long-handled lighter through the holes.
Source:  sunset.com

PAINTING ON THE NUMBERS......You wouldn't be able to insert tea lights--but a similar effect could be achieved by painting on the numbers!

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MR. AND/OR MRS. PUMPKIN An easy and fun idea for your lawn, porch, classroom, or center!

 

Pull out some old trousers or overalls and long-sleeved shirts or blouses. Once stuffed, the resulting bodies look remarkably lifelike. You can also deck out Mrs. Pumpkinhead in a dress (if you first clothe her in pants and then drape the dress over the pants).

Once you've assembled the wearing apparel, begin shaping the bodies. Fasten a rubber band around the bottom of each pant leg to close off that opening. Pack the trousers with some filler material such as straw, leaves, rags, or wads of crumpled newspaper...
 
Next, secure the shirt sleeves at the cuffs and stuff the arms...button the front and pad out the chest area.

When the body is complete, prop the lower portion of the scarecrow-like body in an armchair, on a bale of hay or on a bench.
 
Rest the upper torso in place. At this point, it's a good idea to join the two sections by pinning the trousers to the shirt or blouse in several places. Your Halloween house guest will be more likely to stay in one piece.

Tip for the Head...
Carved and hollowed heads will soon shrivel and mold, so allow your pumpkin people to keep their seedy brains. They'll last through the end of autumn!

To start...You may want to first practice drawing facial designs on paper.
When you find one you like - dry the pumpkin with a towel or paper towel. Using a felt-tip marker, outline features. You can fill in with paint to provide extra color.

For a finishing touch (hair), top off with some straw, yarn, grass,or an  old mop.

Carefully, set the head down on its body. With a well-placed poke or two you can push the wadding about until each 'head' balances where a head ought to be.

Add a scarf, gloves, hat, and boots, shoes, or galoshes!

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GIANT SPIDER WEB--Great indoors or out!

Weave your own web with black clothesline. (You could also use white) Simply pick a point for the web to begin and tie lengths of line onto a large eye hook. Pull each line taut and secure at the opposite end with a tack. Knot additional line across to complete the web.

SPIDERS AND WEBS #2

You can set the stage for your spiders by picking up some webbing---it's really cheap, and stretches a LONG way! Put it in corners of rooms or porches, or stretched over a door!
 
TO MAKE SPIDERS...
Purchase large black pom poms and large black chenille stems.
1. Take 4 chenille stems and twist them together in the middle. This creates the eight legs. Bend the stems downward about halfway down each leg.
2. Using tacky glue or a glue gun -- secure a large pom pom in the center of the legs at the twist to form the body.
3. You can glue on google eyes or cut scary red eyes from felt or craft foam.
4. Set the spiders in their webs; you can also bend the leg tips and attach them to a picture frame or a lamp chain.
With this project, the bigger, the better, so buy the largest legs and pom poms you can find!

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HALLOWEEN/AUTUMN CANDLE HOLDERS...

Anchor pillar candles in a bed of candy corn or black and orange jelly beans for seasonal touches. Mix in with fall follage, ghourds and pumpkins!

You can also place small votive candle holders in larger holders. Next  fill the outer votives with freshly squeezed blood (2 teaspoons corn syrup mixed with 3 teaspoons water and several drops red food coloring). Center smaller votives in this...

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STACKED PUMPKIN MAN...

This snowman-like sculpture sports two stacked pumpkins on top of a large pedestal urn. Feather-trim hair under the felt hat and an old shirt collar and buttons make up his kooky apparel. If you have a staircase, combine vines and craft-store grapevines with delicate Chinese lanterns and plastic bugs and curl them up the banister.

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CREEPY-CRAWLIE WINDOWS...

For eerily lit windows, cut sheets of yellow waxed floral tissue paper to fit the pane, and tape in place. Cut spider silhouettes out of black craft paper and hang against the backdrop for a menacing effect.

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REPLACE USUAL ARTWORK... 

with photos, posters, or tiles of Halloween themed images:
Bats, Black cats, Witches, Toads, Wolves, Jack-O-Lanterns, Owls, etc. Take down some your present art and replace with Halloween and Autumn themed. You can additionally 'lean' tlles and small prints against walls on cabinets and counters...

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GLOWING GHOSTS
Materials:
Round, white balloons, cheesecloth cut to lengths of about a yard, and glow sticks. This sample used green, 4-inch glow sticks, found in party supply stores or on-line.

1. Activate a glow stick and insert it into a balloon.

2. Position the knot at the top of the balloon, and use an indelible black marker to draw the eyes and a mouth.

3. Drape the cheesecloth over the balloon, cut a small hole and push the knot through the fabric. Secure with string and hang in the breeze. Source: Readers Digest

YOU COULD ALSO... tie small glow sticks to string attached to helium balloons and let them sail over your house for spooky lights in the sky. Make sure to tie off the strings to something solid so they do 't get away!

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GHOST LANTERNS...

Great for a walkway or porch...

