There are only two more weeks to Halloween. The time leading up to it is exciting for children, the anticipation second only to that of Christmas.

To keep little hands busy until they can get them on that Halloween night candy, here are some crafts that are fun for kids and require only occasional parental supervision. From macaroni skeletons to windsock ghosts, this site has spooky ideas for kids of all ages. Check out the costume ideas for great spooky looks kids can create themselves. Also fun are the games and “rancid recipes” but the ghost stories might be too ghoulish for young children.

Halloween is Here.

This is an easy craft for kids to do with a little supervision and makes use of simple things and the natural products of crisp, fall days.

Have the kids go out into the yard and find the prettiest fall leaves they can. Give them each a paper bag or plastic shopping bag to collect them in. The hard part of this activity is stopping, since yet another beautifully colored leaf will always strike the eye. When they have gathered enough, it is time to begin.

For this project gather together the following:

* Roll of white freezer paper or kraft paper
* Roll of clear Con-Tact paper
* Scissors
* School glue or glue sticks

Measure the size of your placemats by cutting equal size sheets of Con-Tact paper and the kraft or freezer paper. Con-Tact paper backing is marked off in inches so this makes it easy to do without rulers. Cut the Con-Tact paper first and lay it on the kraft or freezer paper to measure equal size sheets.

Next, have the kids glue the leaves to the paper, arranging them with their own artistic eye. They can add other items to their masterpieces, such as construction paper cut-outs of pumpkins or pieces of ribbon. They need to leave space between the items so that there is contact between the adhesive side of the Con-Tact paper and the bottom sheet. To make the mats personalized, you can include a wallet size picture (such as a school portrait) or have the children write their names on the paper. Make sure they secure the edges of the leaves with glue to make it easier to apply the Con-Tact paper smoothly.

The last step is where they need Mom the most. Peel the backing paper off the pre-cut pieces of Con-Tact paper and press it over the top of the creation. Go slowly and smooth carefully as you go, working out air bubbles. If you want to, you can put another piece of the clear Con-Tact paper on the bottom to seal the mat and make it last. For a nice effect, trim the edges with pinking shears.

Kids get excited about Halloween and in addition to gleefully planning their costumed appearances on neighbor’s doorsteps, they are also mentally calculating how much candy they can carry.

For small children, a little plastic pumpkin with a carry handle is about right. Older children plan on a larger take-home so they will enjoy making their own trick-or-treat bags.

When we were kids, we took paper sacks from the grocery store or pillowcases to maximize our candy-gathering capabilities.

For an updated pillowcase bag, check out the local fabric store for some ghoulish holiday designs.

You don’t really need a pattern if you are even moderately talented at sewing. Just measure and cut from the fabric 2 rectangles 26 1/2″ x 40 1/2″ with one long side along the selvage. With the pieces inside out and the selvage edges together, sew a seam 1/4″ from the fabric edge on three sides leaving 2 1/4″ inches unsewn at the top of the long selvage side. Make a fold of 1/4″ turning down over the wrong side of fabric and press with an iron. Then fold down another 2″ of fabric and press. You can then stitch the top fold down. Turn the bag right side out. You can then thread a cotton rope cord through the top fold using a large safety pin attached to one edge. Tie the ends together. This project is easy enough for kids to create and they will have a unique drawstring Halloween trick-or-treat bag.

I found some great fabrics for Halloween at corinthian mills.

I’m on vacation this week, but don’t worry, I’m swatting up on great crafts to bring you on my return in a few days.

Stay tuned for some terrific ideas for the fall/autumn season and the runup to Christmas and all the festive holidays.

Duncan Cairncross