Make Halloween-Themed Painting

What can we use if we don't have a stencil, glitter glue, or masking tape?

If you don't have a stencil, cut shapes from cardboard or print templates and tape them down, substitute glitter glue with clear school glue plus loose glitter or metallic paint for the 'Add glitter accents' step, and replace masking tape with painter's tape or weigh the paper down with small books as in 'Use masking tape to tape the edges of your paper to the table...'.

My paint bled under the stencil or the background smeared—what should I do?

If paint bleeds or smears, follow 'Let the background dry completely' and wait longer, blot excess water with the paper towel, use less paint on the medium brush when painting through the stencil, and press the stencil edges down firmly before you paint to prevent seepage.

How can I adapt the activity for different ages or skill levels?

For preschoolers simplify the 'Lightly sketch' step to large pumpkin or ghost outlines and give chunky brushes or sponges and pre-cut stencils, for elementary kids practice mixing a background color and adding basic shadows with a medium brush, and for older kids encourage detailed faces, layered highlights using a small brush, and more complex haunted-house composition.

How can we extend or personalize the Halloween painting once it's finished?

To extend the project, add glow-in-the-dark paint to highlights, experiment with salt or plastic wrap on the wet background wash for texture before 'Let the background dry completely,' layer multiple stencils to build a scene, or frame and photograph the piece to share on DIY.org.