Ingredients
- 3 sheets of 12-inch by 12-inch white cardstock, 65 to 80 pounds
- 3 sheets of 12-inch by 12-inch black cardstock, 65 to 80 pounds
- 2 sheets of 12-inch by 12-inch orange cardstock, 65 to 80 pounds
- 1 sheet of 12-inch by 12-inch gray cardstock, 65 to 80 pounds
- 1 bottle of water-based white craft glue, 4 fluid ounces
- 1 small bottle of black acrylic craft paint, 2 fluid ounces
- 1 small bottle of orange acrylic craft paint, 2 fluid ounces
- 1 small bottle of white acrylic craft paint, 2 fluid ounces (optional)
- 1 spool of cotton twine, 6 feet
- 1 pair of sharp craft scissors, 8 inches
- 1 pair of child-safe scissors, 5 inches
- 1 pencil, 1 standard size
- 1 ruler, 12 inches
- 1 small paintbrush, 1/4 inch wide
- 1 small cup of water, 8 fluid ounces
- 1 paper plate, 9 inches wide
- 1 roll of painter's tape, 3/4 inch wide
- 1 plastic table covering, at least 24 inches by 36 inches
- 1 black fine-tip marker, 1 standard size
- 1 sheet of wax paper, 12 inches by 18 inches
Instructions
- Cover the table with a plastic covering, then set the wax paper nearby for drying.
- On scrap paper, draw a ghost about 5 inches wide by 7 inches tall, a pumpkin about 5 inches wide by 6 inches tall, and a cat about 5 inches wide by 7 inches tall.
- Trace the ghost onto white cardstock, the pumpkin onto orange cardstock, and the cat onto black cardstock. Trace each figure twice more onto sturdy backing, then cut out three front shapes and three matching backing shapes.
- Cut the curves slowly, holding the paper in your non-cutting hand and turning the sheet instead of twisting your wrist.
- Use the orange acrylic paint to paint the pumpkin, leaving narrow strips of cardstock visible between the paint sections. Paint the cat's eyes with white paint, then let those areas dry.
- Cut one small gray oval about 2 inches wide by 1 inch tall and glue it near the bottom of the ghost for a shadow.
- Cut two black circles for the ghost's eyes, two black triangles for the cat's pupils, and a small black oval for the pumpkin face. Use the marker for the cat's whiskers and the ghost's mouth.
- Make the pumpkin face using small black triangles for the eyes and a zigzag mouth. Glue them in place.
- Put a thin line of glue around the outer edge of each backing shape, then press the matching front shape on top.
- Measure 6 feet of cotton twine and fold a small loop at each end, tying a simple knot.
- Place the ghost, pumpkin, and cat about 8 inches apart along the twine. Glue cardstock strips over the twine at the back of each figure, pressing down to secure.
- Leave the garland flat on wax paper for at least 2 hours or overnight if the glue is still tacky.
Notes
Keep sharp scissors out of reach of children and supervise their use of child-safe scissors. Allow ample drying time for paint and glue.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
