Little Props and Horrors! Haunted House Roundup

Whether your theme is scary, silly, funny, magical, whimsical, or high tech, there are no rules for a DIY Halloween and your neighborhood kids are sure to enjoy it no matter what you build! Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite haunted DIY projects to inspire you to make your Halloween more magical

Sponsored:

Create. Cut. Conquer. Your Laser Business Journey Starts Here.

Ready to turn your creativity into a thriving business? Epilog’s Guide to Starting Your Own Laser Engraving and Cutting Business is packed with tips, insights, and real-world advice to help you launch with confidence. From choosing the right equipment to finding profitable niches, this guide is your roadmap to success. Download it today and start building the business you’ve always imagined — powered by precision, speed, and endless possibilities!

Maker Faire Recap: Rome, Tokyo, and Guangzhou

We had editors on the ground checking out Maker Faires in Rome , Tokyo, and Guangzhou, China, recently. Here are a few of the cool things we saw:

• Live from Maker Faire Rome

• Maker Faire Tokyo 2025

• Maker Faire Guangzhou Is a Resounding Success!

Hot Off the Presses: Make: Volume 95!

Amazing things are happening in low-cost computing, and Make: is all over it! In Make: Volume 95, the big names Arduino and Raspberry Pi are pairing SBCs with MCUs in new products like we’ve never seen before, but independent board makers like BeagleBoard and IceWhale are hot on their heels. Next, get connected with the Meshtastic off-grid communications network — how it works, and how to build a “walkie-textie” handset node using LoRa radio boards. Then, CircuitPython and MicroPython compatibility are becoming a feature, not an afterthought. We’ll also show you how to run CircuitPython on Make:’s own Oxocard ESP32 microcontroller, and how to build a University of Michigan’s time-tested wheeled robot powered by MicroPython on the RP2040 microcontroller. Then, build a go-anywhere, RP2040-based pocket video synthesizer to generate wild video art and throw it to screens or projectors.

And in our special pull-out “Guide to Boards 2026” we take a look at our favorite new microcontrollers (MCUs) and single-board computers (SBCs) for creating all kinds of smart projects. Plus, we’ll tell you which are the best boards for AI projects, LEDs, cosplay and wearables, music, and more.
    
Of course boards aren’t the end-all, be-all — as always, Make: brings you all kinds of different projects to build:

• Knit a plushie breadboard with conductive thread (yes it really works!)

• 3D print on fabric to make an elegant origami-folding handbag

• Sharpen your reflexes with a laser-cut toy Pocket Pickleball game, or an easy-to-make Reaction Race game with micro:bit

• Get hands-on with ROS 2, the Robot Operating System for complex robotics projects

• Show beginners how to level-up their electronics chops with “skill trees”  from our new book Skill Seeker: Young Maker Edition 

• And much more!

Don’t miss an issue — download and read the PDF edition, now, pre-order your print copy, or start a subscription to stay inspired all year long.

Wicked Wings — 3 Ways to Spread Your Costume Wings

From Make: magazine: Putting articulating wings onto a costume can be a big undertaking. You’ll need a harness, an inner framework for the appendages, a method of motion (be it manual, electric, or otherwise), and outer materials for the visual aspect. The following wing projects will help get you started.

What Cuts What? Lasering Different Materials

From Make: magazine: One of the most important parts about deciding to purchase a new laser cutter/engraver is knowing what materials that laser can cut and engrave. Here’s a basic table to help you decide what will work best for your needs.

A Cut Above the Rest — Exquisite Fabric Carcasses

From Make: magazine: Tamara Kostianovsky’s fabric-based sculptures convey all the passions and emotions of a mainstream marble masterpiece and then some, befitting her colorful specialty in the medium of the flesh, dead carcasses, and natural rejuvenation.

How to Detect Spy Tech

From Make: magazine: Can a budget bug detector really work? When you see a gadget selling for as low as $18 that claims to detect hidden cameras and wireless transmission devices between 1MHz and 6.5GHz, can it really do what it says? Surprisingly, with a few caveats, the answer is … Yes!

New Book Release Alert

From Maker Shed: Make: Paper Inventions, 2nd Edition, is your ultimate guide to turning ordinary paper into extraordinary creations! Packed with more than 30 projects, from pop-ups and automata to light-up circuits, motorized QuillBots, and 3D sculptures, this updated edition blends art, engineering, and a touch of magic.

Learn to make:

• Edible secret messages

• Spinning paper zoetropes

• Infinity mirror mystery boxes

• Fortune-telling Answer Bots

• Blow-out birthday cards with flickering LEDs

All projects come with step-by-step instructions and full-color images by award-winning educator Kathy Ceceri. Perfect for makers of all ages, it’s proof that some of the best inventions start with just a sheet of paper.