Last Minute Halloween Art Projects that Still Feel Magical

Join Ms Artastic for a heartfelt story about art teaching, creativity, and the first-ever 50% off flash sale in her Teachers Pay Teachers store. Discover art lesson plans for Halloween, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Winter — and learn why this one-day event means so much.

From My Art Teacher Heart: A One-Day Flash of Creativity

There’s something about this time of year that always makes me pause.
Maybe it’s the smell of crayons and tempera paint still clinging to the air, or the flicker of classroom pumpkins made from construction paper glowing in hallway displays. Maybe it’s the sound of scissors snipping, the gentle hum of busy chatter, or the first cool breeze of fall that whispers, you’re halfway there.

If you’re an art teacher, you know the rhythm I’m talking about — the stretch between October and December that feels like a full marathon of creativity. You’ve got Halloween art lessons sprawled across drying racks, Remembrance Day and Veterans Day projects waiting in piles, Thanksgiving gratitude walls to build, and just around the corner, winter and Christmas art twinkling with glitter.

It’s beautiful. It’s joyful. And it’s also… exhausting.

The Truth About October in the Art Room

Every year, right around now, I find myself standing in my art space with a paintbrush in one hand and a stack of rubrics in the other. There’s glitter on my sleeves, pastel dust on my desk, and a to-do list longer than the paper roll at the back of the room.

October in the art classroom is a paradox — a season of color, energy, and creativity, but also a time when teachers are stretched thin. The holidays are racing toward us, deadlines are piling up, and we’re trying to juggle the magic and the mess all at once.

I remember those evenings when I’d stay behind long after the final bell, prepping projects for the next day. The school hallways would go quiet, and it would just be me, the smell of markers, and the hum of the copier. It wasn’t burnout — it was love. I cared so deeply about making art joyful, meaningful, and accessible for my students.

But let’s be honest — teaching art through this season isn’t easy. There’s so much we want to do and so little time to do it. That’s where I started realizing that teachers — especially art teachers — need more ease. We need resources that lighten the load without taking away the creativity.

Why I Create Art Lessons for Teachers

When I first began creating resources for my Teachers Pay Teachers store, I wasn’t trying to “sell something.” I was simply trying to help other teachers like me — those who were staying up late cutting paper, trying to align lessons with the Elements of Art, and balancing the chaos of seasonal projects with the quiet need for structure.

I wanted to give teachers ready-made art lesson plans that still felt alive — lessons that didn’t just check boxes, but actually inspired creativity in both students and teachers. Because that’s what I believe great art teaching is: a balance between structure and freedom.

Over time, my store grew — not because I was chasing numbers, but because I was chasing connection. Every time a teacher downloaded one of my art projects and shared a photo of their students’ work, I felt this ripple of pride and gratitude. Teachers supporting teachers — that’s the real magic of TPT.

And that’s exactly why I decided to do something I’ve never done before.

The First-Ever 50% Off Flash Event

For one day only — October 22nd — I’m opening my entire Teachers Pay Teachers store for a 50% off flash sale.

I’ve done sitewide sales before when TPT hosts them, but this one is different. This one is personal. It’s not tied to any event, code, or marketing schedule. It’s a one-day window straight from my art teacher heart — a way to say thank you to the community that’s supported me, trusted my lessons, and filled classrooms around the world with color.

👉 Visit the Ms Artastic Store on TpT

What You’ll Find Inside

Everything in my store is half-price for one day — literally everything. If you’ve been waiting to grab lessons for the next few months, this is your moment.

Here’s what’s inside:

🎃 Halloween Art Lessons
Filled with spooky charm and creative fun, these lessons help students explore texture, contrast, and line while bringing seasonal imagination to life. From Frankenstein-inspired art to Jack-o’-lanterns with personality, these projects are the perfect way to channel Halloween energy into meaningful art-making.

🌺 Remembrance Day Art Projects
🇺🇸 Veterans Day Art Lessons
These projects are reflective, emotional, and purposeful. They help students honor, remember, and express gratitude through the power of visual storytelling. They’re quiet lessons — the kind that stay with students long after they’ve cleaned up their brushes.

🦃 Thanksgiving Art Activities
These lessons explore gratitude, harvest colors, and pattern-making. They’re cozy, flexible, and easy to adapt for various ages. They’re also perfect for those pre-holiday weeks when energy is high but focus is… well, not.

🎄 Christmas & Winter Art Projects
I designed these to bring joy back into the classroom — from snowflake-inspired art to winter landscapes and cozy, imaginative holiday projects. They’re the perfect balance between guided structure and creative freedom.

🎨 Elements of Art Units
The building blocks of every great art program! These lessons reinforce skills in line, shape, color, texture, value, space, and form. They’re ideal for review, sub plans, or year-long integration.

✏️ Write & Draw Activities
These are some of my favorites — they combine literacy and art to help students express their ideas visually and in writing. Perfect for creative thinking, reflection, and language arts integration.

🖼️ Artists & Art History Lessons
Because every young artist deserves to meet the greats! These lessons introduce students to artists and movements through creative projects that feel modern and exciting.

Why This Sale Feels Personal

This isn’t just a sale. It’s a moment of gratitude.

Running Ms Artastic has never been about “business” for me. It’s always been about connection — helping teachers fall in love with teaching art again, helping kids see themselves as artists, and building a community that values creativity as much as academics.

