3 quick and simple Halloween crafts with a vampire twist for kids

 

Dracula and Daughters by Emma Carroll is one of our most highly anticipated Halloween reads of 2025. When three cousins discover they're descendants of Dracula, they combine their powers to form the infamous vampire healing company, Dracula & Daughters! It's a perfectly pitched read for kids aged 8 and up. 

Whenever we've sent vampire-themed books to out subscribers we've always had so much fun creating the accompanying craft activities. Here we share instructions for one of our all-time favourites: a hanging bat!

As a little bonus, we’ve also linked to two craft videos which we put on our YouTube channel and which you might also enjoy having a go at!

 

Make your own hanging bat from a toilet roll tube

 

You will need:

• A toilet roll
• Black paint, pens or crayons
• A piece of card (from recycling is ideal)
• Sticky tape
• A sharp pencil
• Sticky tack
• A pipe cleaner
• Eye stickers
• A scrap of white paper

Method:

1. Take your toilet roll and push opposite sides of the top inwards to create the shape of your bat’s ears.

2. Colour the whole tube black with paint, pen or crayon.

3. Take your card, lay your bat’s body in the middle and then draw out the shape of your bat’s wings (you may want to ask an adult for some help). Cut them out and then colour them in black too.

4. Stick your wings to the back of the toilet roll tube with a loop of sticky tape.

5. Use your pencil to mark two dots on the front of the tube, where the bat’s legs will go.

6. To make the holes for the legs, place the sticky tack over one of the dots, turn it down onto the table and use the sharp pencil to push a hole into the cardboard and through to the sticky tack. Repeat with the other hole.

7. Thread your pipe cleaner through the holes to make the legs – you will be able to twist the ends around a branch or handle to allow your bat to rest upside down.

8. To finish your bat add eyes and some small white fangs, cut from the scrap of paper.

We would love to see your creations! Tag us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

You may also enjoy having a go at these spooky makes from our YouTube channel:

Make a Dracula Hand Puppet 

You may also like to check out: 

6 of the best new Halloween books for kids in 2025

7 spooky Halloween books for 8-year-olds and up 

7 fang-tastic Halloween books for kids aged 5-8.

Parrot Street Book Club is a monthly book subscription for kids aged 5 to 12. Each monthly parcel includes a new chapter book to keep and a fun-filled activity pack created to accompany it. Find out more and subscribe here.