Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Spooky Spaces For Halloween: Bats In The Belfry Mobile Tutorial



It's officially October and that means Halloween season is in full effect!  Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores asked me to participate in their Celebrate The Season Campaign and create a fun #SpookySpaces themed project for Halloween.  I'm celebrating the holiday with my new Bats In The Belfry Mobile tutorial so it's easy & fun to make a spooky space just about anywhere.  


Not only is it fast to put together, but it's also inexpensive and has steps where the kids can lend a hand, so everyone can have fun decorating!

Materials:
- 1/4 yd black felt
- 1 skein black acrylic yarn
- 1 small embroidery hoop
- Jewelry line/invisible thread
- Cardstock or thick paper
- Scissors, hand sewing needle, hot glue gun, pencil
- Optional: Tulip Beads In A Bottle


Make a bat pattern in 3 sizes out of cardstock.  I just folded mine in half, drew half a bat & cut out to get perfectly symmetrical bats (way faster than dragging out the cutting machine and searching for a bat file, but hey, that works too).  Cut 4 of each bat size out of the felt:



To make some fun metallic eyes, I used Tulip Beads In A Bottle paint.  It's supposed to provide a faux bead effect (like those iron-on metal studs but without the hassle or ironing) and self-round so it won't have peaks like puff paint usually does.  Hold the bottle directly face down, not at an angle, squeeze out the desired bead size and then pull straight up.


I'll admit my expectations on this stuff looking bead-like were low, but it totally worked! Even eyes that started out super pointy rounded themselves as they dried and feel hard. Definitely a supply I plan to use again.  The metallic sheen looks pretty cool too:


Now for the mobile itself - take the embroidery hoop apart and use the inner hoop.  Begin wrapping black yarn along the edge in a single layer, covering the start tail:


Wrap all the way around until completely covered:


Now, start wrapping the yarn across the hoop and around the outside.  It doesn't have to be perfectly uniform, just enough criss-cross to look spider web-like:


Tie off the yarn with a double knot around one of the strands near the edge and trim off tail.



Cut 4 lengths of the jewelry line/invisible thread about 23 inches long each.  Tie one to the center of the hoop, one on either side and one at the back and eye the open end on a needle.  Starting with the largest bats, make a single stitch down the middle of the bat, on an angle, as shown below.  Repeat with medium size bat on opposite angle and then again with the smallest size bat.


Decide on desired spacing - I kept my bats about 4 inches apart - and stagger each strand a bit. Then did a dab of hot glue on the back of the line of each bat so they stay in place:


Cut four pieces of yarn to a desired length for hanging, evenly space around hoop and tie into place.  Then tie them together and the mobile is ready to hang.  Time to watch those bats fly!


And Jo-Ann Stores has given me this fabulous 50% off coupon to share, 
so everyone can get a great deal on some Halloween crafting goodies too:


Just print to use in-store or use the promo code online.  Want to get your own Spooky Space together? Visit the new Celebrate The Season site for other fun Halloween projects or check out the Jo-Ann Creativity Made Simple page for even more Halloween ideas and supplies.



I'm also sharing this with my FAVE LINK PARTIES.
Click HERE to check them out!

I was not financially compensated for this post.  I received a Jo-Ann gift card and select craft supplies from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® Celebrate the Season campaign.  The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.  For my complete disclosure policy, click here. 

26 comments:

  1. Your mobile turned out great! I noticed the eyes right away:@)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Lynn - it's funny something so small can really make such a difference!

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  2. Really cute Halloween decoration. Drives me batty!

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  3. I love it always for looking for decorations visiting from thrifty thursday thanks for sharing

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    1. I love decorations, but always run short on time - this one is so fast, it gives a lot of impact for minimal effort.

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  4. What a great idea. And I love your title! My grandfather used to tell me I had bats in my belfry...

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    Replies
    1. It's one of those phrases that doesn't get used enough - I love it too;)

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  5. This is lovely, and I have all the stuff already...might actually have a go at this. In the UK most people don't do a lot for Halloween - In our house the kids usually just do a pumpkin each and we pop one on the wheelie bin outside - not very special. I am really loving this idea :-)

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    Replies
    1. I hope you do Julia - it's so easy and looks even better in person. Some people here in the US go way overboard for Halloween. I try to find a happy medium since this time of year I'm short on free time. Some fun stuff, but nothing that involves too much time or $.

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  6. Super cute little project, perfect for a kids Halloween party...mmm, I may need to steal your idea ;) Thanks for sharing!

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  7. This is awesome! And a great craft even to do with little ones. Thanks for sharing! I'd love for you to come join our Halloween Party!!!

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  8. This is so cute, easy to make and lots of fun to create! Perfect...
    I linked over from the Practically Functional Party where I am participating with my
    Thank You Card, and
    Falling Leaves
    I would love it if you'd stop by.
    Hugs, antonella :-)

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  9. Very cute, the little bats are so much fun! Pinning this, and thanks so much for sharing it at my link party!

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    Replies
    1. By the way, I featured this on my blog today! You can check it out here, and grab a Featured button if you don't already have one: http://practicallyfunctional.com/20-halloween-crafts-recipes/

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  10. So fun, Cheryl! Great idea... bats are always a Halloween favorite!

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  11. This is so adorable!! Definitely pinning:) So thrilled you shared it at Work it Wednesday this week -hope to have you back again!!
    ~Krista

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  12. I love this it is so cute and fun.... My granddaughter would love to help make this so I am pinning it... found you at Home Coming... Cathy

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  13. So cute! Thanks for sharing this!
    Lisa @ TheSpottedBlonde.com

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  14. Very cute! My girls would LOVE to help me with a project like this one. Thanks for linking up to Gingerly Made's Show & Tell. YOU've been featured!! http://www.gingerlymade.com/2013/10/show-tell-features_8.html

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  15. This is so cute Cheryl!
    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  16. This is super cute! Thanks for linking up to Monday Funday! Pinning to try with my boys!

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  17. Aww love this, great idea :)

    Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays, pinning and featuring this week at the hop...

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  18. These bats are so much fun! I love that you used an embroidery hoop. Super smart! Bats are so fun too. Everyone seems to always do things for spiders, but I truly like the bats :) I am featuring this fun craft @ Great Idea Thursday's!

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Getting your comments brightens my day. I'd love if you left one:)

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