Every resource I create comes from the same place: late nights, messy hands, endless test drawings, and the deep desire to make art teaching easier and more joyful. I know the struggle because I’ve lived it — the planning, the prep, the pressure. So when I say I understand what you’re juggling right now, I mean it.

That’s why this one-day flash event feels different. It’s my way of lifting some of that weight off your shoulders and giving you a chance to fill your classroom toolkit with lessons that will carry you through the next few months — from spooky October to snowy December — without breaking your teacher budget.

How to Make the Most of It

Here’s what I’d do if I were in your shoes:

Start with what you need right now.
Grab those Halloween or Remembrance Day lessons that will make your next week easier. You can print them tonight and use them tomorrow.
Plan ahead.
Think about what you’ll need for November and December. Thanksgiving and Winter art projects can fill the gaps in your long-term plans.
Reinforce core skills.
The Elements of Art Units are perfect for fast finishers, bell ringers, or year-round integration.
Fuel creativity through writing.
Try my Write & Draw sets to build cross-curricular connections and keep literacy alive in the art room.
Celebrate art history.
Introduce your students to famous artists through creative projects that make them feel relevant and accessible.

Gratitude for You

Before this day wraps up, I just want to say thank you.
Thank you for every lesson you’ve taught, every paintbrush you’ve cleaned, every student you’ve encouraged. Thank you for making creativity a part of education when the world needs it more than ever.

This flash event isn’t about selling — it’s about giving back. It’s about celebrating the community of teachers who’ve been with me since the beginning and the new ones who just discovered Ms Artastic for the first time. It’s about saying, you matter, your art room matters, and the work you do matters.

So tonight, when things are quiet and the day finally slows down, maybe pour yourself another cup of tea, take a deep breath, and browse through the store. See what speaks to you. Whether it’s one lesson or a bundle of them, I hope it makes your teaching life a little lighter and your classroom a little brighter.

This is your moment to recharge your creativity and plan ahead for a joyful, art-filled season.

👉 Explore the Ms Artastic Store – 50% Off Today Only

Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting my work. And thank you for spreading art, joy, and imagination everywhere you go.

With a heart full of gratitude and color,
Kathleen McGiveron
Ms Artastic
www.msartastic.com

About Ms Artastic

Ms Artastic is run by Canadian artist and educator Kathleen McGiveron, who is passionate about making art education accessible, inspiring, and stress-free for teachers and homeschooling families. With years of experience in the classroom and a deep love for creativity, she designs engaging, ready-to-use art resources that help students of all ages build skills, explore their imagination, and connect with the world of art.

In her TeachersPayTeachers Store, Ms Artastic offers hundreds of resources—from fully planned art units and seasonal projects to sketchbook prompts, art history lessons, and assessment tools. Each resource is carefully crafted to save teachers time while still delivering meaningful, high-quality art experiences for students. Whether you’re looking to teach the Elements of Art, integrate art into core subjects, or spark joy in the classroom with creative projects, Ms Artastic has everything you need to bring art to life with confidence and ease.

Recommendations:

If you’re looking for resources to help you plan or teach either at home or in your classroom, then check out these resources to help you get ahead!

🖌️Streamline your lesson planning! Get on the waitlist for the Artastic Collective Art Curriculum, a treasure trove of resources designed to empower art educators: https://www.artasticcollective.com/membership

✏️Sharpen your teaching skills! Join the Art Teacher Academy for professional development specifically designed for art educators: https://www.artasticcollective.com/artteacheracademy

🖍️Need engaging art lessons? Explore the Art Project Membership library to find creative resources for Teachers and Homeschooling Families: https://www.artasticcollective.com/artproject

RECOMMENDATIONS:

📖BOOKS:
-Peter Reynolds: The Dot & Ish: https://amzn.to/3TAHoY7
-Art for Kids: Drawing: The Only Drawing Book You’ll Ever Need to Be the Artist You’ve Always Wanted to Be: https://amzn.to/3TSQ8KG
-DK The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedi: https://amzn.to/3xpArBG
-A Child’s Introduction to Art: The World’s Greatest Paintings and Sculptures: https://amzn.to/3vm4s57
-Beautiful Oops!: https://amzn.to/3vm4x8V
-Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media: https://amzn.to/49hfd6D

🎨ART SUPPLIES:
-Copic Markers: https://amzn.to/4cAlXiE
-Oil Pastels: https://amzn.to/4azlBHa
-Castle Colored Pencils: https://amzn.to/3VwlFTY
-Felt Markers: https://amzn.to/3VVmA0z
-Winsor & Newton Watercolor Paints: https://amzn.to/3TFCVn4
-Paperless Wax Crayons: https://amzn.to/4cBKfJ5

🖌️TEACHER SUPPLIES:
-Bulk Wax Crayons: https://amzn.to/4943mbU
-Bulk Watercolor Paints: https://amzn.to/4ahMCPk
-Bulk Oil Pastels: https://amzn.to/3To15CC
-Bulk Markers: https://amzn.to/4a1dRhg
-Bulk Tempera Paint: https://amzn.to/43rDCoC
-Bulk Aprons: https://amzn.to/3x4pK7K
-Bulk Card Stock Paper: https://amzn.to/49ayJBK/