Seasonal papercraft: print yourself a happy Halloween

Halloween is becoming increasingly popular and has evolved into a day of tricks, treats and far too many sweets. But that doesn't mean you have to rush out and buy expensive new costumes or plastic decorations. Discover the mindful, fun and planet-friendly possibilities of papercraft – homemade decorations, DIY Halloween masks, reusable sweet bags and more.

All you need is creative spark, paper and a Canon printer. The PIXMA TS7440 is compatible with a range of different media, such as magnetic photo paper that can be inserted via its auto document feeder, so it's ideal for a range of craft projects. The compact Canon SELPHY CP1500 prints high-quality images on a variety of papers, from postcard-size to mini stickers, so you can create your own decorations to celebrate the season.

Choose the papercrafts which capture your imagination, download the template or design that catches your eye, print on the recommended paper and follow the instructions for a spectacular spooky season.

Halloween, like many festivals, marks the passing of seasons – the nights are getting longer and the days are cooler. Nature is also at its most vibrant and the trees are ablaze with shades of red and orange.

You could bring the themes and colours of autumn into your home by printing out small but high-quality photographs of the gardens or parks near where you live using a compact wireless printer such as the Canon SELPHY CP1500 or the SELPHY Square QX10. Attach the photos to a foraged branch to create a beautiful dangling display that can adorn the wall above your fireplace, just as interior designer Jasmin Robertson does in her guide to nature-inspired home decorations. Or have a go at making your own leaf designs. Print them on colourful paper – purple, orange and black for a Halloween feel – and turn them into bunting with a hole punch and string.

The Canon Creative Park app features a host of Halloween ideas and free templates. Why not adorn your home with mini bats, cats and witches hats? Or string up a Happy Halloween banner in the window? They're all printed on paper so you can fold away and save for next year, or put in the recycling bin.

Children will love throwing their energy and imagination into making their own homemade costumes. Start with a DIY Halloween mask. Use Canon Matte Photo Paper for a really vivid result and print on your Canon PIXMA printer. The simple and versatile Canon PIXMA G640, with its six dye-based inks, offers outstanding quality. After cutting out the mask – including the eyes – attach rubber bands either side with punch holes, glue or sticky tape.

Next, come up with some autumnal t-shirt designs. You could opt for pumpkins or a mug of hot cocoa to mark the season. Or, if you want to show off your scarier side, black cats or a set of skeleton bones, which look great printed white on black. Make them extra special by creating a matching set, featuring your kids' names and the year, or a full set for all the family.

You can even make decorations to display year after year, whether it's on your fridge or a mirror frame – any metal surface will show off your homemade magnets. All you need is your Canon PIXMA printer and Canon Magnetic Photo Paper.

Don't forget to keep your Canon camera or smartphone to hand during the festivities so you can record special moments as they unfold. You can then print these out via Wi-Fi with your Canon PIXMA printer using the Canon PRINT app to create album prints, wall art or magnets so you can share them with friends and family, and continue to relive the events for years afterwards. Alternatively, it's easy to create collages, calendars and posters from your smartphone with the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app. Unleash your creativity and you'll make this Halloween one to remember.

The house is looking well and truly festive and the whole family is dressed up. You're ready to party! You'll find lots of customisable invites, envelopes and Halloween cards on Creative Park. You can print these on your PIXMA printer on card-size Double-sided Matte Paper, which comes with a centre crease and envelopes for homemade cards. If you prefer to use one of your own pictures, the postcard-size paper for the Canon SELPHY CP1500 is pre-printed with lines for the stamp and address.

Paper Halloween buckets are ideal for serving party snacks in, and Halloween bags make great take-home gifts for your guests. Alongside sweets and a slice of pumpkin pie, you could fill your goodie bags with personalised keepsakes. Why not print sheets of themed stickers on the Canon SELPHY CP1500 to decorate pencil cases, mirrors and phones? You could even create bookmarks featuring your favourite photos from the day using the Bookmark Layout option in the SELPHY Photo Layout app. It's so quick and easy to select, customise and print straight from the app to the SELPHY CP1500.

Whatever you do this autumn, make sure to add a touch of seasonal magic, with your PIXMA or SELPHY printer and a dash of creativity.

Written by Rachel Segal Hamilton