Shrunken Heads and other Halloween Decor

IMG_2317My oldest son Matthew is really into Halloween this year. Creating and buying decorations, making our yard into a spooky spectacle. He has always enjoyed Halloween and gotten quite excited about it, but for some reason this year he is really into the decorations.

He has asked me a few times if he could get on the internet to google homemade Halloween decorations, and has created some of his own. He’s done things such as buy a small plastic skeleton from the dollar store and build it’s own paper coffin for it. He’s taken an exercise band and made it into scary caution tape by writing and drawing on it with black marker. Yes he also went to the Halloween store on the weekend with his Dad and bought a cemetery set, some yellow caution tape and a few other things but the thing I love is that he is willing and happy to do both, buy some and create his own.

IMG_2319I have always loved decorating for Halloween and often thought that we should add to our collection of decorations. We have had pumpkin and skeleton lights for years, as well as the ghosts that you hang in the tree and spider webs. But Matthew really likes to go to town, in fact every time I turn around at the moment he is making something new to add to the decor.

IMG_2328The thing that I have found the most unique though is the apple shrunken heads. I am not sure where he got the idea from but it is pretty cool and very easy to do. They take about 2 weeks to complete, simply because you need to let them dry, but they are very easy to do.

IMG_2321Even Luke and Chloe are quite excited about Halloween this year and they are counting down the days like their older brother. I think that it’s going to be a pretty fun Halloween this year and I have to say that I do like that the amount of work that I have actually had to do so far has been quite small.

Shrunken Heads

Apples

Lemon juice

Peel apples, using as many as you like (we did 5). With a butter knife carve out eyes and mouth into apple. Dip apple in lemon juice so that it is completely covered. Set apple on platter or plate and let dry. Best to put apples in a place that is cool and out of direct sunlight. After 1 week dip in lemon juice again. Takes about 2 weeks for apples to shrink and wrinkle. Display shrunken heads in amongst your Halloween decor.

Matthew and his shrunken heads

Matthew and his shrunken heads

Spooky Halloween Crafts for Kids

Getting into Halloween just wouldn’t be complete without a few spooky crafts for the kids to make. Besides the sweets and treats it is just as much fun to dress up, decorate and get the kids to add their crafts to the decor!

We put up pumpkin lights, ghosts and skeletons in the yard. I also have some Party Lite candle holders like a haunted house, jack and jill-o-lanterns. They are totally cute! We even have one of those ‘dancing’ stuffed toys that sings the Monster Mash. Luke and Chloe really like the haunted house and want to play with it. I made the mistake of letting them look at it the first day it was out. Though they were very gentle, there was a lot of crying when I put it back on the shelf.

We’ve had lots of fun though this week with Halloween crafts. Easy to make for little ones they add some spooky fun to our Halloween decor.

Bat Wreath (prominently displayed on our front door)

This craft is super easy and adds a nice flare to your front door. Bat WreathYou’ll need ring of cardboard, black construction paper, scissors, glue, small piece of wool.

Trace a small plate and a large plate onto a piece of old cardboard. Cereal boxes work great.

Cut strips of construction paper (about 1 1/2 inches by 4 inches), glue the strips into rolls, like making a paper chain. Glue the rolls of construction paper onto the wreath. If you like you can use other Halloween colors, like orange, purple, green if you don’t want to use all black.

Fold a piece of black construction paper in half and cut out half a bat shape (this will make the wings symmetrical). Use white pencil to draw on face.

Handprint and Footprint Ghosts

This craft is a great way to capture some memories of your little ones at Halloween. Put the date on it and you have a great hand and foot memory from one of their first Halloweens. 

You’ll need black paper, white paint and a black pen.

Dip child’s hand in white pain and place it on the black paper, fingers together to make a print. Do the same thing with their foot.

Let the paint dry and draw on some ghostly faces with the black marker. Cut out the ghosts leaving a thin rim of black around the edge. If you’d like to hang them up punch a hole in the top, or use them as unique invitations to a party.

Paper Plate Spider

You’ll need 2 sheets black paper, paper plate, black paint, white paper, black pen, glue.

Paint the plate black and let dry.

Fold each sheet of paper in half lengthways; then in half again. Cut along the folds so that you end up with 8 strips. Pleat the strips like an accordian.

Glue or staple the strips of paper to the plate to form your spider’s legs.

Cut two circles from white paper as eyes. Draw on the pupils and stick to the spider.

Lift Flap Haunted House

You’ll need construction paper (purple, orange, green, black and yellow), glue stick, scissors, utility knife (for use by adults only).

Draw a house on colored construction paper. Draw a large triangle on green to make the roof, draw a large rectangle on purple for the house and a small rectangle to make the chimney. Cut out pieces.

With a black marker draw a window on the roof, 2 windows and a door on the house. Have an adult cut using the utility knife, around the windows and doors leaving one side attached so that they will open.

Glue a scrap piece of paper to the back of the house and roof, using the same colors – do not glue the windows/door shut. Glue the house to a piece of black construction paper.

Using the other colors of construction paper make pumpkins, ghosts and bats to put in the windows. Glue them in and around your haunted house.

Lift the flaps to discover what’s inside!

There are so many creative things out there you can do for Halloween. Whatever craft you decide on the kids will love creating them and will enjoy another aspect of this spooky holiday!