Creepy Critter Crafts

Beaded Creepy Critters

Use these creepy critters as
accents in any Halloween
decoration.

• 24-gauge wire in assorted colors
• Wire cutters
• Assorted glass beads
• Needle-nose pliers

Cut an 8" length of 24-gauge wire. To make the hanging loop, fold the wire in half and twist the wire just below the fold. Trim off the excess wire. Ghost. With the wire ends together, thread a large bead for the head on the wire so it is against the hanging loop. Separate the wires below the head, and shape a 1"-long arm on each side of the ghost. Thread a smaller hand bead on each arm. Bring the wire ends together about 2" below the head, forming the bottom of the ghost. Thread two small beads on the wire ends and use the pliers to twist the ends together, shaping the wire into a spiral. Beaded Ghost. With the wire ends together, thread a large bead for the head on the wire so it is against the hanging loop. Separate the wires and shape a 1"-long arm on each side of the ghost. Bring the wire ends together about 2" below the head, forming the bottom of the ghost. Thread small beads to completely cover the wires and twist the wire ends together. Bat. With the wire ends together, thread a large bead for the body and a smaller bead for the head on the wire so the body bead is against the hanging loop. Separate the wires and make a small bump in each wire for the ears. Bring the wires down on opposite sides of the head bead, and wrap the wires one time around the space between the head and body beads. Shape a 1" to 1-1/2" wing on each side of the bat. Twist the wire ends around the base of the hanging loop. If necessary, use the pliers to squeeze points in the wings. Spider. With the wire ends together, thread a large bead for the body and a smaller bead for the head on the wire so the body bead is against the hanging loop. Cut the wires 1/4" beyond the head bead and use the pliers to loop the ends back onto themselves. For the legs, cut four 3" lengths of wire. Wrap the center of each leg wire around the space between the head and body beads. Bend the eight legs at the knees and feet.

Zombie Tumblers

Serve guests delicious green
cocktails in the painted highball
glasses.

• Glasses
• White, black, and red paint pens
• Tracing paper

1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

2. Trace each zombie pattern onto tracing paper; cut the paper patterns to fit inside the glasses. Using the black paint marker, draw over the pattern lines; let dry. Fill in the eyes and teeth with white paint; let dry. Add red vein lines to the eyes and to the girl zombie's lips.

Coasting-Ghost Coasters

Rest drink glasses on coasting
ghosts and protect your furniture
at the same time.

• Tracing paper
• White rubber non-adhesive shelf liner
• White and black crafts foam
• 1/4-inch paper punch
• Beacon CraftFoam Glue

1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

2. Trace the ghost body and mouth patterns onto tracing paper; cut out. For each coaster, cut one ghost body from the shelf liner, one 3-1/2" diameter circle from the white foam, and one mouth from the black foam. Also punch two circles from the black foam for the eyes. Glue the eyes and mouth on the ghost's head with the glue. Turn the ghost over, and glue the white foam circle to the center of the ghost's body.

Purple Charger Plate

Add a spooky dimension to your
Halloween party with this plate.

• Wood charger plates
• Krylon Purple spray paint
• Krylon Webbing spray in black and white

1. Spray one side of the charger plate with purple, allowing the paint to dry. Spray the other side of the charger paint with purple; let dry.

2. Spray black webbing over the front of the charger plate; let dry. Spray white webbing over the front of the charger plate. Let the charger plate dry.

Bat Place Mat

These place mats are a batty
good time!

• Template plastic
• Crafts knife
• Black stencil paint cream
• Stencil brush
• Place mats

1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

2. Trace the bat patterns onto template plastic. Cut out the bat openings with the crafts knife. Position the stencil on a place mat. Gently rub the stencil brush in the black stencil paint cream. Wipe off excess paint cream on a paper towel; then, moving the stencil brush in a circular motion, apply paint cream to the bat on the place mat. Continue to add bats, positioning the stencil as you like.

Bone Candle Holders

Light up the night with these
eerie bone candle holders.

• 1/2-inch pipes and reducers to fit pipes (from a hardware store)
• White Sculpey clay
• Taper candles (you need one to make a candle holder)

1. Screw a reducer onto one end of a pipe for the base. Work the clay with your hands until it's easy to shape. Roll out a thin sheet of clay, and cover a pipe. To form the joint ends of one bone, roll four irregular 1- to 2-inch-diameter balls of clay. Press two clay balls onto either end of one bone. For longer pipes, create one bone on top of another, offsetting the joint ends. Smooth the connection of the bone joints onto the bone with your thumb. Extend the joints over the top of the pipe by at least 1 inch. Test-fit the end of the candle taper into the top of the joint at the top of the candle holder.

2. To bake a candle holder, remove of the top oven rack and then place the remaining rack on the lowest position. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Stand the finished candle holder on the rack. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove with a pot holder; cool. (Use tacky wax to hold the candle firmly in the candle holder.)