Lately I’ve been dreaming up Halloween crafts for kids while re-watching Season 1 of The X Files.

Now that Elise is almost 3 she’s really getting into Halloween. She’s already practicing her “trick-or-treats” and directing costume ideas for the entire family (currently all Toy Story characters). So I thought making her some Halloween no-sew bracelets would be fun.

These no-sew Halloween kids bracelets craft is based on my easy no-sew felt flower bracelets. But this time instead of VELCRO Plant Ties I’m using VELCRO Reusable Ties For Wires & Cords.

It sticks to itself (yes, IT STICKS TO ITSELF!!) so there’s no need to make any kind of clasps or put on buttons or size it or measure or cut or anything — the bracelets are truly one size fits all. And you weave the VELCRO ties through slits in the felt to make cute little noses.

You can make this Halloween craft extra easy by just using Sharpies to draw faces. I took the time to embroider the faces because for some reason my husband Shane and I are re-watching The X Files and I need to multi-task to keep from getting too creeped out, especially by the contortionist, oh nightmares!

The skull was a special request from Elise; she’s simultaneously obsessed with ‘ghouls’ (skulls/skeletons) and points them out whenever she sees them BUT she’s also kind of scared of them …kind of like me making kids bracelets to half-watch The X-Files, heh…

WANNA MAKE IT? Free pattern, step-by-step tutorial and supply list for making my easy Halloween no-sew pumpkin and skulls bracelets for kids –>

Supplies for making Easy Halloween No-Sew Pumpkin and Skeleton Bracelets:

• Kathy’s free Halloween pumpkin and skull pattern (PDF or just freehand draw some yourself)
• VELCRO Reusable Ties For Wires & Cords (or you could use  VELCRO Plant Ties, VELCRO One-Wrap Straps, VELCRO Get A Grip Straps in Multi-Colored OR you could just use grosgrain ribbon instead of VELCRO altogether)
• Felt in cream and orange
• Disappearing ink pen
• Tape measure or clear plastic ruler
• Paper scissors
• Good fabric scissors
• Seam ripper (optional)
  
• Embroidery floss (optional)
• Embroidery scissors

Now Velcro Corporation gave me the VELCRO Reusable Ties For Wires & Cords. Thank you!

—

Do you like it?
Be a peach and Tweet about it, Pin it, share it on Facebook and/or comment below. And I love seeing your own finished project photos so do share!

—

How to make Easy Halloween No-Sew Pumpkin and Skeleton Bracelets:

Print and cut out my free Halloween pumpkin and skeleton bracelet template. The free pattern is sized for kids so just increase the size on a copier if you’d like them larger. I just drew them until I liked it and then traced a pattern from what I drew.

Place the free skull pattern onto the felt. You can either trace the pattern using disappearing fabric ink pen or just hold the pattern tightly to the felt and cut. I am lazy so I just cut it out.

Here it is the cut out skull pattern.

Now you’re going to trace the nose. Place it up against a window and you should be able to see through your felt. Trace with disappearing ink pen. It’s a little trick to write with pen on felt so I just tap-tap-tap it on.

Carefully cut the nose slits on the right and left side. I used scissors this time but when I made my easy no-sew felt flower bracelets I used a seam ripper and I think that’s probably a better call.

Now your secret weapon: Take one VELCRO Reusable Ties For Wires & Cords and thread the end of it through the slit. Felt is naturally going to stick to the hook (scratchy) side, so when you thread it through, try to thread it so that the felt is touching the smooth side. Go slowly so to avoid tearing a bigger slit into your felt.

Thread the pumpkin or skeleton onto the VELCRO Reusable Ties For Wires & Cords so that it’s almost in the middle of your tie — remember that you cut some extra for overlap so it should be slightly to one side.

Now thread the end back through the other slit, which will make a nose in your pumpkin or skeleton.

Now take a Sharpie and draw the eyes and mouth. The trick with using Sharpies on felt is to dab dab dab them with the tip rather than try to draw a normal line.

Now you could stop here and just wear the bracelets with the Sharpie. I wanted something a little bit nicer and deeper black too so I decided to embroider black thread on top of the Sharpie.

And the eyes too. Now just wrap the pumpkin bracelet or skull bracelet around your wrist.

Happy Halloween!

Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign. Craft and pass it on!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Comments (5)  | Permalink  | By Kathy on 9/17/2012