How to Make the Best Halloween Scarecrows

It's Fun to Make a Scarecrow!

While you could spend hundreds of dollars on Halloween decorations, it is much easier and cost effective to make them at home. In particular, making a homemade scarecrow is easy, fun and it adds appeal to your Halloween décor. Plus, a homemade scarecrow can be designed to fit any Halloween motif, whether it is scary, amusing, or inviting. Making a scarecrow is so easy that children can help. Not only will the process result in a fun Halloween decoration, you can start a new Halloween family tradition.

Things You'll Need

• Straw/newspaper
• Old clothes
• Gloves
• Boots
• Pumpkin
• White pillow case
• Accessories (broom, mop, rake)

Instructions

1. Formulate a plan for your scarecrow. Traditional scarecrows look like farmers, but use your imagination. Your scarecrow can look any way you choose. Your scarecrow can look sinister, which would add a chilling nature to your décor. Or your scarecrow can be silly, which will add a welcoming theme to your holiday decorations. You might even want to use a theme from a movie, such as "The Wizard of Oz." The possibilities are endless, so use your creativity in choosing a plan for your scarecrow.

2. 

   Create the head. One way to make a head for a scarecrow is by carving a pumpkin. This is especially appealing for a scary-themed scarecrow. You can also draw a face on the pumpkin using permanent markers if you don't want to carve it. If you don't want to use a pumpkin, take an old, white pillowcase, and draw a face on it with the permanent marker. Stuff the head with hay and tie the pillowcase at the bottom to create the head. Use your imagination when creating the scarecrow face, and add a lot of detail. For example, your scarecrow can have eyebrows, a mustache or even a mole on its face.

3. 

   Stuff the shirt and pants. For the body, you'll stuff old clothes with hay. If you don't have access to hay, then use old newspapers. Make sure you choose clothes that complement the theme you chose for your scarecrow. Overalls are good to use for scarecrows because they are one piece and your scarecrow will be much more durable. Again, the more details you add to your scarecrow, the better it will be. To the body, you can add a scarf, a belt or a jacket.

4. Assemble your scarecrow. You can suspend your scarecrow from a hook, prop it up or sit it in a chair. If you chose not to use overalls, then secure your scarecrow's top and bottom together using a belt or rope. If you used a pillow case as the head, stuff the excess material into the scarecrow's shirt to secure the head. If you used a pumpkin for the head, gently place the pumpkin head on top of the shirt to assemble the head. Add stuffing to a pair of old gloves and stuff the excess material of the gloves into the sleeves of the shirt to create hands. For feet, grab a pair of boots and stuff the legs of the pants into the boots.

5. 

   Add accessories. Depending on the theme you chose for your scarecrow, add accessories to match it. For example, if you made a traditional scarecrow, you might want to put a rake in its hand. A funny scarecrow can be holding a rubber chicken. If you've made a witch scarecrow, she can be holding a broom. Now that your scarecrow is put together, you can also add more details to it. Place a floppy hat on its head. Position a clown wig on its head or use pieces of rope to create hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Gather different materials for your scarecrow, like button eyes or golf ball noses. Let children choose materials; it will heighten their creativity.

• If you use a pumpkin for the scarecrow head, don't illuminate it with a candle. Instead, use a battery operated tea-light candle.

References

• Scarecrow Ideas