4 Fun Halloween Crafts for Seniors to DIY
Who says that Halloween is just for kids? Halloween is an opportunity for everyone, both young and old, to have fun and get in touch with their spooky side. One great way to do this, besides having a costume, is to create Halloween decorations from scratch. Crafting is a chance to get the whole family together to bond and celebrate the fun of this holiday. If you’re looking for inspiration, our assisted living caregivers at Bristol Glen put together 4 fun Halloween crafts for seniors to take part in with their families.
#1 – Mummy jars
So simple and easy to make, mummy jars are a great place to start your Halloween crafts! All you need is:
- Mason jars
- Bandages
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Wrap the jars in a layer of bandage, leaving the top of the jar open. Use the glue to secure the bandages, keeping in mind that some mummies prefer a messier look. Then, stick the googly eye onto the outside of the jar – done!
You can get as fun or as spooky as you like, adding a mouth or even some fake blood. Fill the mummy jars with candy, Halloween decorations, or place a small candle inside to create a spooky glow at night.
#2 – Halloween wreath
Don’t let those wreath-making skills go to waste until Thanksgiving or Christmas! Alternatively, if you don’t know how to make a wreath, now is the perfect time to learn. There are so many tutorials online about how to make wreaths, and they can be adapted for any occasion. Here’s are the supplies you’ll need:
- Some vine, floral wire, or a metal wireframe.
- Foliage – we love dry grasses and pumpkins for the fall
- Flowers – Choose Halloween colors, dried flowers, or small painted pinecones
- Decorations – Bats, skulls, and spiders – oh my!
- Glue
Start by wrapping the grasses around the frame to create a continuous circle, gluing it in place. Plan out your flowers and decorative natural elements, gluing them in place or attaching them with floral wire. Finally, add your Halloween decorations for maximum spookiness. If you have bats or ghosts, you can make them ‘fly’ off the wreath by attaching them to a little floral wire.
#3 – No-sew pumpkins
It’s just not Halloween without pumpkins, but that doesn’t mean you need to get carving. Here’s what you really need:
- An old shirt in fall colors
- Twine
- Rubber bands
- Cushion stuffing
- Fabric glue
First, cut off the shirt cuffs, and then cut it off at the shoulder so that you have a tube of material. Turn this inside out.
Cut about 6 equal lengths of twine that are about 5 inches longer than the tube of material. Tie these together about 2-3 inches down. Put the twine inside the shirt sleeve so that the knot sticks out the slightly wider shoulder end.
Secure the tube of material at the knot using a rubber band. Now, turn the sleeve inside out. Fill with the cushion filling and secure the top with another rubber band. Space the long pieces of twine equally around the outside of the stuffed sleeve, pulling them each up to the top, around the sleeve to create those pumpkin sections.
Secure this with a rubber band and wrap twine around the top section that you’ve just secured to create a stalk. You can also add artificial fall leaves.
#4 – Pinecone owls and witches
Perfect for the mantlepiece or windowsill, these are easy and fun to make. All you need are:
- Clean pinecones
- Black, white, and yellow felt
- Glue
With this project, you can get as creative as you’d like! Make simple accessories out of the felt and glue them on to create spooky characters for your Halloween display. We love big, round yellow and black owl eyes with a cute beak, witch and wizard hats, even bats with big scary wings!
Our assisted living team in New Jersey loves Halloween as much as our residents do, and we’re planning to make this year a great one! If you’d like to find out more about our community and the assisted living services we offer in New Jersey, contact us or visit our website at:
