DIY: Halloween “Jack-O-Lantern” Jar with Spooky Spiders!

October is here and the weather is finally starting to feel a little more like fall! With Halloween just around the corner, this week’s post will feature a fun kids Halloween-theme craft idea – a personalized “Jack-O-Lantern” jar surrounded by spooky 3D Shrinky Dink spiders!

What you will need for this project:

  • Template Page
  • Shrinky Dink Tracing Paper
  • Colored Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Hole Punch
  • Black String
  • Empty Glass Jar
  • Masking Tape
  • Paintbrush
  • Orange Acrylic Paint

 

First, let’s make the “Jack-O-Lantern” jar! Get a clean, empty glass jar – any size you like, just make sure it’s not extremely tiny.

Then, take a roll of masking tape and cut out three triangle shapes (two for the eyes and one for the nose) as well as a jagged mouth shape. Stick and press these firmly on the side of the jar to make a “face.”

Next, take the paintbrush and brush the orange acrylic paint all over the outside surface of the jar (going over the tape pieces) until the entire outer jar is orange. Let the jar dry completely and then carefully peel off the tape to reveal the “Jack-O-Lantern” face. Place a small tea light inside the jar (with adult supervision!) to see the face light up!

Now to make the spooky Shrinky Dink spiders! Print the template page and trace the spiders onto Shrinky Dink tracing paper. Make several and color them black (or even orange!) to keep with the Halloween theme.

When coloring is complete, punch a small hole above each spider with a hole punch and then cut out the spiders with scissors (according to instructions).

Have an adult heat the oven and bake the Shrinky Dinks to “set and shrink” them. Promptly remove from the oven and place under a heavy book for a few minutes to ensure they are flat and straight.

Take a long piece of black string and tie one side into the hole above each spider. Hang the spiders around the lit up Halloween “Jack-O-Lantern” jar for a spooky Halloween centerpiece or tabletop decoration!

Stop by the BSW Toy website at www.bswtoy.com to view our fun toys or find them at your local specialty toy retailer! Check out past blog posts for more fun activity ideas!  And don forget our kid’s Fun Zones!

Click on the images below then Right Click and save as to download this template

Right Click and save as to download this template

 

Shrinky Dink Fairy Princess Mushroom Village

Here’s a neat and easy craft idea for any child who loves our 3D Fairy Princess Shrinky Dink kit. With a few household products and a little imagination, you can create a custom Fairy Princess mushroom village, perfect for playtime fun!

 

What you will need for this project:

 

First, let’s make the Fairy Princess Shrinky Dinks – the inhabitants of the mushroom village. Take a Continue reading Shrinky Dink Fairy Princess Mushroom Village

National Talk Like A Pirate Day Activities For The Kids

Ahoy! Today, September 19 be national talk like a pirate day!  Here arrr several projects and crafts for the lil bilge rats (kids) in observance of this prestigious holiday.

 

Make Your Own Pirate Chest:

Ahoy Mateys! Here’s a fun craft idea for little pirates to make their very own treasure chest! Then they can be savvy pirates just like Jack Sparrow in Pirates on the Caribbean movie! This is a great craft idea for one child to do alone or a fun group activity for a birthday party or summer picnic. If using in a group setting, multiply the items needed (below) for each child so everyone can make their own chest.

 

DIY Pirate Map!:

Most maps in the 1600’s and 1700’s were printed or drawn on parchment, which was very durable kind of paper made from goatskin or sheepskin (ewww).  If you wan to write your own pirate maps that look just like the movies, you’ll need to make some paper that looks like the real thing.

 

 

Here's what our Pirate Island looked likeThe Pirate’s Code Game:

Long warm summer days are most children’s favorite time of year. Here’s a fun outdoor idea, a swashbucklin’ game of “Pirate’s Code”, a fun but educational game that kid’s can play on a sidewalk, driveway or other concrete surface.

