Boo! October is nearly synonymous – well most probably is – with Halloween. This North American holiday has slowly been adopted around the world, and Beijing isn’t one to be left behind. The good, or the bad for some, of Halloween is the abundance of candy that’s available. Trick-or-treat isn’t the only thing that makes Halloween a beloved event, since the décor and costumes are a must. Soon, it will be time to decorate your home for All Hallows’ Eve; Springboard International Bilingual School (SIBS) has just the craft to use this year.
Yoga Yu, Chinese, has been with SIBS for little over two months and has been teaching art for several years at other schools. Yu wanted to make sure families save their money by using materials easily found at home when making this ghoulish wreath. “If you have clothes or fabric that you want to get rid of then this is the best craft to use them for.” She’s teaching this craft to Aleksej Razdolskij, a Grade 5 student from Russia, who is all too happy to cut things up. Razdolskij is helpful, easy-going, cheerful, and more than happy to take photos with everyone.
While showing us how to make the craft, the duo switched between English and Chinese effortlessly as they got into a rhythm, making the rapport all the more astonishing given they have not know each other for a long time. Yu helps with the cutting when using a knife, and Razdolskij used the scissors for safety concerns.
Estimated time: 45 minutes
Suitable for: 8+
Materials
• Masking tape
• Sticking tape
• Scissors
• Cutting knife
• Gaffer tape
• Recycled papers i.e newspapers, wrapping papers, and others
• Old cloths (fabric)
• Malleable wires
• Old toys
• Cutting board
• Metal ring
Instructions
1. Take the recycling paper and crumble into an even width.
2. Use the paper all around the metal ring. Use clear sticking tape to bind the paper onto the ring.
3. Cut strips of the gaffer tape then cover the paper firmly to secure the paper base.
4. Take the fabric, cut lengthwise using scissors or a knife. Optional; if you wish to have the same pattern then use double sided tape to bind the non-pattern side together. 
5. Use the fabric to tie ribbons or knots around the base until it’s fully covered.
6. Take the toy head and attach it to the base ring using fabric and wires to secure it firmly.
7. Hang or place the wreath among the Halloween decorations.
This article originally appeared on page 26-27 of the October 2016 Issue of beijingkids magazine. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.
PHOTOS: DAVE’S STUDIO
