One-of-a-Kind DYI Trick or Treat Bags

Creativity is inspired during the Halloween season as neighbors pull out their scarecrows, cobwebs, bats and witches, and even the traditional carved pumpkin! If you have a child, Halloween can be a time to relive the days of dressing up, bobbing for candy apples and of course, trick-or-treating! Trick-or-treating is the classic pastime for children each Halloween season. Parents and children pay special attention to what costumes show of their unique personalities and gives them an opportunity to not only play dress-up, but also to shine!

It only seems fitting to use that creativity to have some fun in creating an exceptional trick-or-treating bag to add to the ghoulish holiday spirit! This doesn't have to be an expensive, nor extensive piece of artwork, it just needs some basic materials and most of all, imagination!

First, it would be wise to choose a bag that is sturdy enough to hold all those tempting goodies! I recommend a canvas tote bag. You can find one at Wal-mart for only $1, or take a peek at the ones in second-hand stores for a variety of colors and designs for a very inexpensive price. Other recommended "bag" materials could be an empty paint can, burlap sack, or even a used pillowcase!

Once you have the bag you want to use, assemble the materials you want to decorate with. Ask yourself "Do I want it to match my costume or do I just want it to simply be a fun bag?" I'll have recommendations for each type, but first, here's some basic materials for creating a one-of-a-kind and artistic trick-or-treat bag.

Orange and black acrylic paints (can find small bottles of these at craft stores for under $1 each)
Glow-in-the-dark paint
Glue geared toward whatever material you use (canvas, cotton, metal, etc)
Candy! (Just be sure to use ones you don't actually want to eat!)
Pipe-cleaners in various colors
Anything around the house you want to reuse or recycle on your bag

You can get creative with this, using the pipe-cleaners to form words or using the candies to create a border. You can use the paint to cover the entire bag first, letting dry, then gluing items on top. Some ideas on what you can draw/create on your bags are: Bats, pumpkins, a ghost, skeleton with white pipe-cleaners, your name, the possibilities are endless!

Now if you want to match your trick-or-treating bag to your costume, here's a list of ideas that you might want to consider:

Costume: Bag idea:
Ghost: Bag with chains hanging down
Pirate: Treasure Chest
Princess: Bag with glitter paint and lace
Renaissance fighter: Shield and sword
Fairy: Bag with pipe-cleaner wings
Alien: Space ship with glow-in-the-dark paint
Winnie the Pooh: Honey Pot

Have a safe and enjoyable Halloween this year and I hope you have as much fun eating the candy as you do creating a bag to collect it all in!