How to Make Bats for Halloween

Making bats for Halloween decorations is a great way to add an extra bit of spookiness to your lawn, porch and home. They are simple to make using pipe cleaners and string, and children of all ages will be delighted to see them swinging about your home. Read on to learn how to make bats for Halloween.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Pipe cleaners (three per bat)
• String or thread (Light color is best)
• Tape

1. Gather all your supplies together and place them in your work area. You will need three pipe cleaners per bat so make sure you have enough to create as many bats as you wish.
2. Once your work area is ready, you can begin to make your bats for Halloween. Start with the center of the bat's body. Take one pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Now, twist the pipe cleaner 3/4 of the way up. This should be an oval shape. You should have enough space left over to make a rounded head with the ends of the pipe cleaner left over for the ears of the bat. Twist the pipe cleaner at the top and straighten out the ears.
3. Now your base for the bat is ready. The body was very easy to complete and is the most important part of the bat. The wings are next. Each left over pipe cleaner is for the wings. Attach one end of the pipe cleaner to the upper body of the bat. You can do this by twisting a small end over the pipe cleaner. Now fold your bat's wing in a zig zag manner until the end reaches the lower body of the bat. Take this end and attach it to the lower body of the bat in the same manner as the top was done. Repeat this step for the bat's other wing.
4. Take your thread or string and cut it in a long length. You want enough length so that the bats will swing in the breeze. Attach the string with a tight knot to the bat's head. Try different lengths of string for the places you wish to put your bats. You can put several bats together in an area to look like a den of bats flying together at night.
5. Seek out where you want to put your bats. Do this before Halloween night so when little ghouls and goblins come around for candy they will get a special treat. Use the tape for hanging in areas where you cannot tie off the string. Hang some bats on tree branches low to the ground that are easily obtainable. Hanging the bat's around your porch or off your deck is a great way to decorate for the Halloween season.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to take down your decorations and store them away for next year once Halloween is over.
• Put your bats high enough so cats will not get tangled in the string!