Scare up these fun and easy DIY Halloween crafts with the kids

Halloween is the most forgiving DIY holiday of all. Accidentally drip a little red paint on your tissue-paper ghosts, lose a few feathers from your raven mask or poke a hole through your jack-o-lantern’s face? No problem. It just adds character.

That’s why Halloween is such a great holiday to craft with the kids. It’s laid back, wildly creative (anything goes!) and sometimes the little slip-ups are the best parts of a spooky project. Here are three easy and inexpensive ways to to add a little flair to your festivities.

Witch’s brew

You’ll need: One package lime gelatin, three cups chilled pineapple juice, one two-liter bottle lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, a special cauldron (bonus: get a personalized metallic tub from Personal Creations), a smaller punch bowl to fit inside the cauldron, a block of dry ice (for parents to touch with tongs only!) and other accessories, as desired (such as a plastic hand, thematic ice cubes, Halloween cups)

How: This Food Network recipe is a hit for Halloween parties or a special Halloween dinner before you go trick-or-treating. Have your kids pour the gelatin mix into a large bowl. Then you can stir in the boiling water, as specified in the directions. After the gelatin is dissolved, let your kids stir in the pineapple juice and let it cool. Use tongs to put the dry ice in the cauldron and fill it with water to make it steam. Place the fruit juice bowl inside the smoking cauldron. Top with lemon-lime soda.

Ghost lollipops

You’ll need: Cheesecloth, orange and black ribbons, a bag of lollipops, a black marker, any other accessories you want to decorate the ghosts with (googly eyes, sequins, plastic jewels, fake blood)

How: Get your kids involved in making a special treat for your trick-or-treaters by transforming a bag of lollipops into mini ghosts. Cut cheesecloth into six-inch squares. Have the kids tie the fabric over the lollipops with orange and black ribbons, and then decorate them like ghosts, using a black marker. Or go full out and accessorize with the googly eyes, sequins, plastic jewels, letting your kids be creative.

Creepy crawly arms

You’ll need: Black construction paper, a white crayon, tape

How: This is an easy project for kids of all ages that has a great, spooky effect. Pick up a stack of large black construction paper at a craft store, such as Michael’s (where it’s currently buy one pack, get one for 50 percent off). Trace your kids’ arms and hands (tip: use a white crayon) on the black paper. Cut out the arms and tape them on your windows, reaching from the windowsill upward. Your windows will look creepy, with the silhouettes of tiny arms reaching up toward the sky. Simple, cheap and dramatic.