DIY Halloween Paper Wheels and Bats!

I love Halloween.  When I got out our box of Halloween decorations this year (that is practically the size of a shoe box), I decided we needed more!  However, I have a hard time wanting to spend tons of money just to decorate my house. (is it obvious that we are renters?) ;) 

I saw a couple of things on Pinterest and at my friends houses, and decided to see what I could make from stuff I already have around the house.


First up: Paper bats!

I LOVE how these turned out!  I used the free printable from this website, and printed off one full size, one 4"x6", and one 3"x5" to give me the three different sizes of bats.  I was able to cut all 11 bats out of two 12"x12" pieces of cardstock.  I stuck them to the wall with mounting putty.  It took me about 1 1/2 hours to make all of them.  So cute and easy!

Next: Halloween Paper Wheels

I've seen these a lot for weddings and back drops and such.  I saw some at my friends house in a Halloween garland.  So darling!  I decided I could definitely make these myself.  I think they turned out so cute!  I'm especially partial to the spiders on them!

How do you make them, you ask?

Materials: Colored/patterned paper -- I used normal weight, NOT cardstock.
                  For the black wheel I used three sheets of 8.5"x11" paper
                  For the purple wheel I used two sheets that I trimmed down to 6.5"x11"
                  For the orange wheel I used one sheet of 8.5"x11" paper cut in half
Time:        One long nap (about 1 1/2 hours)

Feel free to change up the size of your paper and see what you like!  Since the smaller ones were longer rectangles, I could get away with only two sheets of paper, but since the blacks ones were more squatty, I need three.  Just mess around with it until you get what you like!

First, fold the paper like a fan.  I have a scorer on my paper cutter, and it was AWESOME!  If you don't have one, no big deal, just try to be as consistent as you can with your folds.

I marked mine every 7/8", but anywhere between 1/2" and 1" would work great.  See what you like!

Fold back and forth until you have folded the entire rectangle.

 I then unfolded my fan and folded it in half lengthwise.  It just makes the next step easier.

Fold your fan in half.

For the two-piece wheels, you need something to keep your folded fan together (the three or more piece ones stay together just fine without this step). You could staple it.  I don't have a stapler long enough, so I just sewed it up with my sewing machine on the longest stitch length.  It was super easy.

 Now tape the long sides together (made sure you tape on the back, so it's not visible!). Then need to glue along your stitches (or staple) to keep those two folds together. 

 Tape up the other two sides. I found it was easiest to tape it a little at a time.

For wheels with three pieces, just tape the sections along the folds and then glue the center together!

Glue on a circle of contrasting color (if desired) and some plastic spiders (I used those cheap spider rings)!

I hung mine up with mounting putty.  It's held really well, and then I don't have to hang anything from the ceiling or make holes in my wall. (Yep, it's obvious we are renters!) 

I feel so much more festive!  Now I just need to go buy some candy! =)