Materials
Clean plastic gallon milk jugs,  Black permanent marker, Craft knife, String of 50 clear low-wattage holiday lights

1. Draw ghost eyes and mouths on the jugs. Tip: Leave the caps on while you do this, so the jugs don't dent.
2. Use the craft knife to cut a half-dollar-size hole in the back of each jug (a parent's job).
3. Arrange the ghosts near each other and string the lights between them, stuffing several bulbs into each of the jugs.
Source: FamilyFun

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PUMPKIN CARVING TIP....
After you have carved your pumpkin wipe Vaseline along the cut edges - this will help preserve your pumpkin.

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JACK-O-LANTERN WITH DRY ICE

 
Materials Needed: Large pumpkin
Large glass
Hot water
Salt
Dry ice
CAUTION: Handle dry ice only while wearing heavy duty gloves. Dry ice is extremely cold
(-109 F) (-78.5 C) and can cause instant frostbite. Use extreme caution. See our dry ice safety page for more safety information.

Choose a pumpkin large enough to hold a large can inside. Clean out the pumpkin and carve a friendly or a frightening face. Keep in mind, carbon dioxide fog sinks, so more fog will flow out of the mouth of your jack-o-lantern than through its eyes.

When you are done cleaning out and carving your pumpkin, fill a large glass about half full with hot water and mix in a cup of salt. Try to find a glass that is taller than the eyes of your jack-o-lantern, to get fog to flow through all the carvings. Place the glass inside the pumpkin. Wearing gloves, drop two or three large pieces of dry ice into the cup of water. Replace the top of the pumpkin. You want the lid to fit tightly so there won't be air currents dissipating the fog. As the water cools, it will be necessary to start over with hot water to maintain the fog effect.

As a rule of thumb, one pound of dry ice will create 2-3 minutes of fog effect. The hotter the water, the more fog but the quicker dissipation of the dry ice. (Source: continental carbonic)

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OTHER 'QUICK' HALLOWEEN DECORATING TIPS...
As kids' Halloween decorating goes, the more the merrier and anything goes! There are plenty of inexpensive and widely available Halloween decorations to purchase. Kids like a spooky theme, but keep the atmosphere cheerful and fun for younger children. Children will enjoy lending a helping hand with making decorations for decorating the house/center for Halloween. They'll also have plenty of creative ideas to offer.

• Choose low level LIGHTING for a really spooky atmosphere when decorating for Halloween...candles, illuminated pumpkins, miniature twinkle lights.

• DRAPE black, white or orange netting over every conceivable surface. Use lots of COBWEBS...
Create arrangements in corners, on tables, chairs etc, of Halloween THEMED OBJECTS: pumpkins, witches, skulls, cats, ghosts, etc.

• Outdoors...Plant two fake novelty FEET upside-down with the feet sticking up or one or two fake HANDS reaching upwards in your Halloween cemetery.

• Use a plastic cauldron partially filled with hot water, then add some DRY ICE and a glow stick to create an eerie centerpiece for your table. Be careful handling the dry ice! It can burn skin very easily. (Directions are at page bottom of Decorating a Mad Science Lab.

• Looking for something to hang from the ceiling? Remember the old stand-by of PAPER CHAIN loops. In shades of orange and black of course! (If you do orange--you can leave them up all fall!) Also, orange and black balloons and streamers...

• JACK-O-LANTERNS...What's Halloween without a jack-o-lantern? Use stencils to carve or paint a variety of faces on  pumpkins to add the traditional touch to your party.

• Decorate ORANGES and/or nectarines with a felt pen, for effective and fun 'mini pumpkins'

• COFFIN...Use your imagination! You can build your own coffin with 6-8 wood pieces and place a dummy in it. Or consider having it closed and place a fake arm coming out of it. Add some fake blood to the side for a gross effect.

• Create CENTERPIECES by filling vases with dried flowers, brown leaves, and empty branches. Tie a black ribbon bow around each centerpiece.

• Use mini ears of Indian corn, mini pumpkins and gourds to EMBELISH your Halloween party table. They also make excellent arrangements for an autumn table.

• BLACK LIGHTS add an eerie touch to a party. You can find them all year round. Use florescent lights as opposed to screw in bulbs which are not true U.V. light.

• Purchase rolls of 'YELLOW CAUTION TAPE' (the type you see at crime or disaster scenes to keep people out of taped areas. It's fairly inexpensively and can be purchase at most hardware stores. Put it up around the perimeter of your yard. Place a sign stating something such as "Fright Scene-Enter at Your Own Risk."

• CRUNCHING BONES underfoot...Spread some dried bread and pretzels under a rug. As guests walk across the rug it will sound like crunching bones underfoot!

• TOMBSTONES...Perhaps one of the creepiest things is a tombstone with the inscription R.I.P. which is reminiscent of old-time graveyards believed to be haunted according to old myths and urban legends. You can find tombstones in the holiday section of most stores around Halloween, or make your own and add some originality!

SOUND EFFECTS
Purchase a CD of Halloween sound effects and /or music...or make your own! Record several scary sounds and play it back during the festivities.

