Fun Halloween Project for Kids

It was time  for some new Halloween decorations for the porch this year.  It had to be cheap, and it had to be something that would interest my 14 year old who would be the "decorator."  So I hit the dollar store, and the thrift store.

Our local Goodwill store has two sales every Monday; a certain color tag is 50% off, and another color is 99 cents!  The colors change each week.  I made it a point to be there early on Monday, and I was able to get 3 cheap brass lamps for 99 cents each.  I also scored a solid brass vintage lamp for 99 cents!  These cheapies were fairly light weight, and had some interesting shapes.  No before picture as it wasn't long until my son tore into them! 

Once I told my son that I bought these for him to take apart and make something for halloween, he could not believe it.  He kept asking me if he could take them all apart and what he had to do with them.  I told him, take them all apart, assemble them however you want, and paint them with black, orange or any other color you can find in the garage.  This is YOUR project.   He was thrilled and began quickly taking everything apart.  I stayed out of the room but heard the clanking, squeeking, and banging that was going on. 

The lamps come apart into individual pieces that can then be reassembled in various ways.  There is a long steel rod inside that you can stack the pieces on but he decided to just glue them together with super glue.  So, after trying different arrangements, he settled on one that looks like an urn.  He then glued it and painted it black.  The good thing is that you don't even have to be careful of the glue, just paint right over any drips, it just looks more spooky! 

Dollar store raven

Black glittery rose walmart (or spray paint one)

I got the iron table at Goodwill for $10, and it will hold our pumpkins when we get them ( if it stops raining long enough to go to the pumpkin patch).  Afterwards, I  plan to paint it and put some winter cabbage or flowers on it. 

 Dollar Tree Skulls

Dollar Tree mummies and signs

Total Cost for Porch Decor?  $22.00 incl. the $10 for the table!

We still need to add the spider webs but I wanted to get this posted today.  It was so nice to have the porch decorated all without me lifting a finger...

The great thing about this project is that kids can do it and use their imagination.  It is cheap, and fun for them to learn about how the lamps go together.  You can repurpose the left over parts for another craft.  Other blogs have made really cute skull candle holders, and even a large candleabra.  Lots of possibilities.  Have fun! 

Linking up at Make it For Monday at Cottage Instincts http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/