Holiday crafts are a great way to give your home a festive feel and they are a great way to get kids excited about the holidays. We have a few favorite Halloween crafts that we do year after year that are so easy anyone can do them and most of them use things you probably already have.

Paper Bag Pumpkin

This is a great craft for preschoolers and it uses things that you probably already have around your house (always a plus in my book). I used to do this every year when I ran my home daycare and it’s an old favorite with my kids.

This works for kids as young as 2 with adult supervision.

Ghost Feet Art

 I love kids art projects that use hand or feet stamps. They are a great way to keep track of growth from year to year and they are really fun for kids to see them turn into something else. This Halloween craft is super simple so even the youngest kids can participate and it makes a festive addition to your holiday decorations.

This would be adorable put in a frame to bring out each Halloween!

Pumpkin Painting

Carving pumpkins is standard but I get a bit twitchy when my kids start playing with knives so I love opting to paint pumpkins as an alternative. My kids have always loved this activity and if you get creative you can end up with some great results that are a perfect addition to your Halloween decor.

Homemade Halloween Lantern Craft

If you are looking for a Halloween craft for slightly older kids, this one is perfect. It’s still simple enough that I could do it but the end result is some very festive, homemade Halloween decorations. You can keep it simple with a basic jack-o-lantern design or if you are feeling crafty you can try something a bit more complex. Either way, you’ll have some great decorations that your kids can be proud of.

Halloween Crafts from Around the Web

These crafts are definitely on my list to try next year.

Paper Pumpkin Craft

I love the simplicity of this. I wonder if it may be a bit tricky gluing the rings to the paper but I think this would be so much fun for younger kids to do. I know my almost 4 year old would love it. I may have to make the time to fit it into our Halloween plans for the day.

Q-Tip Skeleton

This easy Halloween craft uses Q-Tips to create a skeleton. What a great idea! Since I have absolutely no artistic ability I’d probably use a foam sticker for the skull (or print something off to cut out) but the rest of this is so easy and it’s a great way to teach kids about their skeletal system.

Do you have a favorite Halloween craft? Be sure and add the link in the comments below.

Decorating for the holidays is one of the great joys of childhood but holiday decorations can be pricey.

Fortunately, you can make some great Halloween decorations without spending much money and your kids will be proud to display something that they helped to make.

This homemade Halloween lantern is incredibly easy to make and will do a great job of setting a festive mood. For this simple Halloween craft, all you’ll need is a few supplies, many of which you probably already have around your house.

I’m not really much of a crafter so for me, the simpler the project is the better.

Supplies

Old Canning Jars – If you don’t have any already in your home, check out local thrift stores or garage sales because you can buy these for almost nothing

Orange Acrylic Paint – I bought this for under $1 at a local craft store. Be sure and look for coupons before you shop. Most craft stores offer discounts around this time of year. I took advantage of a homeschool discount from my local craft store by brining in a letter from the school district stating that I was homeschooling.

Paint Brushes – Any smaller paintbrush will do

Masking Tape  - If you want to do a simple Jack-O-Lantern design, this is all you’ll need. If you want to do anything more elaborate, look for double sided tape or contact paper.

Instructions

Start with clean canning jars.

To make a simple Jack-O-Lantern, all you need to do is cut some triangular shapes out of a piece of wide masking tape. My 8 year old was able to do this on his own. We put the paint in small silicone dipping cups. I don’t believe the ones we have are still being made but I love them for painting. You could also use silicone muffin cups or these stainless dipping cups.

Be sure that the tape is firmly adhered to the jar along the edges. This is what will give you nice, clean lines.

Use a paintbrush to cover the surface of your jar with orange paint. We had to do two coats. You can stick with one if you want to allow more light to shine through the jar.

Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before removing the tape.

Or you could do what we did. We aren’t patient people. A hairdryer seemed to do the trick.

If you want to do something a bit more elaborate, you can ditch the Jack-O-Lantern face and get creative. We cut a design out of construction paper then used a combination of tape and glue to get it to stick to the jar.

The edges had to be cleaned up a bit when we were done though, so I’d recommend tracing a design on contact paper, cutting it out and attaching it directly to the jar.

Before you start thinking that I’m craftier than I think I am . . . I didn’t do the adorable cat design. I set my craft sister to work on that one.

When the jars are dry, put a tea light inside and light it. You’ll have an adorable addition to your Halloween decorations.

 This project was adapted from a project published in Family Fun Magazine.

When you saw the title of this post, was your first question, “Why the heck should I bother making my own face paints?”

Well, here’s the answer.

Last year the  Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 10 commercially available face paints.

All ten tested positive for lead. Lead, as you probably know, is a neurotoxin for which there is no known safe level when it comes to kids.

Some of the paints also contained nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can cause lifelong skin sensitization and contact dermatitis.

We know for a fact that there are face paints on the market that don’t have these chemicals (see the end of this post). But since it’s easy and fun, why not whip up a batch of your own?

Here’s the thing. Making face paints, we’ve discovered over the course of several years doing it, is not an exact science. Experimentation is part of the process. So we’ll give you the basics, then you take it from there.

What you Need:

Some type of thick lotion or cream–diaper cream, hand or body lotion–choose organic ingredients when you can.

Natural food color–Conventional food colors usually contain dyes that have been proven to cause problems in some kids. Many of these dyes have been banned in Europe, but not yet in the U.S.

Cornstarch

A small bowl and spoon

How to:

1. Begin by putting about a tablespoon of the cream/lotion in the bowl.

2. Add a few drops of natural food color or try colorful spices like tumeric or for green, spirulina, or the juice of mashed and strained veggies like blueberries or beets. (Patch test to be sure there are no allergies.)

3. Mix vigorously. Add more color if necessary.

4. Add in approximately double the amount of cornstarch to cream/lotion. For example 4 tablespoons of cornstarch to 2 tablespoons of cream.

5. Back to vigorous mixing.

6. Add more color and/or more cornstarch until you’ve reached an ideal color/consistency.

Tah dah! That’s it.

What we learned the hard way:

1. The final consistency should be creamy, not runny, but not too stiff either. (See, we told you this is an experiment.)

2. You can add water if the paint is too stiff or hard to spread, but be aware, that if the cream you use contains some type of oil, you will likely end up with a marbled effect which, depending on what you’re going for may be terrific or a fatal flaw.

3. Don’t leave out the cornstarch. It’s what keeps the skin from absorbing the cream or lotion (and the dye). (We know, we forgot it once.)

4. We admit that these paints may more difficult to work with than what you can buy. It’s challenging to create an intricate design (at least for us). But interestingly, kids are fascinated by the paint making process and likely won’t mind giving up a elaborate design if you set expectations at the start.

5. Using cosmetic brushes, sponges, etc. helps the application.

If, despite our spot-on directions and your enthusiastic efforts, your resulting face paints don’t offer the results you are looking for, we recommend two commercial face paint kits that contain no chemicals.

This  set from TerraFirma Cosmetics is great .

• Goes on like a face paint, sets to a pliable layer of color that is greaseless
• Removes with soap and water
• Stain resistant

Or  Luna Organics Pixie Magic Face Makeup available from  EcoMom. The colors are made of organic, hypoallergenic materials. The powder is easy to apply and most important, easy to remove! All products come off with a moist tissue.

Please remember that whether you’re making face paints at home or buying, you should test the paint on your child’s skin. Even natural, derived-from-plants and organic, can cause reactions in certain people.

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of  Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.

Blog Your Way to BlogHer

This post is an entry to the Blog Your Way to BlogHer Contest. Busy Mommy Media is giving away 1 ticket to BlogHer 2011 in San Diego! Visit the contest page for details on entering.

Halloween was always an exciting event for me as a child. I was never a huge fan of the haunted houses or games that required sticking my hand into something goopy and guessing what it was, but dress up like a princess and have people line up to give me candy? I was all over that.

As a parent, I’m not thrilled to have my kids repeat the candy gorging I did as a kid and the wastefulness of the holiday rubs the green part of me the wrong way. Halloween traditions can be fun without harming the environment. These simple tips will help you green your Halloween and make this holiday a celebration you can feel good about.

