Halloween Party Decorations, Crafts, and Treats

Packing the punch of pinatas without the mess and tears, these spellbinding little hats spill goodies when the tags are pulled. Display them on hooks or a branch. When it's time to pop them, take each hat down, then hold the cone in one hand while pulling the string with the other. See below for instructions.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Marching down the dining table, long-legged visitors add arachnid appeal to a Halloween meal. Their twisty limbs can also cling to furniture, banisters, or any other place that could use a little creepy-crawly cool.

To make each spider's head and body, use tacky glue to join a small and a large black pom-pom. Glue 2 small jewels to the smaller one for eyes, then set the pom-poms aside to dry. Use wire cutters to cut 4 equal lengths of 18-gauge paper-wrapped floral wire and carefully straighten the wires. Set them on waxed paper, apply black acrylic paint with a brush, and let dry. Twist the strands together at their center points to create an 8-pronged starburst. Bend the joined wires to resemble spider legs, as shown. Glue the spider body atop the legs' center point and let it dry.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Drinking spirits takes on a whole new (and kid-friendlier!) meaning with a simple serving idea.

For each container, cut shapes as shown from black duct tape sheets. Stick them to a clean, dry canning jar. Trace the center section of the lid on scrapbook paper and cut out the circle. With a hole punch, make an opening for a straw. Fill the jar with milk, then add the paper circle, screw band, and straw.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

With eerie glowing eyes and goofy grin, this nocturnal critter will happily perch on a mantel or a protected front porch.

Cut the top flaps off a box (we used a 16-ounce pasta box), then flip it over. Use a glue stick to cover the sides and bottom with black wrapping or construction paper. Halfway up the front, mark spots for eyes 2 inches apart. With a craft knife, cut an X for each eye (an adult's job), then widen each of the holes to measure 3/8 inch across. Insert battery-operated tea lights into the box so that the "flames" protrude through the holes. Cut white paper circles for the eyeballs, piercing small holes in the centers. Glue on the eyeballs, paper fangs, and a pink paper mouth as shown. Draw and cut out black ears and wings; attach them to the back of the box with double-sided tape.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine.

Adorn your tabletop with one of our pet projects: a pair of trick-or-treating pumpkins. The decoration is hauntingly simple to make using our online templates.

1. Trace a mask shape onto a sheet of stiff felt and trace the accompanying elements onto adhesive-backed felt.

2. Cut out and assemble the pieces.

3. To ensure the mask stays in place, adhere two adhesive-backed Velcro coins to the back of the mask, by the eyes. Place the corresponding coins on top and remove the backing. Press the mask onto the pumpkin.

4. Use glue dots to attach googly eyes. For the dog, add a pom-pom nose; for the cat, attach embroidery-thread whiskers.

Our sleek family of construction paper cats is the purr-fect project for little Halloween crafters.

1. Print out our cat template then trace it onto a sheet of black construction paper.

2. Cut out the pieces and assemble the cat with a glue stick according to the template directions.

Transform a batch of cupcakes into a simple-to-serve specter. Arrange the cakes as shown, use an offset spatula to spread the frosting into a smooth layer, and add facial features with black decorator gel.

Alert party guests to spooky times ahead with a cobweb banner fashioned from ordinary cheesecloth.

1. From your computer, print out each letter of the word "BEWARE" on a separate sheet of paper (we used Andalus font in 500-point size).

2. With permanent marker, trace the letters onto waxed paper.

3. Cut six 12-inch strips of cheesecloth (we used 36-inch-wide cloth), rinse them in water, and hang them to dry.

4. To make each letter, secure one end of a cheesecloth strip in an 8-inch embroidery hoop and place it over a waxed-paper letter. With a foam brush and black acrylic paint, form the letter on the cloth.

5. Gently peel the cloth from the waxed paper and let the paint dry.

6. Drape the strips over a length of string.

Hung from the ceiling, these friendly paper ghosts will swirl, sway, and spook all night long.

1. Draw a ghost shape on a sheet of white poster board, and cut it out.

2. Cut eyes and a mouth from black construction paper and attach them with glue.

3. To hang the ghost, poke a small hole in the top, thread a string through it, and knot it.

Originally published in the October 2012 issue of FamilyFun magazine.