• A very large sheet of poster board or sheet metal makes great thunder.
• Uncooked rice poured onto a cookie sheet sounds like rain.
• Crinkle a handful of cellophane for a roaring fire.
• To get a good scream you can, well -- scream.
• Snap carrots in half for the sound of breaking bones.
• Flap a plastic bag in front of the microphone for the sound of bats.
• Slowly blow bubbles with a straw into a bowl for a bog sound.

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Having a Halloween Party? Consider a 'Mad Science Theme. 'MAD SCIENCE THEME' is here....and 'DECORATING A MAD SCIENCE LAB' is here...Lots of fun ideas!

Additionally, check out the Halloween Food and Snack Category! Creepy-crawlie, wormy, squishy and gross looking foods-- add loads of fun to a party!!! Your foods and table will also be a decoration.

 

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PUT UP A HALLOWEEN TREE!

  

 

A unique but effective decoration is a HALLOWEEN TREE. Manufacturers turn out strings of outdoor lights for almost every holiday...so it won't be hard to find orange lights and other spooky decorations for your tree.

Check  local home improvement centers or large department stores. Take a standard artificial Christmas tree as your starting point and then let your imagination run wild.

Black painted tree branches secured in pots also work great!

One easy decorating idea is to take standard Christmas ball ornaments (such as the decorations on the branch tree) in fall colors...and apply Halloween and Autumn stickers to them!   Image of pumpkin tree by Suzi T on Flickr

Kids will have a wonderful time helping to create skeletons, bats, witches, and all the other assorted characters that have a special place at Halloween time to hang on your tree.

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EASIEST OF ALL JACK-O-LANTERNS!

Just draw faces on the pumpkins in washable markers (you can wipe off errors) and then fill in with black permanent markers! How simple but effective!!! Image Source: GoodHousekeeping

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Interested in other Halloween Fun Ideas?! Check out...

• Halloween Everything
• Halloween Snacks
• Arts, Crafts & Miscellaneous (with most categories also attached)
• Easy Costumes and Make Up
• Halloween Decorating
• Decorating a Mad Science Lab
• Purple People Eater Theme
• Halloween Games (More than 60!)
• Autumn/Fall Pumpkin Theme
• Autumn Decorating - Sept. to Thanksgiving is at 'Page bottom of Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts'

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MAKE UP at Page Bottom...

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THRIFT STORE COSTUMES…
The more kids (or you) look and sound like someone else, the more exciting the drama activity will be. Wearing a hat, scarf, shawl or apron will help change appearance. Collect interesting hats, skirts and jackets-- as well as acting tools such as fabric, tinsel, wigs, jewelry and the endless list of accessories.The keys words to remember are experimentation and imagination!!

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PILLOW CASE COSTUMES

Collect unused pellow cases!
They can make great costumes, such as a superhero, ghost, domino, playing card, Greek goddess, warrior, and more.
Glue on felt pieces for the pattern...

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 ARTIST COSTUME --All you need is a big white shirt, a beret, black tights or leggings, some paintbrushes and several colors of paint on an artist’s tray. Paint different blotches of paint on the white shirt. Cut a circle from the felt a little bigger that your head. Sew a running stitch around the outside of the felt and pull in just a little to make it puff up. It just sits on the head with bobby pins. Put paint brushes in pocket and carry artist’s tray with you.

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BUTTERFLY COSTUME
Need: Sturdy cardboard, Utility knife, Colored netting, Batting, Brightly colored paints,
Satin ribbon, Leotard & tights, One & half yards of the same colored fabric, Same colored socks, Shoes, A plain, simple mask, Silk flowers, Pipe cleaners, Pom-poms, Glue, Stapler

• Cut out two sets of the wings from the cardboard.
• Using a utility knife cut out designs from the inside of the wings.
• Paint one side of each wing and fold them in half like a real butterfly.
• Next, lay the netting between the set and glue in place. Punch four holes through the cardboard to run the ribbon through to give the effect of a backpack.
• To make a mask--Separate the petals of the flowers and glue them neatly around the mask from the inside out, carefully making sure that the eyes are not covered; Remove the elastic cord and staple a piece of ribbon (long enough to tie around the head and dangle down) to each side. Double the pipe cleaners and attach to the back of the mask; glue the pompoms to the ends.
• Have child put on the leotard, tights and shoes, covering the shoes with the socks.
  Use combinations of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, and pinks. This could also be used as a fairy with silver and white!

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CAT/DOG/PIG

• Cat: Black leggings or pants and black shirt. Cover a stretched-out wire hanger with a black sock-- or stuff a black sock with material for the tail.
  Use a black headband with ears attached that are made of cardboard and painted black. Add black mittens or gloves for paws--and black socks and shoes. This idea can be used for any animal by switching colors and the type of ears and tail.

• Dog: Add spots to construction paper and adhere the spots with tape or washable glue. Use a barrette to attach long felt ears to the sides of the child’s head.

• Pig: Wear a pink or white sweat suit with a pipe cleaner tail.

