Set the scene with these crafty Halloween ideas

It’s time to celebrate all things spooky and like throwing any memorable event, putting on a boo-tiful Halloween party is all about the details – the theme, the food, the decorations, the accessories and let’s not forget the fang-tastic fun!

So why not gather your friends and loved ones, don some crazy dress-ups and get amongst the action on 31 October?

Kids especially love Halloween and it’s a great chance to get your creativity going with the whānau. Whether you’re whipping up a creepy craft project or getting frightening in the kitchen, your local Warehouse has all the inspiration and everything you need to throw an epic bash. Use these ideas to kick-start your spook-tacular party planning and drive everyone batty!

Hanging Bat

YOU’LL NEED

• pencil to draw

• sheet of black cardboard

• scissors

• glue

• plastic craft eyes

• 10cm of thin ribbon

HERE’S HOW

Draw a bat shape on the cardboard. Don’t be too worried about making it look perfect – just get the shape.
Cut out the bat and snip a little hole in its tail for the ribbon.
Glue on the eyes and thread the ribbon through the hole.
Hang upside down (we stuck them to the roof with blu tack).

Spooky Spider Web Invite

Give kids the shivers with this spine-tingling invitation. It fits snuggly into a 15cm-square envelope.

YOU’LL NEED

• white marker pen

• 1 sheet thin black cardboard, cut into 8 x 12cm squares

• scissors

• small black cardboard pieces, cut into 4cm squares, for the spiders

• 20cm x 1cm strips of red paper, two for each web

• double-sided sticky tape

HERE’S HOW

Using the white pen, draw a spider web onto the squares of black cardboard. The best way to do this is to draw diagonal lines from corner to corner, then draw a line down the middle and one across the centre. Draw in the rest of the web, starting from the centre and continuing out. When you have finished, cut around edges of the web with scissors.
Trace the spider onto a small piece of black cardboard with the white pen. Cut around the spider.
Make a paper “spring” from the strips of red paper. Start by attaching the strips of paper to each other at right angles with double-sided sticky tape, then fold the strips, alternately, over each other.
Attach the spring to the centre of the web with double-sided tape. Attach the spider to the other end of the spring with the tape. Write party details on back of spider web.

Spider Lollipops

Simple yet effective – twist black pipe cleaners around lollipops and add some plastic craft eyes to make your very own furry spiders that you can dangle at your guests!

Spooktacular Lolly Tins

HERE’S HOW

Working from the inside, use a hammer and nail to make two holes in the opposite sides at the top of various-sized tins.
Wrap coloured paper or cardboard around the tins to fit, securing with double-sided tape.
Wiggle the nail in each hole so that it makes a hole through the paper as well.
Twist two contrasting chenille sticks together,then push the ends through the holes at the top of the tins, twisting to secure.
Decorate the rim of the tins with a little braid or rickrack, or a strip of contrasting paper.
Glue a spooky Halloween image to the front – and you’re done!