Flying paper bats make interactive Halloween decorations or invitations -- when the card is opened, a bat flutters out.

Tools and Materials
Twin tack (9-by-12-inch sheets)
Black construction paper
Ruler
White pencil
Bat template
Stapler
Craft knife
Plastic drinking straw
Paper clips
Black rubber bands
Cards and envelopes

Bat How-To
1. Apply 9-by-12-inch sheet of twin tack to back of one sheet of black construction paper. Set aside.

2. Measure another sheet of black construction paper into 4 equal divisions by width; mark the divisions using a white pencil. Place bat template along your lines and trace (4 bat wings will fit along each line).

3. Staple the adhesive-backed black paper in the corners to the paper with your drawn bats. Using a craft knife, cut out the bats. (This will produce 32 bat wings, 16 adhesive-backed and 16 non-adhesive-backed, to make a total of 8 bats.) Set aside.

4. Cut a plastic drinking straw into eight 1 1/8-inch pieces. Hook 2 paper clips, one at either end of 2 black rubber bands (when flattened, the rubber bands are about 1-inch long). Push one of the paper clips through the straw, stringing the rubber band through as you go; the rubber bands will hold the rubber bands taut through the straw.

5. Assemble bat using 2 adhesive wings and 2 nonadhesive wings: Peel back adhesive from one of the wings. Center one of the paper clips (woven through straw from step 3) along the center edge of the wing. Press to adhere. Lay a nonadhesive wing over the paper clip. Line up the front and back wing pieces; press together. Repeat on other side of straw, and trim any uneven edges.
Note: The straw should not be crushed; rubber bands need room to twist.

6. Twist rubber band/straw to "wind up" bat; 20 times will make the bat flutter strongly. Place inside card.

Resources
Cards available from Kate's Paperie or your local stationery store. All other supplies are available from Martha Stewart Crafts or local crafts and art-supply stores.