Happy Halloween! Trick or Treating might not be happening this year, but we can still get ourselves into the scary spirit by being creative. Inspired by Daphne Wright’s Home Ornaments in Domestic Bliss, we’re going to make some creepy creatures for our home. 

Beastly Bats

The connection between bats and Halloween seems pretty obvious – they’re nocturnal and drink blood right? But did you know there are only three species of bats that feed mainly on blood (the “vampire bats”), while the remaining 1,300 species feed on insects, rodents and nectar? These vampire bats account for the whole species gaining this wicked reputation. Maybe they’re actually quite cute, but they’ll still look spooky by our pumpkins!

You will need:

• Toilet rolls 
• Black paint and paint brush 
• Black paper or card
• White oil pastel [optional]
• Glue
• Scissors 
• Pencil 

Step 1: Start by painting the toilet roll black. You might need to do a few layers of paint to stop the cardboard from showing through. Leave to dry. 

Step 2: Fold the top of the toilet roll downwards on both sides to get an arched shape. Pinch the top to secure the shape and add some glue to keep it in place. 

Step 3: Fold your black paper or card in half and draw the online of a wing shape. Cut the wing out. 

Step 4: Apply glue in the middle of the wing shape and stick the wings on the back of the toilet roll. 

Step 5: Cut out two eyes and stick onto the bat. If you want to turn your bat into a vampire bat, draw on some fangs either with a white oil pastel or alternatively, you can make the fangs out of white paper and glue them on.

Conbat-ulations…you’re all done! 

Creepy Cats 

Black cats are a classic Halloween symbol and have long served as objects of superstition. In medieval Europe, black cats were considered as bringers of bad luck and curses to people they encountered, and they were associated with witchcraft. The purr-fect decoration for your home this Halloween!

What you need:

• 2 paper plates 
• Black paint and paintbrush 
• Black, yellow and pink paper or card
• Black and white or pink oil pastel/ or colouring pens 
• Glue
• Scissors

Step 1: Paint the paper plates black and leave to dry.

Step 2: Once dry, take one of the paper plates and cut the edge off so you’re left with a circle for the head. The other plate will be used for the body.

Step 3: Use the edge to cut out a tail and paws. 

Step 3: Use the yellow, black and pink card to cut out eyes, ears and a nose. On the eyes, use a black oil pastel or colouring pen to draw some pupils.

Step 4: Stick the features onto the head and then stick the head on top of the other paper plate.

Step 5: Stick the tail and paws onto the body.

Step 6: Use the white or pink oil pastels/colouring pens to draw on some whiskers. 

What a paw-some activity!

Remember to share your chilling creations with us on social media! #SaturdayArtClub

Have a spook-tacular Halloween!