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CLOWN: Over sized clothes make a clown costume. Add hat, wide tie and face paint.

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CONE HATS:  The Basic Cone: Fold a 12" x 24" sheet of newspaper in half. Cut out a quarter circle and open the paper into a half circle. Roll the half circle into a cone to fit the head. Tape or staple the cone together.

• Witch Hat: Make a basic cone out of black paper. Make the brim. Place the cone on a sheet of stiff paper and draw around it. Draw a larger circle around the first circle and cut it out Draw 5 tabs inside the inner circle. Cut out the inner circle around the tabs. Fold the tabs back. Slip the brim over the cone and glue to tape the tabs to the cone.

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COWBOY: Shirts, jackets and jeans for a cowboy costume. Add a hat, scarf, and boots.

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CRAYON COSTUME
Need: Poster board, Stapler, Scissors, Black construction, elastic, and construction paper that is the same color as the poster board.

• Take the colored poster board (your choice) and cut it to fit between the child’s underarms and knees.
• Wrap the board around the child---making sure to leave room to wear sweats under the colored poster board.
• Cut an oval out from construction paper of your desired crayon color; Glue it to center of poster board over the stomach area.
• Cut out the letters CRAYOLA from black construction paper and glue them to construction paper centered on the stomach.
• Use leftover poster board to construct a cone shaped hat. You should use a 2" strip at the base of hat to form a crayon design. Make sure the top of the hat has a flat base.
• Attach elastic to the shoulder area and staple it to the poster board.
  DO NOT make it too long- as it will constrict walking ability. You may have to cut out arm indentations for an easier fit. Use the same colored clothing underneath to create illusion of all one color.

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DINOSAUR COSTUME
Need: Rectangular cardboard box, X-acto knife, Masking tape, Green spray paint, White, black, yellow paint, Green sweats, Green tights, Styrofoam ball (2-3" diameter), Stuffing material, Green felt (optional), Velcro points (optional), Red felt (optional).

• The cardboard box should fit over child’s head and shoulders to form a Dino head/snout.
• One designer has done it 2 years in 2 different ways -- one year she cut out "shoulder rests" for the box to fit on the child’s shoulders.
• The next year the box was longer and too wide, so she cut armholes in the box. It takes some measuring and adjusting by putting the box on the child).

Next ...basically figure out how to turn a rectangular box into a Dinosaur head by cutting away pieces, folding, and taping.
Leave a "window" for child to see out of between the top of the elongated "snout" part of the head and the top of the head (This gives the head a 2-level look and avoids the problem of lining up eyes with). Spray paint the "head" green. Cut a Styrofoam  ball in half and paint it yellow; paint a black pupil in the center of each, and glue on the sides of the head for eyes. Have child paint red spots on the head.

• Cut one leg off the green tights and stuff with poly-fill to form the tail. Close it with a rubber band; pin it to elastic on back of the child’s sweatpants.
• If desired, cut paired triangles of felt. Glue them together and attach it to the tail and back of the child with Velcro. If desired, cut circles from red felt for spots and attach to them to child’s outfit with Velcro.
• Can also be used as a crocodile with a few modifications. For a crocodile, put the eyes sticking up from the top of the head instead of on the sides.

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FAIRY COSTUME
Need: Material, Thread, Sewing needle, Mesh or lace material for wings, Metal or wire in a "C" shape for wings.
You can use a dress with a flared skirt for the base. Next, cut the mesh or lace material into the shape of the wire with just a little room to overlap it. Sew the lace or mesh over the wire and it’s complete.

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FIREFIGHTER IN A FIRE ENGINE COSTUME
Paint a box bright red with ladders on the sides. Use aluminum pie plates for reflectors. A plastic firefighter’s hat is a good addition. Children will be more than happy to come up with the siren sound!

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FLOWER MASK
Children enjoy discovering all the flowers that bloom in the summer. The colors are bright and inviting. To make an inexpensive and colorful blossom mask--- cut out the center of a paper plate, leaving a hole large enough for the child’s face. paint the plate and then cut flower petals from colorful construction or tissue paper. Glue the petals around the rim to make a unique flower. Attach elastic thread to the back of the plate to finish the mask

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GENIE
Need: Bathing suit top and bottom, a pair of pajama bottoms with a hem you can put a string through to tighten around ankles and matching midriff vest. To make a hat, cut a hole in the middle of a small plastic container for a ponytail - cover it with fabric and fasten a scarf to each side of the hat so that it hangs loosely in front of your mouth. (Picture the old “I Dream of Jeanie” episodes for this.

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GHOST: A white sheet creates the perfect ghost costume. For an added touch buy an old hat to place on the ghost's head.

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GRASS SKIRT (From Paper Bag)
Materials: A roll of brown wrapping paper, Glue, Self-adhesive Velcro fastener, Stapler, Scissors.

