Halloween Alternative Crafts and Activities for Kids

 

How to Make Crafts and Learning Activities Relating to Halloween and Fall

 

How to Make the Paper Bag Pumpkin Craft:

1. If you aren't using real twigs for the stem, cut a piece of construction paper in half and roll the halves into tubes about one half inch thick.

2. Stuff two or three plastic grocery bags into the bottom of the paper lunch bag.

3. Stick the twig or construction paper tube down into the bag so the tube is vertical.

4. Stuff more bags around the twig or tube rounding out the bottom of the bag.

5. Scrunch up the bag just above the stuffed grocery bag and secure it with a Chenille stem or Twisty tie.

6. Carefully roll down the top of the bag trying not to rip it. Place your fingers under the folded down top part to smooth it out and make it easier to fold down.

7.Once you have the top of the bag folded down as much as it will go start stuffing the bottom of the bag up into the folded down part gluing the top edge of the bag to the bottom of the bag.

8. Paint the bag with orange water color paint.

9. To finish draw on eyes or glue on googly eyes.

Make a whole bunch of paper bag pumpkins, set up a pumpkin patch, and pretend to go shopping for the best Halloween pumpkin.

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Watch how to make this craft on our "View it and Do it!" video.

 

 

 

Candy Corn Stars
Written by Nancy Foss

"One candy corn just for me.
Two candy corns make me smile with glee.
Three candy corns of yellow, orange, and white.
What a colorful sight.
Four candy corns I hold in my hand to share.
Five candy corns I place on my plate with care.
A star, a star of candy corns so sweet.
Thank you, God, for this special treat.

To assemble books see the Assembling Books Directions.

Directions and patterns for this craft are available to members and as an instant download.

Member's

Instant Download Pattern -  

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These little candy corns can be tied to candy treats and given out to trick-or-treaters as a witnessing tool. Children color the front and write a Bible verse on the back. Adults can help them pick out verses that are "sweet treats" for the soul. The front of the candy corn says, "You picked a sweet treat from my bowl and here is a sweet treat for your soul."

How to Make the Sweet Treat for the Soul Candy Corn Craft:

1. Print out the pattern or draw your own candy corn treats. (Pattern available to members only.)

Member's

2. Decide which Bible verses you would like to use and then write them on the back of the candy corn.

3. Color the front of the candy corn with orange and yellow Highlighter Markers and write at the bottom, "You picked a sweet treat from my bowl and here is a sweet treat for your soul." and then cut them out.

4. Punch a hole at the top and tie them to a candy treat so they are ready to give out on Halloween night.

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Here's a great way to make the most of your trunk-or-treat event. Each candy label says, "Jesus our Life Saver" on the front, and the Bible verse from Romans 10:9 on the back.

What to do:

1. Print out the labels onto white paper.

Member's

Instant Download Pattern -  

2. Cut the labels apart and fold them in half.

3. Staple the label to the Lifesaver bags.

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See even more Candy Corn Crafts and Learning Activities on the Candy Corn Craft Page.

 

 

Make this "Shine for Jesus!" Card to go along with the story. The inside of the card says, "Jesus takes the yucky stuff away so our light shines all night and day!" When you open the poem page and close the cover, the yucky stuff disappears and the pumpkin shines!

How to make the pumpkin booklet:

Member's

Free Instant Download Pattern -  

This download also includes the pattern in Hungarian.

1. Print out the Booklet Pattern onto legal-size paper.

(If you would like this pattern translated into your language, email us the translation and we will put it up.)

2. Cut along the outside edge of the booklet. Then cut out the pumpkin's eyes, nose, and mouth .

3. Color the picture of the pumpkin.

Children open up the card and read the poem, then fold the pumpkin picture back over the yellow square leaving the right side of the card open so that the yellow shows through the pumpkin face.

This craft goes along with the book "The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs.

This charming story for children illustrates how a loving farmer can turn a simple pumpkin into a simply glorious sight. Liz Curtis Higgs weaves a beautiful parable as the farmer picks out a special pumpkin from his garden, and scoops out all the messy "goo" to make room for his light to shine from inside. In the same way, God's transforming love can fill each of our hearts with joy and light. Liz Cutis Higgs originally created this parable as a way to share the Good News with her own precious children each harvest season. After 10 years, she has touched children everywhere! Recommended for ages 3 to 7.

