DIY Creepy Halloween Sign from recycled fencing

I enjoy making something from things that would normally make their way to the dump.  It’s like free stuff.  That’s why when hubs shortened our wood privacy fence last summer to give us a better view of the open fields and rising sun I latched on to a couple of the rickety pieces.  They sat outside all year weathering even more than they already had to make a perfect project for Halloween decorating. 

He cut the tops off leaving perfect little arrows still attached to the top rail of the fencing.  The little grands and I have used several of these ready made arrows for individual projects.  The little grands saw them as pointy hats and feet that just needed Snowmen and Santa bodies painted.  I saw one particular piece as a Haunted Halloween Sign board.

The only supplies I needed to transform the recycled fence pickets attached to the 6 foot cross bar were:

• hammer
• drop cloth
• spray paint
• craft paint
• paintbrush
• zip ties

First I used a hammer to remove some of the arrow shaped pickets.  The cross piece that normally supports the fence worked really well as my sign post – and it was already attached!

Next, I lay the sign post with the pieces left attached on a drop cloth.  I use an old plastic shower curtain as a drop cloth.  It’s a good size and heavy duty enough to stay put on the floor unlike those light weight ones you can purchase in hardware stores.  But you use whatever you have handy to protect the area where you paint.

I took several cans of spray paint in different colors and sprayed some random blotches on the arrow shaped boards.  I had white, green, and red but it doesn’t really matter what color you use as long as the words you will paint show up bold.

After the spray paint was dry I used a small paint brush to roughly scribble on some Halloween locations.  I also squeezed some paint straight from the container for some frightful lettering.  I wasn’t looking for neat or perfect.  Rather I was after spooky and creepy.

I allowed all the paint to dry thoroughly before standing the sign post up next to our chain link fence post.  Several long zip ties worked perfectly to hold the sign in place.  You could also use duct tape. I think it turned out pretty cool, if not creepy for a free project.  

What Halloween locations would you add?

DIY Halloween lights kids can make.

I found out just hours before time that great grand was coming over for two days of daytime babysitting.  I had to quickly come up with some entertaining crafts for a 3 1/2 year old to keep him entertained.  We did our usual cookie baking, hide and seek games, object counting, color identification, book reading, playground time, McDonald’s lunch and this fun DIY Halloween light decoration.

Fall crafts with kids

Activities and projects with the grands is one of my favorite things.  It is always inspiring to watch the kids imaginations grow and their creativity take over with only a few supplies and a little supervision.  They know when I come there will be "projects" and are always anxious to get started. These are some projects you can easily do with your young people this afternoon with craft paint, markers and any hard surface scraps. 

We found some salvaged brown tiles in the garage from the bathroom remodel to make a wonderful background for a night scene of spooky creatures! Girl grand made fingerprints and set them loose like a flock of bats.  Do bats fly in flocks?  Hm.  

 

On some larger tiles and tile pieces we used a paint brush to add Craft paint on their palms and fingers to make hand prints.  Some added details and they became spooky but friendly spiders.  The grands presented them to their mom who is thrilled to have them.

To do this easy craft, gather some craft paint, paint brushes,  permanent marker and a hard surface to paint on such as tile or plates or wood.

Spread out some protective covering like garbage bags and put old shirts on the kids.  I first drew a picture to show the kids what we were going to do then started by painting black craft paint onto one hand.  Have them spread their fingers a little and warn them to keep the hand still as you press it firmly onto the surface.  Remind them not to move their fingers.... then lift the little hand straight up and onto paper towels.  Sit it aside to dry before using a dab of white paint for eyes and smiles.  Then draw on a permanent marker spider web.  In between drying times give them extra tiles or hard surfaces to make finger print animals.  BTW, a pencil eraser makes a nice little white circle for the eyes...  If they don't like the way it looks, it's easy to wipe away the wet paint and start again.