When Halloween rolls around, a window full of paper bats is pure atmosphere—and this little cutout is about as easy as it gets. One square of paper, a fold, a few pen lines, and a quick snip, and you have a bat that unfolds from a single sheet. It is a great one to do with kids (they can draw the lines, you do the cutting), and you can hang a whole flock in the window or tape them to the wall. Grab black paper for the classic look, or try purple or orange for a splash of color.

Below we show how to make a Halloween bat paper cutout. Anyone can make it easily, so give it a try.

Bat paper cutout

STEP 1. Cut the paper in half.

STEP 2. Fold it in half.

STEP 3. Draw the cutting lines with a pen as shown.

STEP 4. Cut along the lines with a craft knife, then open it up to finish the bat.