Paper Bat Craft (Process Art!)

This paper bat craft is extra special and one of the easiest crafts you will ever make with your kids. We’re going to use a process art technique that I call “squish” painting. It’s also sometimes call warshak painting because it results in designs that are symmetrical like those used for the Warshak psychological test.

Whatever you call it, it’s super fun. And the results turn out like a tie-dyed pattern. These bat crafts make the perfect DIY Halloween decorations too. Scroll to the ends to see the squish technique in action.

If you enjoy this bat craft, you’re going to love these other Halloween crafts, including this stuffed jack-o-lantern, this bat and crescent moon craft, this flying bat craft and this make and play monster mash game.

Save this Halloween Craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…

Fun Facts about Bats

• Bats can live for more than 30 years.
• They are very fast, flying up to 60 mph.
• Bats can hunt in the dark for their food by using echolocation.
• Baby bats are called pups.
• A group of bats is called a colony.
• The world’s largest bat is called the “flying fox” and has a wing span of up to 6 feet.

For more interesting facts about bats, you can check out this article from Bird Watching HQ.

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SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG

• Construction paper (color of your choice)
• Newspaper
• Paints
• Pencil or marker
• Scissors
• Single hole punch (optional)
• White yarn (optional)
• Bat craft template

This craft takes just a few supplies, and they’re all part of our master list of craft supplies that fit into one bag. We stick to this list for all of the hundreds of kids’ crafts that you see here to make crafting with your family actually do-able, even when life is hectic. Just pull your bag out and get right to creating together. I can’t wait to see what you make!

How to Make a Paper Bat Craft

Step 1: Use the Bat Craft Template

• Download and print the bat craft template.
• Choose a piece of construction paper and fold it in half. Use a color of your choice. We chose black and purple for our bats.
• Use the template to trace and cut out the paper bat onto your folded construction paper.

*If you don’t have access to a printer or just prefer to draw, free-hand the outline of a bat using a pencil or marker. Then cut out your drawing.

Step 2: Squish Paint

• Let’s add some color to our bats just for the fun of it.
• Lay out some newspaper on your crafting surface.
• Place the cut out bat on the newspaper.
• On one half of the bat, squeeze out paint in random patterns. Choose whatever colors you like.
• Refold the bat and press down gently so that the paint spreads out.
• Open the bat back up and set it aside so that the paint can dry thoroughly.

*If you don’t have the colors you want to use, mix and match until you get watch you want. This is fun and simple science lesson for kids, seeing what happens when you blend different colors together. Then apply the colors generously using a pompom or q-tip.

Step 3 (Optional): Add a Hanger

• Once the paint has dried, you may fold the wings where each of the point are. This will give it a little more dimension and movement of the wings.
• If you want to hang the bat as a decoration, punch a hole in the top of the bat’s head using your hole punch.
• Cut a piece of yarn about 2 feet long.
• Lace the string through the hole and tie it off.

Now that you know how to make a bat, make more. These make a fun and colorful DIY Halloween decoration. Hang them all over the room.

Watch Squish Painting in Action

Save this Paper Craft for kids for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…