Frightfully fun Halloween decorations

Family "web site" bulletin board and spider writer

Tools and materials
Quilting or large embroidery hoop
Plain fabric, large enough to fit hoop
String elastic
Scissors
Styrofoam (or paper) egg carton


Steps

1. Set fabric over the bottom hoop.
   
   
2. Cut 2 lengths of string elastic long enough to extend across the hoop and over the edges. Place them on the fabric to form a "+" sign, dividing the circle into fourths. Add another length to divide circle into sixths and a final length to divide circle into eighths.
   
   
3. Carefully secure the top hoop, securing the fabric and the string elastic.
   
   
4. Trim excess elastic and fabric to give the message center a finished look.
   
   
5. Tie and knot additional string elastic in two concentric circles onto the "web," knotting elastic strips as you go.
   
   
6. To make the spider, cut away a section of 4 egg cups from the bottom of the egg carton. One cup will be spider's abdomen and the other three cups will be leg sections.
   
   
7. Cut away excess carton around the abdomen egg cup.
   
   
8. Each leg cup will have three legs for a total of eight legs. To create legs, start with one cup, cut out a leg, cut away a space, a second leg, a second space and a third leg. Repeat with other two cups.
   
   
9. Paint and decorate spider if desired. Poke pen through both sides of abdomen section.
   
   
10. Poke a small hole in spider and attach a length of elastic string. Tie elastic onto web.
    
    
11. Tuck messages, notes and photos under webbing.
    

Gooey goop

Tools and materials
8-ounce bottle of white household glue (Elmer’s works best)
Poster paint
1-1/2 teaspoons borax powder
One small mixing bowl and one large mixing bowl
Measuring spoons and cup
Water

Steps
Squeeze the entire bottle of glue into a big bowl. Fill the empty glue bottle with water and add to the glue. Stir well. Add several drops of poster paint. You can mix colors or use just one.
In the smaller bowl stir together one cup of warm water and borax powder and stir until dissolved. Slowly, stirring constantly, pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture. Stir and swirl with your hands until the goop forms into gooey globs and starts slowly oozing from your slippery grasp.

Note: If the gooey goop gets on clothing, wash it out quickly with soap and water.

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For more helpful Halloween tips and ideas, visit DonnasDay.com

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