Strange’s DIY: Creepy Critters

Added on:  October 23, 2019 @ 2:52 pm

Crafted by Vickie Bethel. Written by Vickie Bethel & Mikaela Rice.

Did you know that the largest pumpkin ever was grown in Belgium in 2016? The pumpkin tipped the scales at a hefty 2624 lbs – that’s more than the weight of 2 horses! Luckily, we won’t be using pumpkins of that size in our project today! Instead, we’ll be using much smaller (and cuter!) Jack-be-Littles. These little guys fit in the palm of your hand and come in a few different colors. Fun fact: Jack-be-Littles aren’t actually pumpkins at all, but a type of acorn squash. They’re edible too! But, for all intents and purposes, they’re adorable mini-pumpkins and we’re going to be using them to their fullest potential for our project today.

Ready to get crafty? Below we’ll show you how to make a Spooky Spider, Batty Bat, and BlackJack Cat. These creepy critters are great to make with your kids. You can also share them with your friends and family to brighten someone’s day and help get them in the Halloween spirit!

Tools required for this project (specific materials are listed for each critter):

• Hot glue or school glue
• Scissors
• Acrylic paint (other water-based paints will also do!)
• Paintbrush or sponge brush

Note: If you can’t see pictures it may be because you’re using a mobile device. Try viewing in landscape mode.

Spooky Spider

Materials:

• 1 Jack-Be-Little pumpkin
• One sheet of heavy-duty 8.5 x 11 paper
• Googly eyes (keep in mind that spiders have MANY of them!)

How to Make:

1. Paint pumpkin your desired color and let dry to the touch.

2. Fold paper into 1/4ths as shown.

3. Cut folded paper as shown.

3. Unfold paper and crease long strips as shown. This will give the legs depth.

4. After creasing the legs place pumpkin in the middle. Glue pumpkin to paper if you don’t want it to budge!

5. Glue on googly eyes. Different sized eyes make this little guy look silly & fun!

Batty Bat

Materials:

• 1 Jack-Be-Little pumpkin – make sure it has a longer stem for the neck!
• One sheet of heavy-duty 8.5 x 11 paper
• Googly eyes
• Floral wire
• Pompom

How to Make:

1. Paint pumpkin your desired color and let dry to the touch.

2. Fold paper into 1/4ths as shown.

3. For bat wings, cut folded paper through all 4 layers as shown. (Note: When cutting paper for bat you will be cutting two separate unattached wing “sets”. Each set will be joined/mirrored at the corner fold.)

4. Crease each wing as shown. This will help the wings join to the body and “fan-out”.

5. Glue each wing set together with wire sandwiched in the middle as shown. This will help you pose the wings later!

6. Glue a pompom on top of the stem (photo shows a 1.5” pompom).

6. Glue googly eyes onto the pompom.

7. For the ears, cut two teardrop shapes and glue pointed ends to the pompom.

8. Glue the bottom of each completed wing behind the pumpkin stem.

9. Optional: Add teeth by cutting tiny triangles and gluing them to bottom front of pompom.

BlackJack Cat

Materials:

• 2 Jack-Be-Little pumpkins, 1 larger than the other
• One sheet of heavy-duty 8.5 x 11 paper
• Googly eyes
• Toothpicks
• Floral wire
• Pompoms
• Optional: Ribbon

How to Make:

1. Paint both pumpkins black and let dry to the touch. (Optional: while paint is wet, feel free to add some glitter!)

2. Insert toothpicks into top of larger pumpkin. Press smaller pumpkin on top – the toothpicks should hold them securely together. (Alternatively, if the pumpkins are too tough, feel free to glue them together.)

3. For the tail, glue 3 or more pompoms together on wire.

4. Glue on googly eyes.

5. For ears, cut two black triangles and glue to top of smaller pumpkin.

6. For nose, cut a tiny triangle and glue beneath eyes.

7. Optional: Wrap a ribbon around the neck for a spooky scarf!