Bewitching Nails

Here's another quick and easy way to add some Halloween spookiness to your look in record time. Bewitching nails are the perfect complement to any costume, and they make the hands handing out candy even that much more appealing!

Bewitching nails are the perfect accessory to any spooky Halloween outfit -- and a costume on their own.
These spooktacular nails complement any Halloween ensemble --
or make any ensemble perfect for Halloween!

What You'll Need

  • Polish remover
  • Newspaper
  • Emery board
  • Hand lotion
  • Orange wood stick or cuticle pusher
  • Acrylic paint or nail polish: orange, black, white, yellow
  • Paintbrush with fine, thin point
  • Toothpick

Remove all the old fingernail polish completely. (Be very careful when using polish remover. Always spread a piece of newspaper on your work surface to protect it from any spills.) Using an emery board, shape nails and file away rough edges. Apply a small amount of lotion to each cuticle, and rub it in. Use an orange wood stick or cuticle pusher to push cuticles back. (Never cut cuticles: This can promote infections.) Wash hands well with soap and water. Now let the fun begin!

Floating Eyes Instructions

  1. Paint fingernails black. Allow to dry.
  2. Using white paint, paint two pairs of small ovals on each nail. Allow to dry.
  3. Using black paint, paint a small dot on each of the white ovals. For fun, place the dots in a different place on each set of eyes so it appears that these "eyeballs" are looking off in different directions.

With orange and black nail polish and a little patience, a spooky spider can appear right on your bewitching nails.
Make sure you're not already frightened when
you start this project, as you'll need a steady hand!

Spooky Spider Instructions
  1. Paint all fingernails orange. Allow to dry.
  2. Using black paint or nail polish, paint a small circle in the bottom center of each nail.
  3. Using black paint and a toothpick, add the spider's legs by painting 4 short lines on each side of the circle.
  4. Paint a thin black line from the top of the nail to the spider's body. This is the spider's "web." Allow black paint to dry.
  5. Using white paint, paint two small cres­cents on the spider's body for eyes.

     

    Black and white nail polish create scary floating eyes at your fingertips with these bewitching nails for Halloween.
    Be good! Now mom has eyes at her fingertips, too..

     

Candy Corn Instructions

  1. Paint fingernails white. Allow to dry.
  2. Using orange paint, paint a thick stripe over the middle one-third of the nail. Allow to dry.
  3. Using yellow paint, paint the bottom one-third of the nail yellow. Allow to dry.
  4. Using black paint, outline a candy-corn-shape triangle in the center of the nail. Make sure the triangle stretches over all 3 colors.
  5. Using black paint, paint over the entire nail except the center triangle.

 

Using nail polish and a steady hand, you can transform fingernails into bewitching nails and delicious candy corn for Halloween.
With this many layers of polish, your nails won't chip for weeks!

By now you should have no excuses left. Pick an idea, gather your supplies, and get those trick-or-treaters ready to go!

 

To learn more about fun and easy Halloween activities, see:

  • Halloween Crafts: Whether hosting a spooky party or looking to keep little goblins entertained, visit this site for easy arts and crafts directions.
  • Halloween Decorations: Bring Halloween holiday spirit to any location when you create these fun and festive decorations.
  • Halloween Masks: For a quick, fun costume and a disguise, follow these tips for creating your own Halloween masks.
  • Halloween Games: There's more to Halloween than eating candy! Get your party guests moving with these ghoulish games.
  • Halloween Recipes: Spooky treats that are good to eat... find out how to concoct delicious delights here.
  • How Halloween Works: Discover the history and traditions behind trick-or-treating and more. Check out this site to learn what Halloween is all about.

ABOUT THE COSTUME DESIGNERS:

Pretty as a Princess: Paula Bales
Bo Peep and Her Sheep: Diane Hardy
Bag of Bones: Suzonne Sterling
Graveyard Ghost: Suzonne Sterling
Werewolf: Diane Hardy
Cell Phone Costume: Paula Bales
Pencil Costume: Paula Bales
Messy Drawer Costume: Diane Hardy
Clown Costume: Paula Bales
Race Car Driver Costume: Paula Bales
Gypsy Costume: Suzonne Sterling
Elephant Costume: Paula Bales
Owl Costume: Suzonne Sterling
Pig Costume: Paula Bales
Space Alien Costume: Barb Chauncey
Astronaut and Space Dog Costumes: Barb Chauncey
Bewitching Nails: Shari Finger, Susan Tumblety