By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com
ONE CREEPY HOUSE stands out in every neighborhood at Halloween. It is the house on the block with the freaky ghosts and spiders dangling from the trees, jack-o'-lanterns so elegantly carved with glowing lights and -- this is the creepy part -- adults who dress up in outlandish costumes, getting their thrills by jumping out and scaring the trick-or-treaters. Kids quickly make this their favorite house to visit on this ghoulish occasion.Halloween is the sort of holiday in which imaginations can run wild, and crafters take this to heart. Halloween craft ideas range from cute decorations to frightening ones guaranteed to bring on goose bumps.
Simple projects can transform a humble abode into a haunted manor. Even recycled household materials can be used to create a house of horrors.Keala Magarro, craft coordinator at the Ben Franklin store in Pearl City, is presenting a variety of Halloween craft demonstrations this month to give people basic decorating ideas. Craft stores islandwide are also featuring in-store demos.
"I love the holidays. Making your own decorations is half the fun," she said. "When you have kids, you need to be able to let loose and have some fun.
"I always make my own costumes. Last year, I made a gruesome mask out of papier-mâché with hair made out of shredded rat-tail cord."
Many craft projects are easy enough to be done by children. "If you start with a basic pattern, kids can get real creative," she said. Magarro suggests using recycled household goods such as cereal boxes (paint them to look like gravestones) and cheesecloth (draped over helium-filled balloons, they make floating ghosts).
"Painted Coffeemate containers make a great Frankenstein," she said. "You can just attach bolts onto the sides of his head. A plain old soda can can also be used. The plastic gallon ice cream containers also make great pumpkins or treat holders. You just need to paint them and dress them up with some felt."Decorating the home with creepy creatures can also be lots of fun. Use garbage bags as the raw material for your ghastly creature.
"You can crumple them up to create ghosts or use some to make one of those witches that crash into the tree or a pole," Magarro said.
Clear bags touched up with a black marker give the appearance of an illuminated ghost. A black trash bag makes a good witch. Accessorize her with a hat, yarn for hair and anything else you find appealing.
And there is always the traditional scarecrow. All you need is an old pair of pants, a long-sleeved shirt and lots of newspaper. A scary rubber mask stuffed with paper makes a head or, if you prefer, a traditional pumpkin will do. Blood and gore are always an option.
Walkways lit with creepy candles also add allure. As candleholders, paper bags with cut-out designs, painted tin cans or glass jars all work. For safety, anchor paper bags with sand so they don't tip over or catch fire. Make sure decorative elements on tin or glass candleholders are out of reach of the flames.
For table decorations, any glass bowl or jar becomes a bewitching centerpiece. Cover with black or orange netting or tissue paper up to the rim, then tie the covering on with raffia, yarn or rat tail. Glue plastic spiders or other creatures to the outside (your child's rubber Creepy Crawler collection may come in handy). Place tea-light candles inside when the masterpiece is completed.
After buying 1.5 yards of netting, 6 yards of rat-tail cord and a few spiders and accessories, I was able to make five decorated candleholders. Different-size jars around the house became useful. And because I was able to recycle, it cost only about $7 to make five creepy party additions."Even cut-out oatmeal boxes can create an illuminating effect," Magarro said. "Just paint them and place a votive candle inside."
Party favors such as Wanda the Witch teaspoons (see Page G11) or foam magnets can be distributed to guests or set on tables to add color.
Let your imagination creep and crawl, and throw a Halloween bash that people will still be talking about next October.
Ghosts and goblins come out to play just once a year, so they expect to be entertained in grand style. Setting the mood with a some homemade decor can make a great difference.
The initial investment to make this simple decoration is about $5. Leftover materials will be available to make more spiders. Larger pots may be used, as long as you double the length of the chenille stems. Clay Pot Spider
SUPPLIES
3-inch clay pot
Black patio paint
Paintbrush
White graphite paper and pencil
Paint pen with medium tip in red and white
4 black bumpy chenille stems
Low-temperature glue gun
Scissors
Masking tape
INSTRUCTIONS
Paint the entire clay pot, inside and out, and let it dry. Patio paint is recommended because it doesn't require waterproofing. Use the graphite paper and pencil to transfer a face pattern to the pot.Color the eyes and teeth with white paint pen, let dry. Dot black pupils in the eyes. Line the spider's mouth and eyebrows with paint pen.
Cut chenille stems in half and bend them to form the spider's legs. Glue them to the sides of the spider, attaching them to the inside of the pot.
Pots may also be hung. Fold a 12-inch piece of jute or rope in half and tie a double knot about 4 inches from the loop. Feed the loop up through the pot and tie another knot close to the top of the pot.
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