Spider Egg Sack Tutorial

These are super easy and inexpensive to make. Also fast (like 10-15 mins) I originally got this idea from the same 2003 Martha Stewart Magazine as my spider porch below (which apparently is the cover of this years magazine) so if you want more details just check it out while you wait in line at Walmart! :)
What you will need:
*plastic grocery sacks
*quilt batting
*white knee highs (or old white nylons)
*large and small plastic spiders
*hot glue
*tape
*fishing line or thread

Let me explain a few of the supplies - Martha suggested using a styrofoam egg- I figured why waste my money on them when I can make my own out of plastic grocery sacks and a little tape!
Also, get your knee highs at Walmart (you get 2 for 25 cents) and for the small spiders, if you can't find them or they are too pricey, just cut the legs and butt off the bigger ones. (that's what I did) Also, if you can only find the rings, that's okay, just cut the ring part off
Now for the how to:
Take 1-2 grocery bags (I used two) and wad them up and tape them into an oblong egg shape. Masking tape works the best - I just couldn't find mine.

Then take your batting and peal off a thin layer. The thinner the better, you don't want it as bulky as this one in my picture.

Wrap it around your sacks with a "tail" at the top. (Mine doesn't really do that, I was in a hurry to get some pics for this post and was just kinda faking it!) You can trim off some excess so it is a nice taper. Hot glue together just enough to hold it in place.


Now just cover it with the baby spiders. I like to do a lot at the bottom and thin them out towards the top (like it's bursting with the weight of them at the bottom - ewwww!)


You might need a helper for this part. Open your nylon nice and wide like you would when you put them on, and slowly pull it over the bottom of your batting ball all the way to the top. Go slow so your spider legs don't snag and run your nylon.



I add a few little bits of batting at the top to fill it out a bit and make the nice taper to about 2 inches from the top.
Now glue on your mommy spiders (and a few babies if you want) to the outside. Again cluster them pretty thick (climbing all over each other) at the bottom and have a few stragglers towards the top. (I couldn't find my bag of bigger spiders when I did this so just pretend!)


Now just tie some fishing line or doubled up thread to the top and tie it off tight. You can now hang them! The more you make the better the screams! :D


Some hanging tips. I have a metal sheeting ceiling on my porch that has a seam (you have to look closely to find it) about every 18". I use a bent paper clip as a little hook and slide it under the seam and it holds. I also hook them over the staples that hold up the ceiling. You could also use tape, or if you don't have a metal ceiling, nails or thumb tacks. I also thought of using those strong magnetic hooks but mine wasn't magnetic. Just some thoughts.

Hope you and your little trick-or-treaters enjoy these as much as we do! Mine are 5 years old and still going strong!
For more pictures of how to display these go to my ARACHNOPHOBIA PORCH post HERE