I’m usually not that “into” decorating for Halloween, but I do like to do a little something fun each year. Last year a bat colony invaded my front door and this year I decided to add spiders to the invasion! I was looking for something that was simple to make but that also made a statement! This fit the bill perfectly and I just love how it turned out! I hope you do too!
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First step – head on over to Michaels.com or HobbyLobby.com for a few simple craft supplies.
For the bat invasion I used my Silhouette Cameo machine which I have recently developed a mad crush on! :-) You can purchase the machine at either craft store, but that would make this craft project a bit pricey. :-) Or you could do what I did last year (before I had a Cameo) and simply trace the bat shape onto some black cardstock and cut it out with a pair of scissors. Here is a template you can use that I made with the help of MarthaStewart.com:
To download the template CLICK HERE.
Once you have enough bats to cover your door, simply stick them on using masking tape or whatever other sticking method you desire. Fun huh?
Now, as scary as bats are….combine them with a spider invasion and you have something truly sPoOoOoOoKy!!!
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While not quite as simple as the bats, the spiders really are a cinch to make!
Here’s what you need:
- styrofoam balls (mine were 6″ diameter)
- black pipe cleaner (eight for each spider)
- black spray paint
Here’s what you do:
Spray styrofoam balls with black paint. I put mine on a large plastic trash bag as a drop cloth in the back yard and sprayed away. It took several coats because those balls like to soak up the paint! But I only waited a few minutes between each coat and they were all covered and dry in less than an hour.
Then all you do is push the ends of the pipe cleaners into the styrofoam….4 on each side….and bend them to look like legs. That’s it!
Now strategically place your spiders wherever you like. I decided to have them “climbing” up my front steps…but you could just as easily have them swarming up the grass, etc. :-) Have fun with it! I know I did!
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The spiders are proving to be an expensive project. $5.99 each for 6″ balls at Michaels. So I bought 5. Emptied one can of spray paint on them and they are soaking up the paint so much they barely look gray. My granddaughter is thinking grandma’s project isn’t going to work. How did you get yours so black? What kind of paint did you use? Did you primer them first? Thanks for any suggestions.
No primer, but I did do multiple layers of paint. I used two cans of black semi-gloss (any kind should work though), but did 10 spiders. So, one can should work for 5! Sorry and I hope you end up with some adorable spiders :-)
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I hsve scary plastic face masks in jars with swampy colored water . Looks like a mad scientist lab.
So easy and with materials I mostly have on hand! Love it!
Thanks!
Use craft pumpkins to decorate outside, less mess, costs less, and you can store them and use them every year!
I love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing. I have never been a huge fan of Halloween but my husband and I bought our first house a couple of months ago and I’m just going hog wild with decorating! :)
How fun! Glad you like it :-)
I love the bats! I have a half bath downstairs for guests that I turn into a ‘bat cave’ in honor of a friend who’s home was invaded by bats. It accumulates more bats every year, I think I’ll use some of these too!
I love fresh pumpkins and the cobweb stuff!