1. Participate in a Halloween Costume Swap – Making your own Halloween costume from things you already own is ideal but if you aren’t crafty or don’t have the time to make your own costume, consider participating in a Halloween costume swap. You can organize your own costume swap with your friends and neighbors, participate in community costume swaps, or participate in an online costume swap. Craigslist.org or Ebay are great places to buy or sell gently used costumes or if you are feeling generous and want to give away your old Halloween costumes Freecycle is always a great choice.
2. Use Reusable Halloween Treat Bags – Why create more waste than you need to? Use a reusable bag for yourHalloween treats instead of buying a plastic bag or Halloween bucket. You probably already have a reusable container laying around your home. Growing up we always used pillow cases (and let me tell you, we filled those things). If you don’t have reusable bags, consider buying some reusable grocery bags that you can use to reduce the waste you create long after Halloween is over. If you want a Halloween themed bag, make your own or look for reusable Halloween trick-or-treat bags that you can store and use year after year.
3. Trick-or-Treat in your Neighborhood – Save some gas and trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood. Not only will you and your kids get some extra exercise but you’ll help your kids develop a sense of community as they get to know the people who live in your neighborhood.
4. Hold a Healthy Trunk-or-Treat - It you want your kids to have a healthier Halloween, consider organizing a healthy trunk-or-treat in your neighborhood. A trunk-or-treat is when you get together with friends or neighbors, park your cars in a local parking lot, and have kids trick-or-treat at each car. You can decorate your car, include Halloween games for the kids at each car, and offer healthy treats. Since you know the other people participating in the trunk-or-treat you don’t have to worry about checking Halloween candy for evidence of being tampered with and you are free to give out treats other than prepackaged candy such as fresh fruit and homemade treats.
5. Buy Local Pumpkins – Purchasing local fruits and vegetables is good for your health and the local economy. Keep things local this Halloween by buying local pumpkins from pumpkin patches or farmer’s markets near your home. Buying straight from the farmer allows you to talk with the person who is growing your food, which can be informative since many small farms follow organic practices but do not have the organic label because of the cost involved.
6. Go Reverse Trick-or-Treating – Support a good cause by going reverse trick-or-treating and collecting money for UNICEF or spreading the word about fair trade chocolate.
7. Make your Own Face Paint - Face paint, even if it labeled non-toxic often contains many harmful substances,including lead and formaldehyde. Keep your child healthy and save some money in the process by making your own Halloween face paint.
8. Make your Own Eco-Friendly Halloween Decorations - Rather than wasting money on Halloween decorationsthat are designed to be thrown away after one use, try making your own out of materials you have around the house. An old sheet stuffed with old rags and tied with a ribbon makes an adorable ghost that you can hang by your front door. Have your kids help you make Paper Bag Pumpkins or make Ghost Feet and use them to decorate your window or door.
9. Give Out Healthy Halloween Treats -Rather than bombarding all the kids in your neighborhood with unhealthy treats, try giving out organic lollipops, fruit leathers, or pencils. My kids got toothbrushes one year when they were out trick-or-treating (which you can get for practically nothing if you make a habit of using coupons) and I was shocked when it was one of their favorite treats.
10. Turn Your Halloween Candy into a Science Experiment - Last year we turned our Halloween candy into a Homeschool science project with the help of some of the ideas from CandyExperiments.com. We had a blast and we used up a good portion of our Halloween candy without suffering the consequences to our health.

Photo by Amy V. Miller

Preschoolers will love making this paper bag pumpkin as a special Halloween craft activity.This is my favorite activity to do with preschoolers for a fun Halloween project. It is so easy that even a toddler can do it with some supervision.

This Halloween art project makes a wonderful holiday decoration for preschoolers desks at school or at home as a centerpiece for a festive meal.

What You Need

• Brown Paper Bag
• Orange Paint
• Black Construction Paper
• Green Pipe Cleaners
• Safety Scissors
• Scotch Tape
• A Pencil
• Newspaper

What To Do

Give each preschooler a brown paper bag and some pieces of newspaper. Have preschoolers use safety scissors to cut the newspaper into strips. Preschoolers can tear the pieces of newspaper if they prefer. Crumple up the newspaper strips and fill the paper bag about half way. Tie the bag shut just above the newspaper filling by twisting a green pipe cleaner around it. Show preschoolers how to wrap the ends of the pipe cleaner around a pencil to curl them. You can add additional pipe cleaners to create more pumpkin vines if you want.

Have preschoolers paint the bottom section of the pumpkin orange. While the pain is dry, have preschoolers cut triangles out of black construction paper. Allow preschoolers to be creative. If they want to experiment with different shapes or formations let them.

When the paint is dry, use scotch tape to attach the black triangles to one side of the pumpkin to create a jack-o-lantern face. You can use glue if you want but tape works best because of the curve of the pumpkin and the paint underneath.

Preschoolers will have an adorable paper pumpkin to get them in the spirit of Halloween.

Carving pumpkins is a Halloween tradition in many families. What’s more fun for little ones than getting to stick your hands inside a pumpkin and pull out its gooey sticky insides? It’s typically then the parent’s job to slice and dice the big orange ball into something that remotely resembles a spooky or goofy looking face. If you’re looking for the easiest way to carve and keep a great pumpkin try some of the recommendations below.

