Halloween fun: Simple spooky spiders
Thursday, October 11, 2012 Doing projects together are one of the primary orders of business when I visit Bubby and Mac, as I did this past weekend. I like to have most of the items with me in my Grandma Bag, so I set out last week to accumulate ideas and came across this spider craft on Pinterest.
After tweaking just a tad, it turned out as easy and inexpensive as could be. Plus, our simple spooky spiders had just the right amount of creep factor to make it festive fun for four-year-old Bubby.
WHAT YOU NEED:
Rock bodies — one per spider, about silver-dollar size
Wiggly eyes
Long pipe cleaners/chenille stems — four per spider
Black marker/Sharpie for drawing mouths, if desired (Bubby desired)
Craft glue
Hot glue gun and glue, for use by adult only
WHAT YOU DO:
1. Glue desired number of eyes on spider bodies, using craft glue.
2. Line up four pipe cleaners per spider...
...then twist together a few times in the center to connect them.
3. Give twisted legs and rock bodies to an adult (preferably a grandma) to attach legs with hot glue on bottom center of rock body, glopping the glue at the spot legs are twisted together. Let dry a few minutes before next step, to ensure legs are good and stuck and glue is no longer hot.
4. Use black marker to draw spooky—or smiley—spider mouths on each spider, if desired.
5. Bend each spider leg into creepy crawly position.
6. Sit back and appreciate your handiwork.
Mac, at 16 months, didn't care much about creating his own spider, which was fine with me as I'm pretty sure there'd be more wiggly eyes in his mouth than on the spider. He did, though, get quite a kick—and harmless scare or two—out of the completed spiders Bubby placed among his "collection of scary things" on the living room window sill.
Simple. Spooky. Success.
Today's fill-in-the-blank:
One of my favorite Halloween projects to do with kids is _________. (Links are welcome!)
Reader Comments (16)
Great. Only 6:30 am and now I have Grandma guilt. Despite good intentions, I'm not much of a craft project person. I'm much more apt to play a game, read, build a fort, paint nails, or do just about anything else on earth.
Again, so appreciative for a wonderful 'co-Grandma'...thankfully, she bakes, too!
Those are very cute. I saw a similar project that used Tootsie Roll Pops in place of the rocks. The instructions are here http://www.houseofbabypiranha.com/2010/05/spider-pops.html.
How cute!!! Bubby and the spiders! Definitely going to show this one to Amara -- my only problem will be finding the rocks! Our most favorite Halloween thing to do together -- at least so far -- is to build gingerbread Haunted Houses! The joy of eating frosting as you work!
Those are some pretty scary spiders....Bubby did a great job!
Like NonnieKelly, I'm feeling a little guilty as I am not a crafty-type person. Now that I am semi-retired, maybe when my next grandchild comes I will have more time to do these great things you post.
I'm so scared of spiders I'd never live through making them but Bubby sure looks like he enjoyed it.
It's been so long since I had little kids or grandkids, I can only remember carving pumpkins with any of them.
This is the cutest thing. A darling little boy and a nice project. He looks pleased as punch. I think our purpose in life is to make others smile. Blessings to you.
QMM
Love this craft idea! My favorite craft project has to be eating Halloween candy with Shylee!
Love the pictures! And such a cute project! I always enjoyed decorating for Halloween. I loved carving and decorating the pumpkins and making caramel apples for the kids' parties.
Where were you and your wonderful blog when I needed you 10 years ago???? This it too adorable and I loved the fact that there were no adult helping hands in the picture.
A darling little boy and a nice project. He looks pleased as punch. I think our purpose in life is to make others smile.
he is so darn cute in all of these pictures! ! !
Very cute and fun!!
I like projects that end in cookies.
These are adorable!! Love them. And your helper...so cute!
This is a really cute, simple craft idea. I plan to try it next weekend with my three older grandkids. Thank you for sharing this.
Oh what a fun and easy craft for the grandkids. I'm going to share this in Pinterest and give it a try with my younger grandkids. Thank you.
I told Amara today that I wanted her to buy me/us a hot glue gun for Christmas!