15 Jaunty Jack-o-Lantern Crafts for Kids
Get set for Halloween with these fun Jack-o-Lantern Crafts! From paper plates to mason jars to craft sticks, you can use all kinds of supplies!
What if I told you that a popular Halloween tradition we follow today was initiated by a drunkard who lived in Ireland? You’d find it hard to believe, but it’s true – we’re talking about the Jack-o-Lantern!
With Halloween coming up later this month, it seems to be the right time to find out the story behind this fun Halloween icon, and it’s quite an interesting one!
How did the Jack-o-Lantern come to be?
Many centuries ago in Ireland, there was a drunkard named Stingy Jack, also known as Drunk Jack or Flaky Jack. He wasn’t a nice person and lived a life of deceit, violence and of course, drinking. As a result, when he died, he wasn’t allowed into Heaven. He wasn’t even allowed into Hell – instead, he was doomed to roam the world, and he was given an ember to light his way. He placed the ember inside a hollowed-out vegetable and that is how the Jack-o-Lantern was born!
The Jack-o-Lantern today is mostly a carved-out pumpkin, but it could also be a turnip or other vegetable. There are many other symbolic meanings for placing a Jack-0-Lantern inside or outside the home. Some people believe it keeps evil spirits away and others think it reveals a vampire‘s real identity!
Well, we know one thing for sure – they certainly make a fun Halloween decoration! They’re also great for craft projects, and that’s why we’ve drawn up a list of fun and easy Jack-o-Lantern crafts for kids to make!
15 Jaunty Jack-o-Lantern Crafts for Kids
1. Plastic Bottle Jack-o-Lantern
Can’t find a pumpkin or don’t trust your carving skills? No problem – just use a plastic bottle instead! Surely, you can find one and now you can put it to good use!
2. Jack-o-Lantern Corner Bookmark
If you’d like to know more about the legend of the Jack-o-Lantern, check out
3. Mini Jack-o-Lantern Bookmark
Candy is pretty common around this time of the year, so why don’t you try something new this year? Go for a non-candy treat, and if you need ideas, a mini bookmark is perfect!
4. Glowing Jack-O-Lantern Craft
Real Jack-o-Lanterns have a lit candle inside, so why should our Jack-o-Lantern crafts be any different? Buggy and Buddy shows us how to make these using paper cups.
5. Felt Jack-O-Lantern Face Board
This fun project from Creating Creatives will have the kids occupied for quite a while! Use the free printable to cut out pumpkin faces and make your own versions of Jack-0-Lanterns – silly, scary or plain nuts!
6. Paper Plate Jack-o-Lantern Craft
With its shape, paper plates are perfect for making Jack-o-Lantern crafts, as this project from Taming Little Monsters shows. Use a craft stick for the stem, cut out a leaf from green craft paper and you’re done!
7. Popsicle Stick Jack-o-Lantern Craft
Break away from tradition and make a Jack-o-Lantern that’s not quite circular, like this one from Honey and Lime! Simply glue together craft sticks and paint it orange. Use a pipe cleaner for the stem and you’re good to go!
8. Mason Jar Jack-0-Lantern Luminary
We love this mason jar Jack-o-Lantern from Love and Marriage Blog! It’s an easy way to create the magic of a real Jack-0-Lantern, without any of the mess!
9. Cardboard Roll Jack-O-Lantern Craft
If you can turn craft sticks and paper cups into Jack-o-Lantern crafts, you can certainly use cardboard tubes too! Our Kid Things shows us how to use plain toilet paper rolls to create a whole team of Jack-0-Lanterns!
10. Build a Jack O Lantern Printable
With a real pumpkin, you have just one opportunity to create a face, but with Sunny Day Family’s printable, you can create multiple faces on your pumpkin! Choose from a selection of facial features to make your custom Jack-o-Lantern!
11. Cardboard Jack-O-Lantern Shape Sorter
You can find plastic shape sorter toys easily, but they certainly don’t have the charm of this DIY cardboard Jack-o-Lantern version from Barley and Birch! Easy to make and great for gifting this season!
12. Jack-O-Lantern Stamping Activity
Jack-o-Lantern crafts are also an opportunity for kids to learn different arts and crafts techniques. For instance, we love this stamping activity from Made to be a Momma – so much fun!
13. Scented Jack-o-Lantern Puffy Paint Craft
How about a Jack-o-Lantern that smells as good as it looks? Well, thanks to Preschool Play & Learn, you can make your own scented puffy paint and use it to create your own custom Halloween art!
14. Jack-o-Lantern Paper Craft
Paper lanterns are usually made for festivals like Diwali or Eid, but Preschool Play & Learn shows us that they work just as well for Halloween – just make them in a Jack-o-Lantern theme!
15. Jack-O-Lantern Paper Pumpkins
The Joy of Sharing shows us that you can make Jack-o-Lantern crafts out of pretty much anything – even just craft paper! These are a great last-minute Halloween craft idea, and great for kids of all ages.
I’m sure you’ve enjoyed going through these Jack-o-Lantern crafts – we certainly did! These aren’t exactly scary, so they’re great for young kids too. Choose a craft according to your child’s crafting ability and then increase the complexity as they get better at it. After all, everyone loves a bit of a challenge!
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