1. Purchase a pumpkin carving kit. Most stores carry them and they are often pretty inexpensive. Many kits come with not only all of the carving tools but also a scooper and even patterns for more intricate carvings. The patterns are usually taped on the pumpkin and cut through to create the design although it may be more fun to let the kids draw their own design in pen or marker for you to cut out.

2. When gutting out the pumpkin remove all of the loose flesh and seeds, but don’t take too much of the hard flesh off the sides. If the pumpkin is too thin it will rot more quickly.

3. Do not cut shapes to close together. If there is little room between your Jack-O-Lantern’s mouth and nose it will rot more quickly.

4. After your pumpkin is carved, rub a thin layer of Vaseline on the parts that have been carved like the inside of the eyes, nose and mouth. The Vaseline helps the pumpkin retain its moisture and helps it to keep longer.

5. If your pumpkin starts to shrivel, place it in a sink or bucket full of water for a few hours. This will help it regain some moisture. Be sure to dry the inside with a paper towel after soaking so that it won’t get moldy more quickly.

6. The safest way of lighting your pumpkin is to use artificial candles that are battery operated. This allows no chance of anyone getting burned or anything catching on fire. If you really want to use a candle be sure to cut a small hole in the back, top section, of the pumpkin to allow the smoke to escape.

by Nicole E. Nappi

This easy Halloween craft is perfect for even the youngest preschoolers. With a little help from mom, this easy ghost craft can create some scary Halloween fun.

Preschool Craft Supplies Needed

• Black Paper
• White Paint
• A Paintbrush
• Paper Towels (to wipe paint off feet)
• A Paper Plate (to pour paint on)
• Cute Preschool Feet

Preschool Craft Directions

Sit your preschooler down on the floor outside or inside on a few sheets of newspaper to prevent paint from getting on the floor. Carefully help your preschooler paint the bottom of his foot. Older preschoolers may be able to do this step on their own. Toddlers may need more parental help.

Help your preschooler to carefully stamp his painted foot down on the piece of black paper. Try to push the foot directly down and do not move it once it is on the paper to get the clearest results.

Let the footprint dry for several hours. When the paper is dry, have your preschooler create a scary ghost face using black paint.

Preschool or Daycare Halloween Bulletin Board Idea

Preschool teachers and daycare providers can use this easy halloween craft to create a fun and festive halloween bulletin board in the preschool classroom or daycare center. Arrange the Ghost Feet pictures on the bulletin board. Write each child’s name clearly on the paper using white paint or crayon. At the top of the bulletin board, use fun letters to say “Meet Our Little Ghosts”

Preschoolers love to participate in Halloween themed activities but carving pumpkins is often too difficult for them to master and it can be dangerous giving a preschooler even a dull knife to use.

Painting pumpkins is a wonderful alternative to the traditional pumpkin carving and it allows preschoolers to use their imagination in a safe pumpkin decorating activity.

What You Need

• Small pumpkins that are easy for preschoolers to hold
• Non-toxic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paint Smocks
• Newspaper
• Paper Plates

What To Do

Let each preschooler pick out a small pumpkin. This activity would be a wonderful follow up to a pumpkin patch field trip but you can also purchase a selection of small pumpkins for preschoolers to choose from. Pumpkin stems can be prickly. If you have an especially prickly pumpkin stem you may want to rub it with a piece of sand paper so preschoolers will not get tiny thorns in their fingers as they handle the pumpkin.

Spread newspaper on the floor, making sure to have lots of overlapping pieces to prevent paint from leaking onto the floor. If it is nice outside you can spread newspaper outside on a cement patio or the grass and give preschoolers a chance to get some fresh fall air at the same time.

Fill several paper plates with a variety of colors of non-toxic paint. Let each preschooler paint their pumpkins any way that they want to. You may want to test your paint before doing this activity. Some paint flakes off of a pumpkin when it dries. If the type of paint that you have does not work well, try mixing a very small amount of water into the paint to thin it out.

When the pumpkins have dried you can use them to decorate your preschool classroom or send them home for your preschoolers to enjoy with their families.

Variation

When the painted pumpkins have dried, you can have preschoolers add some additional decorations to their pumpkins by gluing on a variety of extra craft supplies. Plastic google eyes make a fun addition to the painted pumpkins as do sequins, glitter, and foam shapes.