 

Comments and Ideas from Subscribers:

I bought some "mini pumpkin" gourds at the grocery store for the kids to decorate with happy faces (permanent markers work best, but I watched that they don't mark each other). I printed small versions of the "pumpkin" story. I punched holes in the stories to slip a ribbon through. I hot-glued the ribbon to the tops of the pumpkins. The kids loved doing this. Then, the kids gave these pumpkins to their favorite "pumpkins" to share the love, Sandy

I did this lesson in my Wednesday night class, it was preschoolers. I printed the material, but before we did the craft I brought in a real pumpkin and just cut the top off so they could reach their hands inside to see what the real yucky stuff was like, as I told the story. They thought it was great. Then I read the story from the book, The Parable of the Pumpkin, that I bought at the Christian Book store, and then made the craft. I bought real pumpkin seeds at the grocery store. I really like all the holiday lessons and crafts you always have, I hope you have some Thanksgiving and Christmas ones for the coming months! Thank you, Barbara from Ohio

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Thin Wire or String

Sharpie Fine-Tip Permanent Marker

 

How to Make the Shining Pumpkin Craft:

1. Print out the pumpkin patterns onto card stock and cut them out. Use the patterns as template to cut pumpkin shapes from the craft foam.

Member's

Free Instant Download

2. Cut a piece of foil tape so that it is a little bit larger than the craft foam pumpkin shape.

3. Peel the back off the foil tape and stick the pumpkin craft foam shape to the tape.

4. Cut the tape around the edge of the pumpkin shape about 1/4" from the shape.

5. Fold back the edge of the tape around the craft foam.

6. To make the "Shine for Jesus!" sign cut a piece of craft foam 4 1/4" x 1" and cover it with foil tape.

7. Use a ball point pen to write the words and draw in the face features pressing the pen down on the tape into the foam. Add other details.

8. When you are done with your design color the foil with Sharpie markers a little at a time. Wipe off the excess marker before it dries completely with a paper towel. This will allow the foil to shine through giving the pumpkin a glowing affect.

9. Punch holes in the pumpkin and sign and wire them together. Tie a string to the top of the pumpkin to hang.

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Place treats in this whimsical milk jug monster and your visitors will have a fun time snatching them from its mouth!

 

What you will need:

Empty Plastic Milk Mug

Craft Foam Sheets

Large Wiggle Eyes

Low Temp Mini Glue Gun

Sharp Scissors

Valspar Plastic Primer Spray Paint or Krylon Clear Plastic Primer Paint - If you are using the Acrylic Patio Paint

Krylon Fusion Plum Plastic Paint Or other Spray Paint Made for Plastic

Lime Green Feather Boa

 

How to Make the Milk Jug Monster Craft:

1. To remove the label fill the jug up with hot water and let it sit for a minute. This will loosen the glue. Carefully pull off the label. Do not get the label wet before trying to remove it or it will just disintegrate and you will have a hard time getting it off. Once the label is removed you can wash and dry the plastic milk jug.

2. Cut a mouth shape on the opposite side of the handle as shown in the picture.

3. Spray the jug with plastic primer paint and then paint it with the acrylic patio paint or spray paint it with spray paint made for plastic. Spray paint works best because the craft foam sticks better to the spray paint than the acrylic paint.

4. Cut hands, feet, teeth, wings, and whatever else you would like on your monster from craft foam and glue them to the jug. The teeth were glued to the inside of the jug.

Free Arms, Feet, and Teeth

5. To finish glue on large googly eyes and drip red acrylic paint inside the mouth, on the top teeth, and down in between the front lower teeth. Let the paint dry and then fill the mouth with candy.

If you use this craft and put it up on the web, please link back to this web site for the directions.

 

 

 

 

Place treats in this crazy milk jug pumpkin and your visitors will have a fun time collecting their treats!

or Krylon Clear Plastic Primer Paint - If you are using the Acrylic Patio Paint

Krylon Fusion for Plastic - Pumpkin Orange

Green and Brown Tissue Paper

 

How to Make the Milk Jug Pumpkin Treat Container:

1. To remove the label fill the jug up with hot water and let it sit for a minute. This will loosen the glue. Carefully pull off the label. Do not get the label wet before trying to remove it or it will just disintegrate and you will have a hard time getting it off. Once the label is remove you can wash and dry the plastic milk jug.

