15 Fun Halloween Craft Projects

Spooky Paper Cutouts

The classic schoolgirl pastime graduates from cute craft to gothic decor with our templates for spiders, bones, and skulls.
Step 1: Cut a 5"W x 18"L strip from a 12"W x 18"L sheet of construction paper. Measure in three inches from one of the five-inch ends and mark. From there, measure and mark four more times.
Step 2: Fold paper at the first mark. Then flip over and fold again at the next mark. Keep flipping and folding, making an accordion shape.
Step 3: Print the template of your choice and cut as directed.
Step 4: Center it atop the folded paper, and trace around the shape with a pencil.
Step 5: Carefully cut out the shape, going through all the layers of folded paper, and unfold to reveal. To create a longer row, repeat steps and adhere garlands together with tacky glue.

Surreal Magnifying Glasses

These eerie enlargers cleverly subvert reality and require mere minutes to make. First, download free images of eyes from a site like graphicsfairy.blogspot.com or vintageprintable.com. Resize an image to fit your magnifying glass (magnifying glasses, from $16; anthropologie.com), and print on vellum paper ($12.29 for 50 sheets; officedepot.com). Cut the image into a circle the same size as your lens and affix to the rim with a narrow piece of clear tape.

Mini Ghost Town Candles

Inspired by a post on fellowfellow.com, this project uses an image of any building - be it your home, or a ghoulish landmark like the Bates Motel - to transform a standard glass votive holder. Begin by copying the image onto plain paper or card stock (resizing if necessary, so the building is wide enough to wrap around your votive holder). Using an X-Acto knife, cut around the roofline and any treetops; also cut out windows where glass panes would be. Wrap the image around your votive holder, securing the ends with clear tape. Lastly, pop a battery-operated candle <em>($12.97 for six; walmart.com) into the holder, and flick on the spectral flames.

Serpent T-shirt

No costume? No problem. This serpent applique adds bite to any basic T-shirt and it's fashionable enough to wear year-round.
Step 1: Cut out a 12"W x17"L piece of black broadcloth. Adhere a same-size piece of paper-backed fusible webbing, such as Pellon 805 Wonder-Under ($2.49 per yard; hancockfabrics.com) to the back of the fabric, following package instructions.
Step 2: Download and print our snake template, then cut out all three pieces. Using chalk, trace them onto the broadcloth; cut out.
Step 3: Remove the paper backing from piece A, and position it, adhesive side down, onto the front of your shirt, as shown, leaving a half inch draped over the right shoulder seam. Repeat with piece B, layering it over and under piece A, as shown, and leaving a half inch draped over the left shoulder seam. Cover pieces A and B with a damp towel and iron in place, according to package instructions for the adhesive webbing.
Step 4: Turn the shirt facedown and place piece C as shown, so its ends cover the ends of pieces A and B. Cover with a damp towel and iron in place.
Step 5: Outline the snake silhouette with a running stitch; we used a double strand of gray embroidery floss.

Eerie Eyeball Wreath

To create this eerie embellishment, you'll need about eight dozen glow-in-the-dark rubber eyeballs ($7.99 for 12; amazon.com) and a 12-inch foam wreath form ($2.59 for three; createforless.com). Wrap the form in black crepe streamers and secure with straight pins. Poke a hole in the back of one eyeball with the sharp end of a flatheaded pin; then insert the pin's flat end into the hole. Using a thimble to protect your finger, press the pin halfway in. Push the sharp end of the pin into the form. Repeat until the wreath is full and hang as desired.

Finger Pen

Put your finger on a newfangled pen. A playful product called Model Magic ($3.25 for four ounces; dickblick.com) makes it surprisingly easy to disguise any ballpoint pen. <br /><br /> Pinch off a piece of Model Magic that's slightly smaller than a golf ball. Working on a clean surface, use your hands to roll and flatten the claylike material into a strip approximately 1"W x 5"L. Wrap it around a ballpoint pen, leaving the nib exposed. Roll the wrapped pen on your work surface to smooth, then use your hands and a toothpick to shape knuckles and wrinkles. Finish by inserting a fake black fingernail ($2.99 for five; partycity.com) into the clay over the nib, ensuring that the nib extends far enough to allow for writing. Let dry for one day before using.

Batty Sock Puppet

Make this sock puppet with a batty personality.
Step 1: Begin by sliding one hand inside a children's black crew sock, until your fingertips reach the end of the sock and its heel rests on the palm of your hand. Using our photo as a guide, determine where the ears, eyes, mouth, fangs, and wings will go; mark with chalk. Remove sock.
Step 2: Hand-stitch two red button eyes in place, then hand-stitch on a single-line mouth with red embroidery floss. Cut out two black felt triangles for the ears and two white felt triangles for the fangs; hand-stitch all in place.
Step 3: Download, print, and cut out our batwing template. Use chalk to trace the shape onto a piece of black felt at least 5"W x 14"L. Cut out and hand-stitch the shape in place atop the sock.

Spiderweb Doormat

Lure visitors with a spiderweb doormat.
Step 1: Purchase an indoor/outdoor needle-punch carpet ($3.70 for one square yard; Caldwell Carpet, 800-772-7090). To turn it into a circle: Mark the rug's center point with a Prismacolor white-colored pencil (88 cents; dickblick.com). Measure and mark the distance from that point to a spot about half an inch from the rug's edge. Cut a piece of string to that length. Tie one end of the string to the pencil and secure the other end of the string to the rug's center point with a tack. Pull the string taut and draw a large circle onto the rug; remove the string. Cut out the circle, just inside the white pencil mark, with sharp scissors.
Step 2: Using a yardstick, evenly space and draw eight intersecting lines that cross the rug from edge to edge. Between those lines, draw arches around the mat, using our photo as a guide.
Step 3: Lastly, coat the rug with a clear finishing spray (Krylon Make It Last Clear Sealer, $3.99; joann.com) to protect your web from trick-or-treating feet.

Bug Soaps

Literal "creature comforts," these sink-side spectacles require soap molds ($3.29 for four; createforless.com), extra-clear soap base ($8.15 for two pounds; wholesalesuppliesplus.com), and plastic bug toys ($5.29 for 15; amazon.com). Following package instructions and using a candy thermometer, melt the soap base in a large pot on the stove until it reaches 140 degrees. Place one plastic bug belly-up in each mold. Slowly pour the melted soap into the molds until it reaches the very top. Wait for bubbles to rise, then use a knife to scrape them off. Let the molds sit on a flat surface overnight; remove the soaps and you're ready to lather up.

Cheesecloth Ghosts
These spirited fellows are a cinch to make once you've set up a workstation. To do so, stack one small paper cup atop another that's turned upside down and tape them together. Inflate a small balloon and rest it in the top cup. Cut cheesecloth into pieces that measure about eight inches square and fill a bowl with fabric stiffener.
Step 1: Soak a piece of cheesecloth in fabric stiffener and immediately drape it over the balloon. Let dry for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Pop the balloon with a pin to reveal a hardened shape. Cut two tiny circles out of black felt for eyes and affix them to the ghost with tacky glue.
Step 3: Remove the ghost from cup and use your fingers to rough up the ends. Thread fishing line through the top of each ghost, securing with a knot to hang.