Project designed by Holly Christian and Elaine Keener.
Photographs by Charles Brooks.
Young and old goblins alike will enjoy making and displaying these Halloween crafts and costumes. When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, you'll be ready for a night's adventures filled with tree elves, flower sprites and other more ghostly delights.
Paper Lanterns
These paper lanterns are lit with glow-in-the-dark light sticks, making them a safe alternative to a traditional lantern. They're made with mat board and drafting vellum, both found at art supply stores. Find the light sticks at party-supply shops and from online retailers. We found a colorful variety of six-inch sticks that lasted for more than eight hours priced at $1 each.
Materials:
lightweight black mat board--we used two-ply Strathmore mounting board
white drafting vellum
ruler
straightedge
pencil
scissors
bone folder or butter knife
craft or utility knife with sharp blades and cutting mat
double -sided tape or heavy-duty craft glue
black card stock - optional
awl
wire, wire snips and needle-nose pliers or monofilament (for hanging)
six-inch, glow -in-the-dark light stick with hanger top
Steps:
1. Each lantern template is for one side of a four-sided lantern. Use scissors to cut out the template of your choice.
2. The lantern is made with one long piece of mat board, cut to the correct height and folded to form the four sides. Measure a piece of mat board to the height of the template and four times the width. Add a half-inch flap to the width for joining the sides.
3. Place the mat board horizontally on a work surface and draw a vertical line to mark the edge of each side of the lantern where the board will be folded (these lines will be either 4-1/2 or six inches apart, depending on which template you use). Score the vertical lines using a bone folder (or the back edge of a butter knife) and a straightedge. This will be the interior of the lantern. On the other side of the mat board, score the same lines very lightly with a craft or utility knife. This will prevent the mat board from tearing when folded. Fold the lantern on the scored lines to establish the shape of the lantern and ensure that it fits together properly (figure A).
4. Place the mat board face down on your work table and trace the template pattern on each side.
5. Use a craft or utility knife to cut out the pattern.
6. When the cut pattern is complete on each side, use scissors to cut pieces of vellum to fit each side of the lantern.
7. Still working from the inside of the lantern, apply double-sided tape or glue along the border of each side of the lantern and carefully press the vellum in place.
8. Use an awl to poke a hanging hole in two opposite sides of the top border. If desired, reinforce the top border before punching the holes by attaching a narrow strip of mat board or black card stock.
9. Fold the lantern into shape, apply double-sided tape or glue to the attachment flap and hold in place.
10. A bottom isn't necessary for this lantern but if you'd like to add one, trace the interior bottom square of the lantern on mat board, add a flap on each side, cut, fold inward and attach with tape or glue.
11. Hang the lantern with wire or monofilament by running it through the hanging holes at the top of the lantern. Bend the light stick to start it glowing and place it inside the lantern.
Paper Mache Lanterns
Project designed by Elaine Keener.
Materials:
12" round balloons or larger (helium type)
newspaper
white glue
artist gesso
acrylic craft paint in assorted colors
glow-in-the-dark paint
paintbrushes
sheet of vellum or tracing paper
pencil
permanent markers
thin chipboard
masking tape
bowl
candles, votive candle holders or globe lights
craft knife or scissors
pliers
power drill
hot-glue gun
wire cutters
optional - floral wire, raffia, silk leaves, wire coat hangers, wooden beads or decorative Styrofoam balls, tooling foil
Steps:
1. Blow up balloons to desired size.
2. Tear or cut newspaper into strips (you'll find that newspaper has a grain; tear with the grain and you'll get straighter strips).
3. Brush glue on balloon and lay paper strips on the wet glue area. Add additional strips by overlapping strips and applying in crisscross fashion. After each layer of newspaper, brush with glue. Continue applying newspaper strips and glue until desired thickness is obtained. For lanterns, two to three layers work best.
4. Allow strips to dry. Paper-mache can take more than one day to dry. If you add additional layers, allow additional drying time. If your project is cool to the touch, it's not dry yet.
5. Puncture the balloon through the layers of paper mache using sharp scissors. Cut out an opening and remove the balloon. If a flat bottom is desired, cut another opening at the opposite end. Trace bottom opening on a piece of chipboard. Cut out and use masking tape to tape the chipboard circle over the bottom opening. Add additional newspaper strips and glue to bottom until desired thickness is obtained.
6. Draw facial features with a pencil.
7. Depending upon the design, use a craft knife to trim out features or build up three-dimensional details by adding more newspaper that has been crumpled and wrapped with masking tape. Tape or hot-glue the crumpled newspaper to your project. Chipboard can also be used to add details or to build features. Facial features can be added by attaching Styrofoam balls or wooden balls or dowels, using a hot-glue gun. Cover features with additional paper strips and glue as necessary.
8. Cut the edge of the top opening to the desired shape.
9. Coat the shell inside and out with gesso and allow to dry.
10. Paint the outside of the shell with a base color. Paint details of face with contrasting colors. Let each feature dry before painting additional colors. Use markers and paint to add additional details. For cutout features, paint or color vellum by using light-colored permanent markers or craft paint. Glue paper features to interior with hot-glue gun.
11. For hanging lanterns or to make a handle, punch or drill two small holes near the top and place a thin wire through the holes to create a handle. For candy holders, use wire hangers to make handles. Cut them with wire cutters to desired size. To add holes in lanterns, use drill to make holes on outside.
12. Decorate lantern or candy holder with raffia hair, metal foil shapes or wire, using the hot glue gun. Add candles in glass votive holder or string several lanterns onto a set of tiny lights or globe lights.
Note: These lanterns aren't flame-retardant, so use caution and monitor use. Don 't let candles or electric lights touch the sides of the lantern.
Paper garland
Project designed by Holly Christian.
Materials:
strips of black, orange and white paper cut about eight inches wide (lightweight banner paper works well)
pencil
sharp scissors
optional - craft knife with sharp blades and cutting mat
Steps:
1. Copy the Halloween garland templates or create your own designs.
2. Fold paper accordion style matching the fold size of your pattern.
3. Trace the pattern on the top sheet of the folded stack, making sure your pattern touches the fold on both sides.
4. Use scissors to cut through the layers of folds. If your garland is quite long you may need to cut through half the stack at a time. If necessary, use an craft knife to cut out tiny areas like eye holes.
Reprinted with permission of Home & Garden Television. Visit hgtv.com for information about HGTV shows and for thousands of home and garden projects and ideas.
HOME 
)
)
)
PDF
