Spooktacular Halloween Ideas

TRICK-OR-TREAT BAGS

Get the kiddies involved with making these great glow-in-the-dark trick-or-treat bags.

MATERIALS

STEPS

1.  Cut a circle out of reflective fabric for the moon. Glue circle to bag. (If you can't find reflective fabric, use reflective fabric paint.)

2.  Download and print bat template. Trace bat template onto black fun foam. Cut out bat from fun foam using craft knife.

3.  Take a mini Slinky and cut off a section of approximately six coils. Stretch the Slinky so it pops out. Attach Slinky to back of bat with black duct tape. Placing chip board inside of bag for protection, take the screw hole punch and punch through the center of the yellow moon. Feed other end of Slinky through hole and tape with duct tape inside.

4.  Download and print ghost and ghost window template.

5.  Take brown paper bag. First, make the ghost window by cutting one black rectangle, about 8? by 4 inches. Place rectangle on a piece of wax paper.

6.  Start peeling strips of 1/2-inch glow tape and stick around window to make frame. Then using scissors, cut the 1/2-inch glow tape strips into 1/4-inch glow tape strips. To make the window sill, cut a 1/4-inch strip of glow tape about five inches in length and apply to window frame. Then peel and stick 1/4-inch strips of glow tape horizontally and vertically to form window. Using rubber cement, paint back of completed window and paint brown bag where window will be placed. Let rubber cement dry for approximately three minutes. Stick window onto bag.

7.  Take sheet of white fun foam; trace ghost template. Cut out ghost using craft knife.

8.  Take a mini Slinky and cut off a section of approximately six coils. Stretch the Slinky so it pops out. Attach Slinky to back of ghost with white duct tape. Placing chip board inside of bag for protection, take the screw hole punch and punch where you want the pop out to be. Feed other end of Slinky through hole and tape with duct tape inside.

9.  Download and print spider and spider web template.

10.  To make the spider web, cut 1/2-inch pieces of glow tape into strips that are a 1/4 inch wide and measured to the length and width of the bag. Peel and stick glow tape in an X-shape; peel and stick glow tape in a cross shape to create the foundation of the web. Cut small pieces of glow tape to fit in between cross and X-spaces. Repeat the process until your bag is completely covered.

11.  Take sheet of black fun foam, trace spider template. Cut out spider using craft knife.

12.  Take a mini Slinky and cut off a section of approximately six coils. Stretch the Slinky so it pops out. Attach slinky to back of spider with black duct tape. Placing chip board inside of bag for protection, take the screw hole punch and punch through the center of the web. Feed other end of Slinky through hole and tape with duct tape inside.

GLOWING GHOSTS

Use these cute little ghosts to illuminate your door on Halloween night.

MATERIALS

STEPS

1.  Snap one or two green 8-hour light sticks so they glow and insert them into a white balloon.

2.  Inflate the balloon and tie it closed.

3.  Use a black marker to draw wide eyes and mouth.

4.  Repeat to make more, and then affix ghosts to a wall with transparent tape. Or, for a more ghostly feel, drape them in cheesecloth, cut a small hole and push the knot through the fabric. Secure with string and hang.

WITCHES BROOM FAVORS

Guests will be flying high with these witches broom favors.

MATERIALS

STEPS

1.  Grab two paper bags for each broomstick. Unfold one bag and push out the base while folding in the left and right sides.

2.  Cut the bag into thin strips, stopping short of the base. Cut thin strips into the top inch of the second bag.

3.  Open both bags and place the second bag inside the shredded one; fill with candy.

4.  Insert a branch or stick into the bag, cinch the top of both bags, and secure with twine.

CANDY-FILLED HAUNTED HOUSES

Use these haunted houses as goodie bags for your guests.

MATERIALS

STEPS

1.  Print downloaded clip art to white cardstock paper and cut it out.

2.  Tape it to the bags and fill with candy.

For more ideas check out these links:

Business Consumer Alliance hopes your Halloween is a real treat!

About Business Consumer Alliance:

Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) is a non-profit company, established in 1936. The broad purpose of BCA is to promote business self-regulation. BCA's mission is achieved by assisting consumers in resolving complaints with businesses and using that complaint information, along with other relevant information such as customer reviews, to forecast business reliability. With community support, BCA can identify trustworthy and ethical businesses and warn the public to avoid unscrupulous businesses whose purpose is to defraud consumers and the marketplace. BCA obtains its funding from member businesses who support the mission and purpose of the organization and who agree to abide by high standards of ethical business practices.