There’s just one day a year when we can dress up as anything we want. Ghosts, ghouls and goblins are amongst the most popular Halloween costumes and this year you can craftily create your very own jack-o-lantern look using simple, basic crafts.

Starting with a hat that will serve as the top of the pumpkin, Elmer’s product manager Alicia Buter tells us how to create one out of paper Mache. First, cover a bowl with plastic wrap, then layer paper towel, newsprint or tissue dipped in glue all over the bowl, spreading out the adhesive and ensuring that all the pieces of paper overlap.

“We’ve used Elmer’s Glue-All,” says Buter, which is perfect for this project. But layering the glue and paper will take a fair amount of time to fully dry and cure, so you should prepare the paper Mache hat well in advance, at least 24 to 48 hours.

Once the paper Mache hat is completely dry, you can paint it orange using Elmer’s poster and craft paint. Buter says this might take two coats, “depending on how much intensity you want in your colour once it dries.” The paint will dry much quicker than the paper Mache because it will absorb into the material.

For the pumpkin’s stem, twist green or green and brown chenille stems together, then glue it on top using more of the all purpose white glue.

To complete the jack-o-lantern look, use washable, non-toxic face paint to create black eyes, and mouth, then add “a little bit of pizzazz with orange circles,” on the cheeks. Buter suggests using white face paint first, then layering the colours on top, which “gives it a little more vibrancy and makes it stand out a little bit more.”

At the end of the night, you can simply wash the face paint off with soap and water.

For more crafty Halloween costume ideas visit Elmers.com.