A Craft Project Trick-or-Treat Tote Bag for Kids

Making your own reusable Halloween trick-or-treat bag is an easy kid's do-it-yourself project or craft. The particular trick-or-treat bag featured in this article requires a minimum of muss and fuss, yet will give your children a truly unique bag to take out on their candy run.

For this project, we will be utilizing a pre-owned tote bag. Pick a tote bag you own that is beginning to show its age and wear or that is generally ready to be retired. This will allow you to breathe new life into a formerly useless bag. It can be used on Halloween night for several years and as a novelty bag in between trick-or-treat nights.

Materials needed:

One old tote bag
Scissors
Utility Knife (also known as an utility razor knife or box cutter)
Markers
Tape
Colored Paper
Assorted fabric paints and add-ons like googly eyes

Directions:

1. Take the old bag and have your children visualize it as a jack-o-lantern where bits and pieces can be carved out. Have your children take their markers and draw outlines everywhere they would like fabric removed from their bag.

2. PARENTS ONLY STEP: When your children have outlined to their heart's desire, put a piece of thick cardboard between the layers of the bag and use an utility knife to cut out their material.

3. Next, turn the bag inside out and add the jack-o-lantern effect by adhering colored pieces of construction paper or card stock to the inside of the bag. These pieces can be secured with fabric glue.

4. After the color paper has been added, packaging tape or duck tape can be crisscrossed on the inside walls of the bag for extra reinforcement.

5. Turn the bag inside out, and let the kids have a field day adding finishing touches to the outer portion of the bag. Fabric paints, glue-on elements like googly eyes, and fabric markers can all add a bit of personality and uniqueness to each trick-or-treater's customized Halloween bag.