• 1: Cut off two sheets of paper that measure six inches longer than child’s waist size; lay one sheet on top of the other. Staple them together along the short side (to form the waist) about a 1/2 inch from the edge.
• 2: For a waistband, use a four-inch-wide paper strip with the same circumference as the skirt waist. Glue the lower half of the waistband to the stapled edge of the skirt front.
  Fold over the waistband top, and glue it to the inside of the skirt. For a decorative waistband, twist together two long paper strips and glue them on.
• 3: Use scissors to fringe the skirt from the hemline to just below the waistband.
• 4: Stick one part of the Velcro fastener to the front of one waistband end and the matching part to the back of the band’s opposite end. Wrap the skirt around the child’s waist, and fasten.

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GRASS SKIRT made from Green Crepe Paper
To make these easy grass skirts, you’ll need a roll of green crepe paper, and duct tape.

• Cut a piece of duct tape large enough to circle the child’s waist plus 4 inches.
• Lay it on a flat surface sticky side up.
• Now unroll the green crepe paper and lie perpendicular to the tape, lying one end ½ way into the tape. The length will be determined by the height of the child.
• When the tape is full with the crepe paper strips, cut another piece of duct tape and lay it sticky side down over the first piece, trapping the crepe paper ends into the "waistband".
• Last, punch a hole in either end of the duct tape and tie together with a ribbon.

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GYPSY: Flowing dresses and bright shoes make a gypsy costume. Add lots of jewelry such as bracelets, necklace, beads, earrings and scarves.

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HATS---THE BASIC BAND: Cut a 2" wide strip of paper long enough to go around the head with an overlap of about 1". Staple ends together.

INDIAN HEAD DRESS #1: Make a basic band; tape or staple feathers to the band.

INDIAN HEADBAND #2: Cut brown construction paper into strips; fit it around child’s head and staple or tape ends together. Cut feathers out of scrap.

INDIAN VEST TO GO WITH HEADBANDS: Cut a vest from a brown paper bag, cut a slit up the front and neck and arm holes. To decorate, either cut out construction paper shape (arrows, sun, designs, etc.) and glue them on.

ROYAL CROWN: Make a basic band about 4" wide. Cut points in the top. Decorate the crown with beads, buttons, braids, sparkles, etc.

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HIPPIE

 

Wear a peasant dress, flowing light material skirt, or bell-bottom pants. The top can be a tie dye shirt or flimsy top-with love beads, long hair parted down the middle (may need a wig), a peace sign button and -tinted glasses. Using makeup, paint a peace sign, flower or heart on child face.

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HOT DOG COSTUME
Need: An old thick blanket like a comforter, large pieces of brown and tan felt, small pieces of red and yellow felt for ketchup and mustard, cotton pillow filling, Brown pants, face paint.

• First you cut the comforter so that it fits around the child and ties in the back.
• Cut a hole in the front for child’s head and arms. Then cut the brown felt in the same shape as the comforter.
• Sew the felt onto the comforter.
• Cut the red and yellow felt (in the shape of ketchup and mustard) and glue it on the front of the hot dog. Then get the tan felt and measure it like a jacket.
• Cut arm holes in the sides. It should look like a bun.
• In order- put on brown pants, then the hot dog, then the bun and finish with the face paint. You have a hot dog!

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INSTANT EARS...

 

No time or too small for a full costume? To make an adorable bunny, kitty, puppy, or an elephant---all it takes are ears (construction paper or cardboard attached to a hat or headband) and a nose (a tiny bit of makeup on the nose and cheeks, and the appropriate tail pinned to the back of pajamas or a sweat suit.

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 JACK-IN-THE-BOX COSTUME
A big box with bottom and top cut out, a clown looking shirt, Clown Makeup, Aluminum foil, Paint.

• Take a box-making sure child can fit into it. Paint the box with decorations such as numbers and letters.
• Sew, glue, or tape a shirt onto the inside of your box; a hat could be made to match the shirt.
• Make a crank with the aluminum foil; tape the crank onto the side of the box.
• Make up the child’s face with clown paint. Have “Jack” bend down in the box and POP Back up.

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MAIL CARRIER
This is especially good for Preschool to Grade 1. They enjoy playing dress up and many costumes can be made from items around the house. To make a Mail Carrier’s costume- find or make a canvas bag with a short strap so it can be carried on the shoulder. Be sure to "equip" it with mail. Save old postcards, junk mail, little gift boxes, and a couple of magazines to put in the mail bag. Decorate an old shirt to be a uniform. For props, use shoe boxes that are decorated and used for mail boxes. Put names of program children on the “mail-boxes” so the mail-carrier can deliver the mail.

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MARTIAN
Rainbow wig, Oversized glasses, Face paint, Headband, Silver or gold pipe cleaners, Foil

• If possible have child wear green slippers and a fluorescent green leotard and tights. If not possible find blue or purple, etc.
• Wrap the headband in foil and attach 2 or more pipe cleaners to the top for the antenna.
• Paint child’s face in a variety of psychedelic colors and outer space designs.
• If you’re a girl Martian, add a sheer fluorescent green ballet skirt. If you can’t find oversized glasses, make some from cardboard.
• Cover the cut-out cardboard with foil or decorate with fluorescent markers.
• Let your imagination go wild and add your own touches to this visitor from another planet.

