Kids Upcycling Crafts For Halloween
I am a passionate revamp crafter, I just love to upcycle when I’m crafting and encourage my kids to do the same. These are some of our favourite Halloween projects…
Shoebox Puppet Theatre
To make this fantastic shoebox puppet theatre, we cut out a rectangle from a shoe box and covered the box in black fabric. We then used a couple of toilet roll inners and discs cut from cereal boxes to form the turrets, covering these with more of the fabric. The kids drew out a backdrop on the lid and some spooky characters which we attached to lollipop sticks. Hours of fun guaranteed!
Carrier Bag Bunting
This looks great hanging across the porch to greet the Trick or Treaters and is made from some old carrier bags, ribbon and a spot of glue! Cut the bags into equal sized triangles and attach one edge along a length of ribbon or string, leaving an equal gap between each one. Cut simple Halloween related shapes from a contrasting coloured bag and glue on.
Milk Carton & Carrier Bag Ghost Windsocks
These look very effective blowing in the breeze. Cut a milk carton in half and pierce holes along the cut edge. Tie stripes of thin white carrier bags through the holes. Add some black circles for eyes from a black carrier bag, card or fabric, and hang using string.
Bouncy Yoghurt Pot Ghosts
Continuing with the ghostly theme with these bouncy ghosts made using some clear elastic, large yoghurt pots, white fabric oddments and a couple of buttons. Cut a square of white fabric large enough to cover your pot and pierce a hole through the fabric and the base of the pot. Thread through a piece of elastic and secure it on the inside by tying around a button so that it will not come away easily. Add a couple more buttons for eyes and bounce away!
Cardboard Tube Monster Shakers
The humble cardboard roll from the inners of toilet and kitchen rolls is a regular participant in our upcycled crafting! To make these monster shakers, tape greaseproof paper over each end trapping some dried pulses inside. Cover with fabric and decorate by creating monster faces with wool oddments, card and buttons!
Web Wall Art
Use yarn oddments and an old frame to create web wall art. Tie the yarn across the frame to form the spokes and then tie in a spiral starting from the centre using a simple over hand knot where the yarn crosses. We embellished with a spider made from two old buttons and some felt.
Sock Puppet
The kids love this old favourite, and there is never a shortage of odd socks in our home! My ten year old made this witch puppet from one of her odd socks and a few bits from the craft cupboard. All held together with a spot of glue.
Spooky Hand Print Top
This is a very quick and simple way to upcycle an old top for Halloween. Make hand prints using poster paint and add a couple of eyes to create spooky monsters or ghosts. We used small pompoms for eyes with a dot of black paint in the centre.
Kirstie’s passion for upcycling and ecofriendly art and craft led Kirstie to combine this with her web development skills to create EcoCreate with Charlotte Rhoades, which officially launched in 2014. EcoCreate is a network for eco friendly artisans with an online marketplace and directory. It also houses an extensive blog with lots of inspiration from tutorials to interviews with established eco artists. Visit the website to find out more!
