Bat Treat Holders

I'm always trying to think of new ways to package Halloween goodies for the trick-or-treaters. We get a lot of them so I want something cheap to make, relatively easy to produce, but that still packs a lot of wow factor.

And this batty bunch might just do the job!

Here are the materials you'll need to make some for yourself:

• Black Card Stock- One 8.5 x 11 sheet for each bat you'd like to make (If you wanted to make these as a decoration you could use construction paper. To hold treats you'll want the extra thickness that card stock gives you.)
• White card stock- 1 sheet will be enough for a whole colony of bats
• Black yarn- cut into 4-6 inch lengths (these will be the loops to hang your bats)
• Clear envelope sticker seals
• Googly Eyes (optional)

Other things you'll also need but probably have on hand- a sheet of card stock to use as a template (something the contrasts with black), scissors, stapler and staples, glue and a pencil.

I started by making a template. Making sure to use a bright sheet of paper so it would be easy to see (and trace) against the black card stock.

I rolled the paper into a cone that I thought would be big enough to fit a few treats.

Next I cut a straight line across the top of the cone.

(You'll be left with this nice leftover bit of paper- don't throw it away, you'll use that too.)

The cone will need to be trimmed a little more on the sides- so I marked how far over I needed the edge to go by notching it with my scissors. I'll be able to get rid of some the excess on the sides and smooth out my cut along the top.

See nice and smooth now.

Then I took that leftover piece and fashioned a wing shape that I liked. Once cut out this is my second template piece.

The templates can be traced onto your black paper and cut out.(Purple bats would also be really cute I think!)

Now that the pieces are cut out it's time to make a bat...

To make the body fold your large piece of paper into a cone shape. While holding this cone shape secure with one hand, add your black yarn by making a loop and resting both yarn ends on the back of the cone where the seams meet. Staple the seam so the cone keeps it's shape and the ends of your loop are secure.

Next well attach the wing piece. You have the option here to go with a staple or to glue the wing in place. Staples are speedy but glue gives you a nicer finished look. For me, speed is important, I have a lot of treat bags to make so I stapled the wing in place- covering the yarn loop to make it look neater. (If I were to doing this to make an ornament I'd probably glue the wing to hide the staple and the yarn all together.)

Now that your bat is mostly built it's time to work on fine details.

Using one blade of my scissor I scored a curve (sort of half oval shape) on the front and back of my cone. To do this I needed to squeeze the cone a little flat- thats ok because you don't want to be an actual round cone anyway, it looks more bat-like a bit flatter.

I've scored it so that once it's filled with treats I can close the top like two flaps and seal it.

Next it's time to add a face.

I made a mouth using a black permanent marker. And glued on two little triangles of white paper for fangs. (you could also draw these on with a white paint marker)

I also tried a few options for eyes:

googly

and paper (which I think is my favorite).

Once you have your bats filled with treats fold the flaps along the score lines to close.

Last but not least seal with a clear envelope sticker.

And voila- a cute colony of Trick-Or-Treat Bats! I like to hang them from these "trees" I made from branches and let the kids choose their own.

P.S. I'm doing a giveaway today on my other blog- Mega•Crafty. Head over there to enter for a chance to win a wilton cupcake/dessert stand, and some scrapbook materials (including some really cute Martha Stewart stickers)!

Enter the Mega•Crafty Giveaway!