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Halloween tricks, treats, and pumpkins galore—plus bulbs to plant now for spring glory
Get Crafty!
Four seasonally spooky projects you can tackle in a flash
Transform a portrait with a constructionpaper mask.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN KERNICK; STYLING BY CHRISTINA LANE
When prepping for the holiday, don’t forget to costume everyone—even folks in paintings and photos. Black construction paper, scissors, and lowtack artists’ tape ($2.99; dickblick.com) were all it took to ready this blushing bride for a masquerade ball. (Other easy embellishments: red devil horns and white fangs.) Just resist the urge to disguise priceless artwork that’s not protected by glass.
Continued on next page > Written by Jourdan Crouch
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Turn lollipops into a grave affair. To make these clever covers for candy suckers, download a tombstone image (on countryliving.com/halloween) and follow the steps below: STEP ONE For each lollipop, print and cut out two tombstones, then glue them, faceup, to a sheet of black construction paper with a glue stick. When dry, cut around each tombstone, leaving a black construction-paper border, as shown. STEP TWO Turn one tombstone facedown and glide the glue stick along its outer edges at the top and sides only. Place the other tombstone on top of it, faceup. Press the edges together to create one cover. Let dry. STEP THREE Use a fine-tipped black Sharpie to spell out “RIP”—or a guest’s name—on one side.
Give paper dolls a poisonous twist. The classic schoolgirl pastime graduates from cute craft to gothic decor with our templates for spiders, bones, and skulls (on countryliving.com/halloween). STEP ONE Cut a 5”W x 18”L strip from a 12”W x 18”L sheet of construction paper. Measure in three inches from one of the five-inch ends and mark. From there, measure and mark four more times. STEP TWO Fold paper at the first mark. Then flip over and fold again at the next mark. Keep flipping and folding, making an accordion shape. STEP THREE Print the template of your choice and cut as directed. STEP FOUR Center it atop the folded paper, and trace around the shape with a pencil. STEP FIVE Carefully cut out the shape, going through all the layers of folded paper, and unfold to reveal. To create a longer row, repeat steps and adhere garlands together with tacky glue.
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY (TOP) LAURA MOSS, STYLING BY CHRISTINA LANE; (BOTTOM) PHILIP FRIEDMAN/STUDIO D
STEP FOUR Repeat directions above to create additional lollipop covers. Insert candy. Place floral foam in a bowl and stand lollipops in the foam. Then fill the bowl with crushed Oreos to serve as the dirt in your graveyard.
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Create a host of friendly ghosts.
STEP ONE Soak a piece of cheesecloth in fabric stiffener and immediately drape it over the balloon. Let dry for 10 minutes.
STEP TWO Pop the balloon with a pin to reveal a hardened shape. Cut two tiny circles out of black felt for eyes and affix them to the ghost with tacky glue.
STEP THREE Remove the ghost from cup and use your fingers to rough up the ends. Thread fishing line through the top of each ghost, securing with a knot to hang.
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY (FAR LEFT) PHILIP FRIEDMAN/STUDIO D (3); (NEAR LEFT) LAURA MOSS; STYLING BY CHRISTINA LANE
These spirited little fellows are a cinch to make once you’ve set up a workstation. To do so, stack one small paper cup atop another that’s turned upside down. (For extra stability, tape the cups together.) Inflate a small balloon and rest it in the top cup. Cut cheesecloth into pieces that measure about eight inches square and fill a bowl with fabric stiffener ($5.99; joann.com).