Kids' Halloween Pumpkin, Mummy and Spider Sea Shell Crafts

There are so many cute Halloween crafts for kids out there! I’ve tried to go for general art activities lately, but I can’t help get into the fall spirit. The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter and yesterday I got to take out my stash of sweaters and sport one on a trip to the pumpkin farm.

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So far, we’ve made quite a few fall-themed projects – there was a haunted house puppet theater, ghost puppets (to go with the theater), paper mache pumpkins and bat mobiles (the artsy kind, not the one that Batman rides around in). This time, it’s Halloween pumpkins, mummies and spiders using sea shells! I have a stash of clam shells that I just can’t wait until its summer/beach time to use. Instead of packing them away to await a turn as a beachy collage material or string together as a summer necklace, I’m putting them to use right now.

When your child is done with art-making, she can display her cute little creatures or use them as paper weights. You can also decorate a Halloween party table with them or try them out as an easy-to-make craft during said party!

There are three different options here. Choose one or go ahead and make all three! You’ll need a clean, dry sea shell (preferably half a clam shell), Model Magic, clear drying school glue, scissors and googley eyes for all three options. If you didn't go on a beach trip this year (or eat a massive pile of clams), you can purchase decorative craft sea shells for your child to use. The others materials that you’ll need for each specific design are noted below.

Pumpkin Face

Here’s What Else You’ll Need:

·        Orange tempera paint

·        A paintbrush

·        Black paper

·        Optional -black and orange markers

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Paint the outside of the shell orange. Wait for the paint to dry (this won’t take long).

2.     Roll two small pieces of Model Magic into balls. Each one should be slightly larger than the googley eyes.
 

3.     Press one googley eye into each Model Magic ball.
 

4.     Glue the eyes onto the top of the shell.
 

5.     Cut a triangle out of the black paper to make a nose. Size it according to the shell. It should be slightly smaller than the eyes.
 

6.     Optional- Make a mouth. Younger children may have difficult with this step. It isn’t entirely necessary, and still looks cute without. Mold a mouth shape from clay compound. Color it orange with a marker. Draw a black outline and a few stray teeth onto it. Glue the mouth below the nose.

Make a Mummy

Here’s What Else You’ll Need:

·        Gauze

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Cut a strip of gauze. Size it according to the shell. I used a 6-inch piece.

2.     Wrap the shell in the gauze. Have your child wind the gauze completely around the shell, covering the entire thing.
 

3.     Secure the gauze underneath the shell with a dab of glue.

4.     Repeat the googley eyes steps.

5.     Glue the eyes to the top of the mummy.

Sea Shell Spiders

Here’s What Else You’ll Need:

·        2 pipe cleaners

·        Black permanent marker

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Color the outside of the shell with the marker. You can use a washable version, but it will rub off. Let the marker coloring dry.
 

2.     Cut two pipe cleaners in half – at the middle. Use his as a counting activity too! Have your child count how many halves she now has.
 

3.     Twist the four pipe cleaners together at their centers to create eight legs.
 

4.     Press a piece of the Model magic into the underside of the shell. It should fill the shell, leaving only a small amount of room.
 

5.     Firmly push the center of the pipe cleaner legs into the modeling clay. Fold any excess that squishes out over the center of the pipe cleaners.
 

6.     Repeat the googley eyes step.

7.     Turn the shell spider over. Glue the eyes to the top.

Are you looking for more Halloween crafts? Follow MiniMonets and Mommies on Facebook or follow my fall activities Pinterest page for ideas galore!

 

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