2. Cut a mouth shape on the opposite sides of the handle as shown in the picture.

3. Spray the jug with plastic primer paint and then paint it with the acrylic patio paint or spray paint it with spray paint made for plastic. Spray paint works best because the craft foam sticks better to the spray paint than the acrylic paint.

4. Cut teeth shapes from craft foam or card stock and glue them to the inside of the jug.

5. Cut a 12" x 4" length of brown tissue paper and twist it around the milk jug top. Glue it to the top when it looks the way you would like. Cut leaves from green tissue paper and glue them to the stem.

6. To finish glue on large googly eyes and fill the mouth with candy.

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Place treats in this scary milk jug spider and your visitors will have a fun time trying to retrieve them.

Sharp Scissors

Valspar Plastic Primer Spray Paint or Krylon Clear Plastic Primer Paint - If you are using the Acrylic Patio Paint

Krylon Fusion Plastic Spray Paint - Black

Newspaper

Black Duct Tape

Wire or Pipe Cleaners

 

How to Make the Spider Milk Jug Craft

1. To remove the label fill the jug up with hot water and let it sit for a minute. This will loosen the glue. Carefully pull off the label. Do not get the label wet before trying to remove it or it will just disintegrate and you will have a hard time getting it off. Once the label is remove you can wash and dry the plastic milk jug.

2. Cut a mouth shape on the opposite sides of the handle as shown in the picture.

3. Spray the jug with plastic primer paint and then paint it with the acrylic patio paint or spray paint it with spray paint made for plastic. Spray paint works best because the craft foam sticks better to the spray paint than the acrylic paint.

4. Cut a one-inch section from the handle so that the top of the jug can be bent back and the mouth opened. Tape the remaining handle together so that the mouth stays open.

5. To make the legs place two pieces of newspaper together and line them up. Roll the two pieces into a tube starting from one corner and go to the corner diagonally from the one you start with. Tape the roll in the center and then fold it in half and cut it. Make eight legs altogether. Glue the legs to the milk jug. If you are using acrylic paint, you must glue the legs to the jug before you paint it. If you glue them to the paint they will just pull the paint off the jug and fall off. If you use spray paint, you can paint the jug first.

6. Spray the jug with primer paint and then paint it with acrylic paint or spray paint it.

7. Cut fangs from craft foam and glue them to the top of the mouth. To finish glue on googly eyes. Place treats in the spider's mouth.

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Valspar Plastic Primer Spray Paint or Krylon Clear Plastic Primer Paint - If you are using the Acrylic Patio Paint

Krylon Fusion Plastic Spray Paint - Black

Black Duct Tape

 

How to Make the Bat Milk Jug Container Craft:

1. To remove the label fill the jug up with hot water and let it sit for a minute. This will loosen the glue. Carefully pull off the label. Do not get the label wet before trying to remove it or it will just disintegrate and you will have a hard time getting it off. Once the label is remove you can wash and dry the plastic milk jug.

2. Cut a mouth shape on the opposite sides of the handle as shown in the picture.

3. Spray the jug with plastic primer paint and then paint it with the acrylic patio paint or spray paint it with spray paint made for plastic. Spray paint works best because the craft foam sticks better to the spray paint than the acrylic paint.

4. Cut a line from side to side at the top of the jug about one inch below where the jug starts to form the top of the jug as shown in the picture.

5. Cut a one-inch section from the handle so that the top of the jug can be bent back and the mouth opened. Tape the remaining handle together with duck tape so that the mouth stays open.

6. Spray the jug with primer paint and then paint it with acrylic paint or spray paint it.

7. Cut bat wing shapes from craft foam and glue them to the sides of the jug. Cut fangs, a tongue, and feet from fun foam and glue them to the jug. To finish glue on googly eyes. Place treats in the bat's mouth.

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Halloween Alternative Crafts on Other Pages

 

Also see Glow in the Dark Party Ideas