Grab your paints and let’s get gloriously messy! This paper plate haunted cauldron is the kind of craft that makes kids squeal with delight. It combines the thrill of splatting paint with the giggles of turning a little handprint into a spooky family of ghosts. The best part? You probably have most of the supplies sitting in your craft drawer already.
Whether you’re planning a classroom activity, a rainy afternoon at home, or a party project, this one is a winner. It’s easy enough for little hands, fun enough for big kids, and cute enough to hang on the fridge all October long.
Craft Supplies:
Round up these simple supplies before you start:
- 1 large black paper plate
- Gray cardstock (for the background)
- Craft paint in teal, green, purple, and white
- Loose craft glitter
- White paper (for the handprint)
- Black marker
- Googly eyes (a few different sizes)
- Halloween stickers {we used bats}
- Glue or a glue stick
Directions:
Step 1: Brew the Marbled “Potion”
Start with your gray cardstock as the base. Fold your paper in half and open back up. Squirt two-three different colors on one side of the paper. Fold the paper back up and gentle “smush” the paint inside.
Open it back up to unveil the “bubbling brew” design.
While the paint is still wet, sprinkle gold glitter across the middle. This gives your paint splat brew a magical, shimmery sparkle. Let it dry completely before moving on.
Step 2: Make the Ghost Handprint
Trace your child’s hand onto the white paper and carefully cut it out. Turn the handprint so the fingers point up – these will become your five little ghosts!
Using the black marker, draw a face on each fingertip: two dots for eyes and a little oval for a spooky “boo” mouth. Every finger gets its own goofy ghost expression, so let kids get creative here.
Step 3: Build the Cauldron
Take your black paper plate and cut out a slight curved shape, to make a cauldron design. The curved edge should sit along the bottom, creating a pocket shape that looks just like a witch’s pot.
Step 5: Layer It All Together
Time to assemble your masterpiece! Glue the bottom of your ghost handprint onto the center of the dried paint brew, so the ghosts look like they’re rising up out of the potion.
Next, glue the black paper plate cauldron over the lower half of the paint splat. This tucks in the base of the handprint and seals everything together, making it look like your ghosts and glittery brew are bubbling right out of the pot.
Step 6: Add the Finishing Touches
Bring your cauldron to life with embellishments! Stick googly eyes of different sizes around the marbled brew for a wonderfully wacky, watchful look. Then add your foam bat stickers – one on the left and one near the top – so they look like they’re fluttering out of the potion.
Step back and admire your spooky creation!
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And there you have it – a bubbling cauldron full of glittery magic and five adorable ghost friends! This craft is proof that a few basic supplies can turn into something truly enchanting.
Once it’s dry, tape your finished cauldron to a window so the light catches the glitter, or add it to a gallery wall of Halloween crafts. It also makes a sweet keepsake – those tiny handprint ghosts won’t stay little forever!
Happy crafting, and have a wonderfully spooky Halloween!