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MUMMY
Tear some sheets and wrap them around the body (but never around the

neck). For safety, paint child's face white instead of wrapping sheetstrips. 
Paint black rings around eyes for empty eye sockets.
Use a white swimming cap or stocking cap over child's hair and attach sheet strips to it.
If you have sheet strips dangling from the body, make sure they are of a length that will not trip the child.

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NERD
High-water pants, white button-down shirt, bow tie, white socks, black dress shoes, a pocket protector, and dark frame glasses with masking tape around the nose piece are all you need for this classic costume.

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PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES COSTUMES
Remove the top and bottom flaps of a box, then place a box around child’s middle and attach with over-the-shoulder ties. With paint, paper plates, tin cans, some additional cardboard, and imagination, the child could be a race car. Paint racing stripes, add cans, cups, or stickers for front and rear lights. Don’t forget the sponsor’s names on the side and the personalized license plates.

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OLD WOMAN
Use a past-the-knee dress, wig, handbag, umbrella, nude colored knee-highs that don’t stay up and old shoes. Use gray eyeliner to draw light lines from your eyes (crows feet) around your mouth (looks like no teeth). Add vertical lines around the cheek bones for additional wrinkles. Experiment until you reach the desired look. Blend this all lightly so the lines are just shadows in add a layer of white powder, two pink spots of blush and pink lip stick. For a chilly night, add a cardigan sweater buttoned at the top or a long fuzzy overcoat and flowered hat.

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PRINCESS: Prom or evening gowns make an excellent princess, queen, or your favorite movie star. Add jewelry, gloves, high heels, purse and shawls.

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PURPLE PEOPLE EATER -COSTUME
Dress in purple sweats; jell child’s hair so it stands up in a "horn"; draw an "eye" in the middle of child’s forehead with make-up. Top it off with a necklace made of a plastic fork, knife and spoon; tie these on a shoelace around and around the neck .

You may also be interested in our 'PURPLE PEOPLE EATER' THEME!

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ROBOT

Use a small box for the head with a large space cut out for the face, and a larger box for the body, with head and arm holes cut out. Other materials: Paint, sparkly stick-ons, aluminum pans with stickers for the control panel.

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SCARECROW
Wear worn-in jeans or over-alls that have patched holes with an old bandanna; add a flannel shirt, a worn-in hat and gardening gloves. Stick some straw in various places to add to the effect. Use makeup to paint the face yellow and add short lines around the eyes to look like a sewn on patch. Use green make-up to paint an upside down triangle on the nose--- again adding short lines around it to look like a sewn on patch. Use red for the mouth adding the short lines. Add small red circles of color to the cheeks.

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TEENY BOPPER (1950’s)
Un-tucked, solid-color button-down short-sleeved shirt, jeans rolled up to mid-calf, or a poodle skirt, white socks and penny loafers or saddle shoes. Girls wear ponytail and boys slick-back hair ducktail style with gel.

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VAMPIRE
Wear black pants, white button-down shirt, black shoes, a cape (buy a vampire cape or dye a sheet black), plastic teeth, and slick hair back with some gel. Use white make-up for the face and highlight with red blush on the cheeks and red lipstick on the lips. Red lipstick applied carefully with a lip brush down the side of the mouth can look like blood dripping down.

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WITCH
Black dress or skirt and top, black tights, cape (dye a sheet black), witch’s hat, and of course a broom. Make the face green and use a black eye pencil to make dark lines. Stick a piece of oatmeal colored black to the make-up paint on the nose, chin and/or cheek to make a good wart. Pin a plush-toy black cat to child’s shoulder or tie it to the broom.
Some ideas adapted from: kid.lifetips.com

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ARE YOU GOING OUT FOR HALLOWEEN? BE SURE TO...
Tie or sew glow-sticks to your child's costume so they can be seen more easily in the dark. You can also use reflective tape and/or carry a flashlight.

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FOR OLDER KIDS DRAMA/THEATER CLASS: COSTUME MAKING

MASKS AND SIMPLE HATS are quick and creative projects. Animal masks are really fun, made from just about anything you have on hand. Whatever they are doing, have the kids draw their design first and then try to create it; that reinforces how a costume designer works.

If you have time, they can bring in research materials before they start to draw. It also reinforces the concept if they all draw characters from the same story (the biggest problem being that for every fairy tale you suggest, they will draw the Disney characters...you’ll spend a lot of time explaining that there was a Cinderella before the one that wore the blue ball gown in the cartoon....) With hats, have them draw a design based on one of several simple shapes that you can help them make (cone, top-hat, crown, etc.) Older kids can make hats of felt or fleece.

    • If you want to get older kids into some basic construction, VESTS ARE GREAT. They are unisex and can be designed for just about any character (and some kids will actually end up wearing what they make, if it's cool enough). A simple, two-piece vest pattern teaches the concepts of how to size, cut, and sew, with only four short seams that can be sewn by hand. Embellishing and/or distressing the vest helps to continue the concept of creating a character through dress. You can also start with a finished thrift-store vest and have them embellish it -- faster and easier than trying to teach construction

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 MAKE UP!

 

FACE PAINT RECIPE #1 (for six colors) 6 teaspoons of corn starch; divided
3 tablespoons of water; divided
3 tablespoons of cold cream; divided
6 cup muffin tin
Food coloring...

In each cup of the muffin tin put 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon of cold cream, and 1/2 teaspoon of water. Add a different color food coloring to each cup. Mix well.

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FACE PAINT #2 (For one color) Materials: 1 tsp. cornstarch, 1/2 tsp. water, 1/2 tsp. cold cream, food coloring
Mix cornstarch and cold cream together until smooth. Mix in water and food coloring. Use a small brush to paint designs on the children's faces. Store in an airtight container.

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FACE PAINT #3
Materials
1 Tbs. Crisco shortening
2 Tbs. cornstarch
Food coloring
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Use sponge or fingers to apply to face. Wash with soap and water.

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CLOWN PAINT #1
1/8 c Baby Lotion
1/4 tsp powdered Tempera paint
1 squirt liquid soap
This is easily removed by soap and water.

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CLOWN MAKE-UP #2
Blend on a paper plate:
2 tblsp. shortening
5 tsps. cornstarch
1 tsp. flour
Dab of Vaseline
Add food coloring for various colors.
Wash Off with Soap and Water...

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EDIBLE FRUIT LIP GLOSS
Materials:
Favored drink mix
1 cup vegetable shortening
Food coloring
Small container such as a film container
1. Mix one packet of drink mix with shortening.
2. Add in a few drops of food coloring that matches the flavor. ie: yellow for lemon.
3. Pack in small container, such as a film container, and you have wonderful tasting and smelling lip gloss. Of course the lip gloss is edible should some accidentally be licked off.

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MAKE CHOCOLATE LIP GLOSS 
Ingredients: Hershey Cocoa, vaseline, small conatiner with lid
 
Put  vaseline in a small jar/container
Add cocoa to the vaseline. Lip gloss is made!

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ADDING A SPOOKY TOUCH TO MAKE-UP...
BLACKEN FACES
To lightly blacken faces, carefully burn a cork and when cool, rub on the face.
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For a GHOULISH LOOK...
Add a dusting of flour to already made up faces.
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MAKE A HAIRY WART
Need:
Whole peppercorns white or black
Corn syrup or eyelash glue
Hair bristles from a paintbrush or out of your hair brush
(Optional) Non-toxic watercolors (the kind you use in school)
Directions:
1. Glue peppercorns to your hands or face using the corn syrup or eyelash glue. KEEP PEPPERCORNS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES! You may have to hold them in place until the glue or syrup is dry.
2. Dip one end of the hairs in the glue or syrup and attach to the peppercorn, so they look hairy.
3. Use the paints to color them creepy!

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MONSTER/SCARY APPEARANCE...

• Use make up that will give your skin a sickly pallor: rub green eyeshadow on your cheeks and red lipstick to highlight scars.  Ketchup for blood and gore.

• Old clothes and hats, like an old black raincoat over your shoulders for Dracula cape.

• Swim fins to create horrid Creature from the Black Lagoon feet.

• Child-safe white school glue...dab a thin line of glue across the cheek and let it dry to create a temporary scar. Or make dots that'll dry into warts.

• Talcum powder dusted into your hair looks ghostly!

•Oatmeal. Mix it onto a paste with water, dab it on your skin and let it dry. Gross (but actually good for your skin when you wash it off with warm water.)

• Lots of mousse rubbed into hair creates vampire-looking slick effects. Or pull your hair into spikes or wild snarls. Be ready for lots of shampooing to get back to normal.

• A rubber glove, filled half full of lukewarm water and secured with a rubber band. Hold this inside a long baggy sleeve and extend the arm to shake hands with unsuspecting friends.

• Old wigs and fake fur can be cut up to make mustaches, wild eyebrows, even hairy werewolf hands.

• Always be careful to keep make-up and glue and powder far away from eyes! Don't keep monster make-up on too long, and don't use any of this stuff on your skin if you have allergies. Source:kidsart.com

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#1...FAKE BLOOD FOR MAKE UP
Karo brand corn syrup
Red and blue food coloring
Milk
Add some red food coloring to the corn syrup, then just a drop or two of blue to get a more realistic dark color. Milk will make the blood appear more opaque and more realistic.
Note: This mixture is sticky and can stain clothes.

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FAKE BLOOD  #2 
Ingredients:
2-1/2 Tablespoons water
60-70 drops of red food coloring
10-15 drops yellow food coloring
2-3 drops blue food coloring
5-1/2 Tablespoons white corn syrup
Directions:
1. Mix all of the food colorings and water together.
2. Slowly stir in the corn syrup until the mixture is thick, but still "slides" down your arm. This goop WILL STAIN your clothing! 3. Smear it on your skin wherever you want the "blood" to be.
Adult Supervision Required

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Make one party room/area into the lab. It will be much easier to decorate and will contain 1. On the entrance to the room-- put up some danger tape and a notice warning that only scientists may enter the "Secret Science Lab Zone".

