Many presume that crafty people who adore Halloween have the coolest homemade costumes.

 

Let this story serve as proof that not all crafters are created equal! Read on to discover how our Hawk Makerspace staff is getting into the Halloween spirit without making a costume.

 

Introduction

 

It's that time of year when summer has ended, and the falling leaves begin whispering about the many seasonal holidays to come. Halloween will be here in the blink of an eye, and with it, the insurmountable stress of putting together a suitable costume to wow your friends. We at The Hawk Makerspace have chosen to throw this stress out the window! Makerspace manager, Emma, and technician, Nick D. share how they are celebrating Halloween without breaking the bank on costumes.

 

 

 

 

Make a Shirt Instead

 

Before now, Emma wore the same hotdog costume every year since she was in the 8th grade. This year, she finally decided that enough is enough. Store-bought costumes are too expensive, and garment sewing is an enigma, but there is one machine at The Hawk Makerspace that doesn’t require much know-how for an awesome result: the Direct-to-Garment printer! Emma decided to use her collaging prowess to craft the perfect Halloween-themed t-shirt in lieu of a costume this year. Here's how she did it:

 

•           Step one: acquire some magazines or books you don't mind cutting up. You can find some good ones at the thrift store, or a lot of people on Facebook Marketplace are getting rid of their Nat Geo collection (the collage artist's dream magazine).

 

• Step two: figure out if you want to include letters, or just images. You can plan out a rough sketch of what you want your result to look like, or just go with the flow and experiment as you create, just like Emma did.

 

• Step three: cut out your elements and tape or paste them to a piece of paper. Emma chose white paper for her background; however, she did say the white background made the photo editing process a little tricky against the light-colored elements, so she recommends finding a color with a lot of contrast compared to your collage if you don’t want the background to be a part of the final design. You can also opt to include your background color as part of the final print. It’s up to you!

 

• Step four: scan your finished collage. You can use a copy machine (we have some available for use at The Hawk Makerspace), or your cell phone might have a scan feature you can utilize.

 

• Step five: take The Hawk Makerspace's Direct-to-Garment Printer Checkout Course and print your unique design on a t-shirt! No Halloween costume required to get in the spooky spirit.

 

If you’re someone that would rather spend time constructing the perfect costume with all the special details, The Hawk Makerspace has a multitude of tools and equipment to assist you – sewing machines, a 12-needle embroidery machine, a Cricut vinyl cutter, 3D printers, a laser cutter, and more!

 

 

 

Make Custom Spooky Window Decals

 

Creating your own decorations is another great way to get into the Halloween spirit! Nick D. put his 2D art skills to work by creating his very own set of Halloween window decals.

Here's the rundown:

 

• Step one: draw, photograph, or find an image to print on translucent sticker paper. If you are using a physical photo or drawing, you can scan it using a copy machine or your cell phone (if the phone has a scan feature).

 

• Step two: print your designs or photos (using a regular copy machine or home printer).

 

• Step three: cut out your designs! The Hawk Makerspace has a Cricut Venture that could help you out with achieving a professional-looking finish.

 

• Step four: stick them onto your favorite window and reward yourself for your efforts with a piece of candy!  

 

Prep for Halloween as a Family!

 

For those who are looking for a Halloween craft to do with your young ones, The Hawk Makerspace has you covered with a Halloween-themed workshop.

 

Get into the Halloween spirit by sewing your very own drawstring candy bag in this fun, hands-on workshop for kids and their grown-up! Perfect for beginners, this class will introduce your child to the basics of the sewing machine and help you both work as a team to create a personalized, spooky bag to hold all your treats. No prior experience necessary and all supplies are included—just bring your enthusiasm and creativity! 

 

You & Me Drawstring Halloween Candy Bag

Saturday, October 25th from 10am-1pm

Youth ages 8-12 (a parent or guardian must also participate)

 

Register HERE!