The game is easy to set up and you only need a few items to get started:

 

 

Savvy Pirate Party Faces:

Ahoy Mateys! This week’s craft will show you how to make a swashbuckling pirate mustache and eye patch to perfect your savvy buccaneer look! A couple of other fun items to make, listed on the tracing sheet, include a monocle and a pair of fun lips! Make one or make them all and personalize with your favorite colors and designs!

 

 

Hidden Message Pirate Map:

Father’s Day is this weekend! Here is a last minute craft idea for the kid’s to make that is fun and simple and a great gift for dad on his special day! This project will send dad on an exciting pirate treasure hunt complete with a personalized map written with invisible ink!
This craft project would also be suitable for other occasions year-round such as a fun rainy day activity, a birthday party game or other holiday gift idea.

 

 

Pirate Book Cover:

Upgrade your schoolbooks and be the talk of the classroom with custom pirate map book covers! The covers can be modified to fit any size textbook, so what are you waiting for? Go ahead and create one for the textbook of your favorite school subject or make several and makeover all your books for an exciting and pirate-savvy look!

 

 

Pirate Fund Facts and Treasure Maps:

Pirate Factoids, fun games, maps and more all in the Fun Zone!

How To Make A Shrinky Dink Jacket Zipper Pull

Write your name on your zipper pull so everyone knows who is boss!

Here’s a neat craft idea for a personalized Shrinky Dink Zipper Pull – a perfect way to enhance a new fall jacket! Arrive at school in style and have everyone wanting to know where you got that cool new Zipper Pull!

What you will need for this project:

 

First, get a 3-D Shrinky Dink kit of your choice – whether you like Fairy Princesses, Dinosaurs, Robots or Christmas – or just choose some Shrinky Dink tracing paper and make your custom Shrinky Dink creations!

Trace your choice of Shrinky Dink on the paper and decorate with Continue reading How To Make A Shrinky Dink Jacket Zipper Pull

Shrinky Dink Math Magnets Make Math Fun!

Create fun, colorful Shrinky Dink Math Magnets to help your child practice their math skills! These magnets can be placed on the fridge or other magnetic surface and create scenarios for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division!

What you will need for this project:

  • Math Numbers Template Page
  • Shrinky Dink Kit
  • Colored Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Small Magnets
  • Hot Glue Gun

 

First, print out the math number template page. Next trace the Continue reading Shrinky Dink Math Magnets Make Math Fun!

How to make your own Pirate Book Cover!

Back-to-School Pirate Book Cover!

Upgrade your schoolbooks and be the talk of the classroom with custom pirate map book covers! The covers can be modified to fit any size textbook, so what are you waiting for? Go ahead and create one for the textbook of your favorite school subject or make several and makeover all your books for an exciting and pirate-savvy look!

What you will need for this project:

Back-to-School Activities: Shrinky Dink Pencil Case!

The new school year is underway and what better way to take your pencils to school than in a one-of-a-kind Shrinky Dink pencil case! Kids can personalize the pencil case with Shrinky Dink buttons and spell out their name, initials or just make buttons using favorite colors and designs.

What you will need for this project:

  • Large Sheet of Craft Foam (around 12” x 18”) – Any Color!
  • Shrinky Dink Kit
  • Scissors
  • Button Template
  • Colored Pencils
  • Colored Yarn
  • Sewing Needle (Child Safe version or an Adult can Sew the Yarn)
  • Optional: Self-Adhesive Velcro Closure
  • Hole Punch

First, take the sheet of craft foam and fold into three sections, make two Continue reading Back-to-School Activities: Shrinky Dink Pencil Case!

Back-to-School Projects, Shrinky Dink Pencil Toppers!

Do homework in style this school year with these DIY Shrinky Dink pencil toppers! These homemade pencil toppers are easy to make and easy to customize – make a few for yourself and several more to give out to friends!

What you will need for this project:

First, print out the template page (one for each child doing the project) and have kids use that to trace the pencil topper outline onto the Shrinky Dink paper. Trace one or many, depending on how many pencil toppers you want to make.

Ideas for the pencil toppers include writing a child’s first name or Continue reading Back-to-School Projects, Shrinky Dink Pencil Toppers!