DIY HALLOWEEN CRAFTS

As October 31 grows closer and the spooky season progresses, Halloween spirit is displayed through the jack-o’-lanterns and black-and-orange string lights outside the houses of Marin residents.  Below are two easy DIY crafts to elevate Halloween festivities.

Hanging Hand Car Decoration:

Supplies:

• 1 latex glove
• ½ bag polyester fiberfill
• Paint
• 1 paintbrush
• Scissors
• 2 Rubber bands
• 1 pair of old pants

Craft Instructions:

STEP ONE

Cut off one leg of the old pair of pants and discard the rest. Tie a rubber band around the larger end of the pant leg in order to close off one end. Fill the leg with polyester fiberfill, close using the rubber band and set aside.

STEP TWO

Use the leftover Polyester fiberfill to fill up the latex glove. Roll the fiberfill into long lines to make stuffing the fingers easier. Make sure to leave empty space at the wrist end. When the glove is about the width of a real human hand, tie the open end off with a rubber band.

STEP THREE

Use paint to color the hand completely. Paint one side using the paintbrush and let it dry. When dry, turn it over and paint the other side. Let dry. OPTIONAL: once all sides of the glove are dry, splatter red paint onto glove to replicate blood. Let dry.

STEP FOUR

Using a rubber band, tie together the open side of the pant leg and the wrist end of the glove. It should look similar to a human arm.

STEP FIVE

Shut trunk onto the gloveless side of the arm and drive!

Dripping Candle

Supplies:

• 2 blocks of paraffin wax
• 2 medium cooking pots
• 4 inches cotton string
• 1 screw
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 empty cardboard milk carton
• Matches
• Colored wax

Craft instructions:

STEP ONE

Fill one pot ⅔ of the way with water. Place over stove fire and let boil.

STEP TWO

While the water is boiling, use scissors to cut the top off the empty carton. Tie one end of the string to a screw. Rest the screw on the bottom of the empty carton. Balance scissors across the top of the empty carton and tie the other end of the string around the center so that the string makes a vertical line in the center of the carton.

STEP THREE

Once the water boils, turn the flame down and place the second pot into the first one so the bottom touches the water (double boiler). Place the paraffin wax into the second pot. Allow it to melt. OPTIONAL: Add scented oil to melted wax.

STEP FOUR

Carefully pour the melted wax into the empty container, and avoid spilling wax onto the scissors. Place entire carton into the freezer and leave overnight.

STEP FIVE

Take carton out of the freezer and carefully peel away the carton away from the hardened candle wax. Use match flame to heat the colored wax. Allow melted wax to drop onto the edge of the original candle wax. Allow to harden and light candle!