From cute spookiness to downright scary, there are Halloween creations perfect for all members of the family. As a parent or teacher, Halloween's the perfect time to encourage a child's imagination and get his or her creative juices flowing!



For the little bitty goblins in your home or classroom, handprint spiders are very easy children craft ideas for Halloween. All you'll need is tempura or poster paint, paper, and wiggly eyes.

Paint your child's four fingers and palm black (NOT the thumb).

Press the little painted hand onto the paper with fingers stretched outward.

Paint the other hand and press it in the opposite direction, overlapping the palm prints.

Add wiggly eyes for a cute little spider.

A personal favorite for Halloween is little tissue ghosts. I still have one of my daughter's from 10 years ago! All you need is tissues, string or thread, and a black marker.

Have your kiddo wad up a small ball of tissue.

Place a full piece of tissue around the wadded-up ball, with plenty to spare at the bottom.

Tie a string or thread around the "head" part of the ghost.

Hang the little ghost in your kitchen, or make multiples to hang from a slow-moving ceiling fan!

For teens who trick-or-treat, how about a "designer" candy bag? Here's what you need:

canvas bag

drawing paper

pencil

fabric paint

bric-a-brac or yarn

buttons, sequins, beads, ribbons

felt squares

scissors

hot-glue gun

(large-holed sewing needle for yarn)

First, sketch your idea on the piece of paper. Your teen can use the felt as a pattern. Perhaps she'd like a pumpkin, a bat, or a black cat. Once it's cut out, stitch it by hand onto the canvas bag. Let her use her imagination to decorate the candy bag. Some paint, ribbons, buttons, and sequins should do the trick!

Another of our favorite, family-fun, children craft ideas for Halloween is also very easy to create - it is a "bush ghost". All you need is a white bed sheet, black craft or fabric paint, clothespins, and an additional surface that can absorb the paint (like papers from your recycle bin).

Lay the sheet over the recycled papers.

Paint the face of a ghost on the lower half of the sheet.

Let it dry.

Take the sheet outside and place it over a bush.

Use clothespins to gather the sheet behind the bush and anchor it to the bush.

Try this idea as a pumpkin, too, using a dyed orange sheet!

Old and young alike are eager to take part in children craft ideas for Halloween. After all, what other day of the year do you get to dress up in a funny costume and eat candy?