 2. Using black construction paper cut out large question marks, magnifying glasses and mathematical formulas. Put these up around the room.

3.  Put up posters of famous scientists around the room with a small caption underneath of why they are famous.You could also hang some science clip art pictures in the room. These can be found with an internet search such as Google.

4.  Decorate the space with an array of lab items such as gummy frogs that have been pinned down so that they look as if they were being dissected. You can also keep jars of lab specimens such as huge gummy snakes, lizards etc.

 5. Check out Halloween stores/sites/for slimy table decorations which are perfect for scientists; also skeletons, skulls and other gory accessories. If you're going for a spookier look--purchase cobweb/spider webs from Halloween stores and put them about the room on tables, etc.

 6.  A dry ice machine would make a great table center piece.

 7. Fill lots of different shaped jars with colored water and rubber body parts to put around the table.

 8.  Borrow microscopes, chemistry sets, molecule models, magnifying glasses, compasses, and so on, and place them on the table and about the room. Do you have a flickering plasma lamp? Kids of all ages love them!

 9. Use a colored globe light to give the room an eerie appearance or just place colored light bulbs in regular lamps.

10. Set up a large chalk board/white board and write the recipes for the experiments that you are going to do.

 11. Hang a sign from the table or at the doorway saying “Welcome to the Science Laboratory”.

 12.  Use a 'weird or scary font' to write signs such as "Electricity", "Gas", "Chemicals", and put them around the area.

13. Put a rubber band around several large test tubes. Tie a ribbon over the rubber band. Arrange tubes to stand with open ends up. Fill them with colored water and add a flower or two.

14. Make a Light Bulb Pinata--Click here for directions! (And Photo)

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MAKE LAB COATS 

 #1 Professor X Lab Coats: Cover the table with newspapers or freezer paper. Lay out fabric markers. Give each child a plain white shirt to decorate as a lab coat. You can use T-shirts, or look for used front-buttoning shirts at thrift shops

Idea #2
Use white kitchen sized garbage bags to make lab coats (A practical way to protect children's clothing during experiments)
Cut a half circle hole for the head, and half circles for the arms. With a black permanent marker, draw a line down the front and buttons next to it. You can also draw a pocket on the side with a pen in it; write the children’s names on them (Example: Professor Smith, Dr. Susan.

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JUST LIKE EINSTEIN
Purchase black party glasses with the noses and mustaches from a novelty or party store. Before kids enter the “science lab” have them don their coats and glasses. It would be great if party facilitators could be wearing white lab coats, crazy wigs, goggles, or glasses too! BE SURE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS of this! Kids may not leave these on long---but it will be great fun.

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Food itself lends itself to the decorating! Make sure it's creepy, gooey and gross! Visit the Mad Science Theme for ideas on games, experiments, snacks, and more. Also check out the Halloween Snack and Party Food category for creepy, crawly goodies!

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DECORATE WITH DRY ICE ...

SMOKEY CAULDRONS

For truly dramatic effects, create fog using dry ice. Add one piece of dry ice to every gallon of very hot water. Note: Be careful and make sure that it is in a place where children cannot hurt themselves. (See complete directions below)

Also check out the HALLOWEEN DECORATING PAGE  for a "Spooky Jack-O- Lantern" with Dry Ice Fog.

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CREATE A 'FOG EFFECT' with dry ice
 
Materials needed: Large container
Lot water
Lry ice
CAUTION: Only use dry ice in a well-ventilated area. The carbon dioxide released from dry ice will displace oxygen.
 
Fill a metal or plastic container half full with hot water, add a few pieces of dry ice every 5 to 10 minutes. As water cools, it will be necessary to start over with hot water to maintain the fog effect.

As a rule of thumb, one pound of dry ice will create 2-3 minutes of fog effect. The hotter the water, the more fog but the quicker dissipation of the dry ice.

When you place dry ice into some warm or hot water, clouds of white fog are created. This white fog is not the CO2 gas, but rather it is condensed water vapor, mixed in with the invisible CO2. The extreme cold causes the water vapor to condense into clouds. The fog is heavy, being carried by the CO2, and will settle to the bottom of a container, and can be poured. You can produce enough ground - hugging fog to fill a medium-sized room with a pound or so of dry ice. Do not allow anyone to lie down in this fog, or allow babies or pets into it, as CO2 gas does not support life. Source: continentalcarbonic

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DECORATE WITH PLASMA LAMP

Whether you call them nebula spheres, PLASMA LAMPS, or lightening balls, these lamps put on one of the most unique displays available. Twenty years ago they cost $1500. Today you can get one for $40.00 or less...
Technically, they're a clear glass orb, filled with a mixture of various gases at low pressure, and driven by high frequency alternating current at high voltage...Great for decorating a 'Mad Science Lab'!!!

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