Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy. For kids, it’s also a chance to get creative, let their imaginations run wild, and make something fun with their own hands. Parents and teachers know that holiday crafts do more than keep little hands busy—they help kids unplug from screens, use their creativity, and even add a personal touch to seasonal décor. The best part? Most projects can be done with items you already have around the house.

Here are four simple, family-friendly crafts that bring a little extra spook to the season.

By Carrie Dunlea, Special Contributor

Jack’s Slime

Nothing says Halloween like a jack-o’-lantern grin. This playful twist turns the classic pumpkin face into a gooey, hands-on craft kids can actually play with.

You’ll need:

• 6 ounces of Elmer’s glue (other brands may not work as well)

• Orange food coloring

• ½ teaspoon of baking soda

• 1½ tablespoons of contact lens solution (must contain boric acid)

• Optional: 2 tablespoons of water for extra stretchiness

• Black felt or construction paper for eyes and mouth

• A small mason jar with lid

To make: Mix the glue, food coloring, baking soda, and contact solution in a bowl.

For extra stretch, stir in the water.

Cut jack-o’-lantern face shapes from the felt or paper and glue them to the outside of the mason jar.

Pour the slime into the jar, pop on the lid, and you’ve got a spooky keepsake that doubles as a toy.

Paper Roll Treat Holders

Don’t toss those toilet paper or paper towel tubes—turn them into monster treat holders perfect for parties or handing out to trick-or-treaters.

You’ll need:

•       Cardboard tubes

•       Masking tape

•       Paint or colored paper

•       Markers or paper cut-outs for faces

•       Tissue paper for the tops

•       Candy or small treats

To make: Seal one end of each tube with masking tape. Paint or wrap the tube in paper, then decorate with silly or scary monster faces. Fill each roll with treats, then stuff tissue paper into the open end to keep the candy hidden. The finished product doubles as both a decoration and a party favor.

Ghostly Leaves

This eco-friendly craft is a perfect way to make use of what nature provides.

You’ll need:

• Large leaves

• White paint

• Black paint or markers

To make: Coat the leaves in white paint and let them dry completely. Add black eyes and a mouth to the narrow end so they resemble floating ghosts. Scatter them across the dinner table, tape them to windows, or line them up along the mantel for a hauntingly fun look.

These easy crafts are great for a rainy afternoon, a classroom project, or just a way to get the whole family into the Halloween spirit. They prove you don’t need to spend much money—or time—to make the season magical.

Forest Spiders

Turn a nature walk into a craft session by collecting round pinecones to use as the base for these creepy-crawly creations.

You’ll need:

• Pinecones

• Brown pipe cleaners

• Googly eyes (several small, two large)

• Craft glue

To make: Cut four pipe cleaners in half to make eight legs.

Glue them evenly around the pinecone.

Finish by attaching googly eyes to one end of the pinecone for an adorable (and slightly spooky) spider.

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