All Hallow's Eve
You'll be the talk of the town when you mix up your store-bought Halloween decorations with the clever home-made projects, below. For the computer savvy, consider designing your own invitations with software from a company such as www.mountaincow.com, available in retail stores like Target and CompUSA. The little goblins who trick-or-treat, as well as their parents, will find all of your efforts delightfully scary.
By Victoria Reggio
  
 
 
 
Freaky Felines
You need (for all 3 stakes): Half-sheet of 1/4" plywood; pencil; transfer paper; jigsaw; drill with 1/2" or larger bit; sandpaper; latex paints: black, white, pink; paintbrushes; three 8" pieces of armature or other heavy-gauge wire; hot-glue gun with wood glue sticks; three 3/8" square wood sticks, 16" long; 3 outdoor electric cords; three2-light screw-in adapter plugs; 6 chandelier (pointed) light bulbs; roll of black duct tape.

Cutting: Enlarge all 4 patterns, below. Using transfer paper and pencil, transfer patterns to wood; transfer an additional head in same manner, spacing patterns as far apart as possible and using straight edge of wood for straight sides. Using jigsaw, cut out each piece. Drill large hole in center of each eye mark. Insert saw blade through hole to cut out each eye.

Assembling: Sand all surfaces of each wood piece and stick. Glue leg section to large cat section, keeping lower edges even. Glue one head to top of remaining cat section. Glue a stick on back of large cat, small cat and cat head, letting sticks extend about 8" below lower edge of each cat.
 

Painting: Apply 2 coats of black paint to all surfaces of each cat and stick, letting dry after each coat. Mix small amounts of black and white paints to make gray. Using short strokes, apply gray paint to add contours to outer edges of cats and to outline face. Using pink, paint noses and mouths on cats. Using white, add additional highlights along face and edges of legs. Let dry thoroughly. Glue wire to each face for whiskers.

Finishing: Screw 2 bulbs into each adapter. Plug adapter into end of each cord. Tape a cord to back of each cat so bulbs show through eye holes.
 

Spooky Luminaries
You need: Heavyweight paper bags, 9" across, in orange and black, plain or dotted; pinking shears; transfer paper; pencil; craft knife; cutting mat; clean sand; votive candles.

Preparing bag: Using pinking shears, cut straight across top of each bag, 9" from bottom. Decorating: Enlarge desired pattern below. Using transfer paper and pencil, transfer motif to front of each bag, keeping lower edge of motif at least 2" from bottom of bag. Place cutting mat inside bag. Using knife, cut out motifs. If using dotted bag, use knife to cut out several dots in same manner.

Finishing: Place about 2" of sand in bottom of each bag. Place candle in center of sand; light candle to make luminaries. Do not allow to burn unattended.
 

Scary Silhouettes
You need: Assorted pillar candles in straight-sided glass holders; lightweight card stock: orange, black; pencil; craft knife; cutting mat; glue stick. Preparing card stock: Trace or draw patterns as you wish or follow our photo for ideas. For continuous-repeat patterns (i.e. our pumpkin and witch motifs), cut card stock to desired height and long enough to wrap around candle with 1/2" overlap. Fold accordion-style to desired width of design, letting 1/2" extend at one end. For borders, cut card stock to desired height for upper or lower bands and long enough to wrap around candle with 1/2" overlap.

Cutting: For continuous-repeat patterns, draw desired design on folded card stock, making sure design extends from fold to fold. Place stock on cutting mat. Using knife, cut through all layers and remove excess stock. For distinct patterns (i.e, our pairs of hats and brooms), draw individual motifs on stock; cut out. For upper or lower borders on all candles, cut one edge of desired-width band in points or curves. Draw and cut out stars and moons in the band, as desired.

Finishing: Apply glue to one side of each motif or border; smooth onto candle holder.